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mh 



HISTORY 



OF 



Cass County, 



MICHIQAN 






Mlith inustvaticms and i^ioiivaphical J^hctchc;; 

Of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. 



CHKAOO: 
■Vy-AXE3RMAIT, -VSTATKHNS & CO 

18S2. 



IBB^ 




V 









PREFACE. 



rr^HE undersigned, wlio entered a year ago upon the task of preparing an exhaustive and correct history of 
-•- Cass County, place the result of their labors before their patrons, with a feeling of confidence that it will 
be fully indorsed by them, as it already has been by the Pioneer Society through its committees appointed for 
the purpose of revising it. The publishers believe that they have not only fulfilled, but exceeded the expecta- 
tions of those who have taken a friendly interest in their work, and that the volume which has been produced 
by them will receive the favorable criticism of all candid people qualified to judge of the character of its con- 
tents. No pains nor expense have been spared to make the history all that it should be. Our writers have 
labored with well-directed diligence to rescue from oblivion all of the essential facts which should enter into a 
work upon the past of this region of country, and to group them in the most appropriate manner possible. In 
this labor, always a difficult one, they have received the willing and hearty co-operation of those people who 
have been the depositories of the desired information. While we rest assured that we and they have been the 
faithful stewards of the riches of historic lore bestowed by a thousand of the pioneers of the county, and that 
the facts they have furnished are returned to them in a form which will be acceptable, we are not so pre- 
sumptuous as to think that the history of Cass County will be absolutely free from trivial errors. That a book 
which contains at least ten thousand dates, and thrice ten thousand names can be accurate in every line, no 
thinking person can expect. But we do believe such has been the care bestowed on the preparation of the 
present work, that its trivial errors are reduced to the minimum — that the sins of omission and commission are 
not numerous. The publishers wish to return their most sincere thanks on their own behalf, and that of those 
in their employ, to the pioneers of the county who have, often at much self-denial, assisted them in securing 
the data for this work. To mention the names of all of those whose courtesy and cordiality have been appre- 
ciated would be impossible, for their number is hundreds; but we cannot refrain from mentioning the names 
of a few of this class, whose positions have enabled them to be of especial service. And first we may perhaps 
place the name of the venerable Capt. Joseph Harper. The Hon. George B. Turner has also been a valued 
"guide, philosopher and friend," and the store of his information has been largely drawn from. Others in 
Cassopolis, to whom thanks should be returned for favors rendered in the preparation of the work, are Messrs. 
John Tietsort, Elias B. Sherman, S. T. Read, Hon. James M. Shepard, C. C. Allison, Judge Andrew J. Smith, 
Judge William P. Bennett and L. H. Glovei-, Esq. Elsewhere in the county, the following may be mentioned : 
La Grange — Orlean Putnam, Hon. Jesse G. Beeson, Gamaliel Townsend, Isaac Shurte, Stephen D. Wright; 
Pokagon — Robert J. Dickson, John Rodgers, Alexander Robertson, D. W. Ilurd, Rev. John Byrnes; Penn — 
John W. O'Dell, Daniel Mcintosh, Dr. Leander Osborn, David M. Howell, W. E. Bogue, Hon. Amos Smith ; 
Ontwa — Joseph L. Jacks, George Redfield, Moses II. Lee, J. C. Olrastead, Hon. John B. Sweetland ; Volinia 
— M. J. Gard, Hon. George Newton, John Huff, Hon. A. B. Copley. H. S. Rogers ; Marcellus— W. 0. Mat- 
thews, Abijah Iluyck, George W. Jones, George Savage; Porter — Hon. George Meacham, Hon. J. II. Hitchcox, 
F. C. Morton, Samuel Rinchart; Mason — Henry Thompson, R. C. Ross, D. Bishop ; Jefferson — S. C. Tharp, 
Judge M. T. Garvey, .Jonathan Colyar ; Milton — Wesley Smith, N. B. Dennis, Henry Aldrich ; Howard 
— Hon. E. C. Smith, Hon. James Shaw ; Wayne — Hon. II. B. Wells, Cyrus J. Gage, Lafayette Atwood ; 
Dowagiac — Francis J. Mosher, B. W. Schermcrhorn, C. J. Grecnleaf, Joel II. Smith, Gideon Gibbs, 
William K. Palmer, G. C.Jones, Dr. H. S. McMaster, George W. Jones; Newberg— J. M. Chapman, 
E. H. Jones ; Calvin — Jefferson Osborn, Levi J. Reynolds, Col. George T. Shaffer. We desire to 
make especial mention of the valuable writings of the late Judge Nathaniel Bacon, of Niles, which 
have been quoted in the chapter upon Pokagon. Written communications have been received in answer to 
letters or circulars from many persons, resident and non-resident of the county. To all who have thus aided 
in the compilation of the history we also tender thanks. 

WATERMAN, W ATKINS & CO. 
CmcAoo, 111., June I, 1882. 



ru 



i! ••-^1 J ^i,,,^ .,;-^jJ,J) GA^'-'t-' -it 



TABLE OF (CONTENTS. 



THE GKNEKAL HISTOUY. 

lAITEK I— IXTROUICTORY AND UK8CRIPTI VK.— Plan and 
Scoi)e ol the. Work— The Region Represented In the History 
Described— TopoKraphy of Cass County— Actual Land Areas 
In the Several Townships— Varieties of Soil— Dimensions of 



Reds and Mounds.. 



ulorers— The Huguenots Excluded from New France— Rreben, 
Daniel, Lalleniand- Raymbault and Jouges— ClaudeAllouer— 
Tere Marquette— His Passage down the St. Joseph River 1 



11".')— His Death on the Shore of Lake Michigan— I,a Salle— 
He Builds Fort Miamis at the Mouth of St. Joseph in IGTS— 
HisJournevaci-oss the Michigan Peninsula in leso— Frequent 
Subsequent Visits to the St. Joseph— Founding of Detroit by 
De la Motte Cadillac— The Mission of St. Joseph Established 
—A Mission near the Site of Nlles— The Miamis and the Pot- 
tawatomies 



AITER III.-( ONTEST FOR POSSF 



r.— Oreat Britain Suc- 



ceeds France In Domination of the Northwest — MIchlga 
. ; >f th 

Enmity by the French— PnnWac's''Couspiracy— The Potta- 
watoniles join the League— Siege of Detroit— Massacre of the 
GaiTlsun at Fort St. Joseph— An Exploit of the Tribe of Top- 
■ --- -Indians Propitiated by the British-The Quebec Bill 



west by George Rogers Clark— Evacuation of Detroit .... 

lAPTEK IV— OnTLiNK OF Civil Hi.stoky. -Ordinance of 1787 
—Its Authorship— Michigan as a I'art of the Northwest Ter- 
rltoiy— As Part of Indiana Territory — Michigan Territory 
Organized— Formation of Stale Government— Dimrultles At- 
tending Admission (othe Union— Disputed Boundary— Toledo 
War— Michigan Receives the Upper Peninsula in lieu of the 
Maiimee Swamp— Removal of the Capital — Constitutional 
Cimventlon of J85o— Lists of Territorial and State Governors 
—Population from 17% to 18«0 



I ITER \ 

Northw. 
Their ('. 
duce<l ii 



OtlK 



LAND TiTLK AND SuRVKv.-Ownership of the 

-TlieClaini.sof France and England-Of States— 

)n to tlie liiited States— Sy.stem of Survey Intro- 

- !n iHiiefli.H-Modlftcatlous for Michigan— 

1 V T.ands- Land Sales at White Pigeon 

' I ; ' II Michigan Lands— School Lands— 

; I :i'il— The Treaty of Chicago in l«21— 



IIAITER VI — Thk I'OTTAWATOMiK INDIANS.— They Succeed 
the Mlami.s in the Occupation of the St. Joseph Country— 
Hostilities in which tliev were Engaged— The Chicago .Mas- 
sacre-Customs of the I'ottawatomles— A Festival and Med- 
icine Dance Described by the Rev. Isaac McCoy— Bertrand's 
Story of Saugana's Dream— Modes of Burial— Keligious Cer- 
emonies—Evidences that Cannibalism was Practiced by the 
Pottawatoniies and Other Tribes— Deplorable Effectsof Ar- 
dent Spirits—Seasons of Extreme Destitution :u 

IIAITER VII Tim Pr>TTA« atomie Indians. (Cimtmueil).— 
Indian Villages— Their l/ocatlons in Cass County— I'okagon's 
Progressive Spirit-Indian Trails in Cass Countv-The Chi- 
cago and Grand River Trails— Network of Paths in Porter 
Township- Toplnabe— Weesaw.theWarChief-Pokagon.the 
Second Clilef In Rank— Shavehead— His Enmltv to the Whiles 
-Probable Manner of Ills Death— Indian Murders— Removal 
of the Pottawatoniies to the West— Exemption of Pokagon 
and His Band— The Latter Days of the old Chief 44 

MAI'TEK VIII. Thf.Carkv .Mission.— Its KjitabiUhment near 
the Site lit Nlles In IsL-i- Its Effect on the Settlement of Ca«s 
and Berrien Counties -The Rev. Isaac McCoy— Trials of the 
.Mi.sslonarles Scarcityof Fond— Succes.sfulnessof the School 
—How Regarded hv the Pottawatomles— Necessity for Re- 
moval—Crowded Out by the Whites— Improvements at Carey 
.\ppral9ed, in 1830, at over S.'i.ooo S2 

IIAITER IX.— ADVKNT OK THE White Man as a Skttlfk. 
-Indian Traders-Zaccheus Wooden, the Trapper— His Visit 
to CassC.mntv in 18i:i-15— The White Man as a Permanent 
Settler— First Settlement In the Interior of the State— Earliest 
SettlementIn Berrien County— The Pioneers Enter Pokagon— 
Hates of Earlv Settlements throughout Cass County— Causes 
Oocratlng to Retard Immigratl. n-The Sauk or Black Hawk 
War Scare- The June Frost of 18,15 .iK 



PA OK 

CHAPTER X— Pioneer Like— Beauty of the Country in a State 
otNature— Cabin Building Described— Furniture and House- 
hold Utensils— Food— First Mill— Occupations of the Pioneers 
— '■ Breaking " — Women Spinning and Weaving — Social 
Amenities— First General Pioneer Gathering at Elijah Co- 
ble's In 1837— Character of the Pioneers— Two Classes— Job 
Wright, of Diamond Lake Island, as a Type of the Eccentric 



'HAPTEK XI.-Erkction and Organization or Cass 
CoiNTV.— The 'Earliest Counties EstablLshed— St. Joseph 
Township— Cass County Erected in 1829— Berrien Attached 
under the name of Nlles Township— Political Divisions— 



—Public Buildings-Roster of Civil Officers 6« 

CHAITER XII.— Internal Imi-rovk.ments.- Indian Trails— 
The Chicago Road— The Territorial Legislative Council— Fos- 
tering Internal Improvements— Roads Ordered to be Opened 
—Stage Routes— The Old Stage Coach— A Canal or Railroad 
Project— Railroads 75 

(■H.\PTER XIII.— llELiqioiis akdEdioational.— Character of 
Pioneer Preachers— Early Clergymen of Different Denomina- 
tions in Cass County— Sketches of .Vdam Miller, John Byrns, 
Elder Jacob Price, Justus Gage and Others— Bishop Phi- 
lander Chase— Collins, " the Boy Preacher "—Educational In- 
teresls of the County- School Laws— Incorporation of an 
Academy- Present Method of Scliool Supervision- County 
Supeiintendents- County School Examiners DO 

CIIAITEK XIV.— Thk Bar ok Cass Bounty.- Alexander H. 
Redlield— Ellas B. Sherman— Old Time Non -Resident Law- 
yen Sketched by one who knew Them—" Black Chip " and 
" White Chip"— Biograpiilcal Sketch of James Sullivan— Eze- 
kiel S.Sinith— Henry H.CooIidge— Clifford Shanahan— Daniel 
Blackmail— George B. Turner— Andrew J. Smith— Younger 
Attorneys who have Practiced at the Cass County Bar «« 

CIIAITKR XV.— The Mkdh'al Profession.- Practitioners In 
Cass County, Past and Present— Biographical Sketches— The 
Succession of Physicians in Cassopoli.s, Edwardsburg, Van - 
dalla, Dnwagiac, Pokagon and Sumnerville— Physicians in La 
Grange, Brownsville, Jones, .\damsville, Williamsvllle and of 
Marcellus * 

CHAITEU XVI.— Thk Press.- Firet ifewspaper Published in 
Cassopolis— The NatinnaJ D'.mnciat and tlie r«ffilaril— His- 
tory of the Dowagiac Press— The Republican and the Times- 
Papers in Edwardsburg— Marcellus— Vandalla io« 

CHAPTER XVII.— The Underground Railroad and the 
Kentucky Raid.— The two Lines of the Underground Rail- 
road which formed a Junction in Cass County— Station 
Agents and Conductors— Their Methods— Spies f ' 



and other Friends— Riot and Bloodshed narrowly Escaped— 
'• Nigger Bill " Jones, the Baptist Minister and the Negro 
Baby-Excited Condition of the Public Mind— Legal Proceed- 
ings In (Cassopolis- Negroes discharged from Custody and 
Spirited away to Canada— Suit against the Fugitives' Frlcids 
by tlieKentuckians 

IIAPTER XVIII.— Cash County in the War of the Re- 
IIKLLION.— The First Company of Soldiers raised In the 
County— Its Organlzatio " ' 



-Attached to the Forty-second II- 



ine rony-secona Il- 
linois Infantry- Brief History of that Reglmenr— Roster of 
the Officers and Men of the Forty-second, from Cass County 
—Other Full Companies from the County— The Sixth Mich- 
igan Infantry— Brief Histories of the Twelfth and Nineteenth 
Infantry Regiments, with Roster of Men from Cass County— 
The First Michigan Cavalry l 

'IIAITKI! XIX— (ASS COUNTY IN THK WaR of the RK- 

,,n 1 I..V ".."/irii/€d(— Second. Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, 
Niiitii .11(1 I I. viiith Cavalry— First Light Artillery- Four- 
\. iK in Infantry Organizations— The Nlntn, Elev- 

. , I M. jii. Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seven- 

in iiHi I "■ I ii> -fourth, Twenty-lllth, Twenty-eighth and 
liuili. Ui Ih, One Hundred and Second V. S Colored In- 
laiilry- Cass I'miiity Men In Miscellaneous Organizations 1 

'HAPTKR .\X.— The Pion err Sociktv. -Us Organization— Con- 
stitution and Bv-Lawn— Annual Picnics— List of omcera frum 
187.1 to 1881 Inclusive— An Incident ol the Meeting of 1881— Ros- 



Flourishing Condition of the Society. 



TABLE OF CONTEXT? 



iHAPTKK XXI.— A<5UK 1 l.TIRAI. ANII MisrKl.i.AXEtiv S Soi.T- 
KTiRs.— Its Ocg&iil/ation in Issi— Tlie First *"air Held— A 
SpeecJi by lleniaii KedlielU— ('oadilion of the County Tliirty 
Years Aso — Horses, Cattle and slieep — "Ten Thousand 
Thiiiits by Wolverine Audaeilv Called Swine "—Complete 
Premium List of the Fair of IKil— Urief .Suhse<iumt History 
of the Society— Cass County Bible Society Oi-ganlffld in iwi 
—County Medical Societies— Farniei-s' Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company 14k 

CHAI'TER XXn.— STATISTICS.- Population by Townships, 1837 
to 1880- Vote on the Constitutions and for Presidents— Gub- 
ernatorial Vote of 1880, by Townships— Valuation— Produc- 



IIAPTEK XXIII.— Cassopolis— Foundiugof theVillage-<'ounty 
Seat Contest— A Souvenir— I^etter from Alexander H. Re<lHeld 
—First Death, llirth and Marriage— Cassopolis as it Appeared 
in 1835— The CampaiffU of 1S40— Job Wrighfs Prediction— 
Tlie Only Ceneral iMilitia Muster— Llttlejohn's Temperance 
Kevival of lj*4."i— Corporation History— Roster of \'illage OfB- 
cials— The I'ulilic Souare Case— Mercantile and Manufactur- 
iiiB Matters-nankiUK- Hotels— Post Olllce— Religious His- 
tory Pul)Iio Scliools— Cemetery Societies 



HAPTKI! XXIV.-TheCitvok 

velopment— C;ni-f^ rcHiiMni 

City of Venirt- ■■ '■ 

Original Phil 

tile and M.in 

Hce— RailroM I 

History-Tlif, 

Secret and l;.-i.. ..n..!. >.... 

Incorpoialiou aul t ilj I lu 

Fire l)eparliiient— The I.ari 

■places— Fair Association— I! 



lu to Cif.itf a Town- The Paper 

'■"■■r!v nnwaglac— 

- ~ -Merc;in- 

- I'ostOf- 

I— Church 

i I ■ ;: ■ "-.iihi I'oachers- 

..-.-- .- l.iiH.iiy-Village 

1 tci-uniccrs from l»58 to 1881— 
;o Fires of 18M and 18ti(l-Biirial 
iogiaphlcal : 



CHAITKR XXV.-FOKAGON— Arrival of Putnam— Incidents of 
his Journey— Baldwin Jenkins— Sgiiire Thompson— I^wis 
Kdwards— Alexander Rogeis— The Pioneer Plow and First 
Cnip— Townseuds— Markhams— The First Religious Meeting 
— (Jrganization of the Township— First Marriage- FlrstRoads 
—Early Postal Facilities- ,Sauk War— Assessment of 1834— 
Shakespeare — State Hatchery— Churches— Civil List — Land 
Entries : 



Tietsnrts and others — Early Events— First Heath — Fi ret 
Marriage — Mary Bonnell, the tirst child born — The flrst 
School and Teachers— Deer Killing— First Township Election 
—Families of the Early Settlers— Complete List of l,and En- 
tries—Principal OBlcere of La Grance from 1830 to 1S80— 



IIAITER XXVIl. — Pkw 
Soil, Lakes and Wat.- 
Escape of Daniel Melni 
itivc (irist-Mill— Trii'^i 
Entries— Stock iMaikv-' 
Alasoiiic— (ieiievB. the l.os 
Assessment Roll of l.iST— ( 



luilXand 
./;itions— 
-Schools- 



I Lisl— liiosraiiliical.. 



•HA ITER XXXIV.-Sii.vkhCkkkk.— Survey— Topography— Mc- 
Daniel the First Settler- Arrival of Barney, Suits, Treat and 
theirFamilies— Organization— First TownshipMeeting— First 
Oltlcers- Pioneer Wedding— Pokagon and bis Band— Erection 
of the First Church— First Road— Assessment Roll of 1858... 
Land Entries- Uncle Tommy— Indian Sugar-Making— First 
School— Later Settlers— Churches— Civil List : 



CHAITEK XXXV.— Jkkfbr«on.— Erection of Township— Water- 
Courses and Lakes— First Settlement— Economy of Pioneers 
ioneerHospitalitv— Original Land Entries— Initial Events 



L-IIAITEli XXXVI.— CALVIN.— Unexpected ResulU of (Cindne.s.<i 
— Abner Tliarp and John Ree<l the First Settlers— Early Set- 
tlen— A Pioneer Cabin— Tlie Shaffer Family— The East Set- 
tlement-Land Entries— Negro Settlement — Saw Mill and 
Distillery — Sauk War .Scare— Schools— Religious Organiza- 
tions— Civil List— Biographical - 



CHAPTER XXXVII— MARCBLbU.H— A Retrospection— View of the 
Township—" Ye Olden " and Present Time Contrasted— Early 
Settlements— Unexecuted Threats of Tah-Wab, an Indian- 
Land Entries— Civil Organization— Post Offices— Early Events 
—Marcellus Village- \'Tllage of Wakelee — Religious- Secret 
Societies— Schools-Civil List— Biographical 

CHAPTER XXXVIII— M.\so>-.—Whv not settled earile^-Elani 
Beardsley the First Settler-Sad Death of Darius Beardsley— 
Tlie Ross Family— Jotham Curtis— The Millers- Laud Entries 
-Erection of Msison Township— Keligious—Schools — Initial 
Events— CMvil List— Biographical 

CHAITER XXXIX.— NKwiiKH<i.-John Balr. the First Settler- 
The Emigrants' Trials-" Land Sharks"- George Eoe— The 
Riidd Family- Early Settlement— Land Entries— f!ivil Or- 
ganization -iJewberg-Tax Roll f.r 18,18- Postal Servlcc- 
Schools— Religious-Civil List— Biographical 



II LlSsTRVnONb 



AMrich Dr l( 

Aldrich Or It 

Vldrich Mr and Mrs Henry portraits ii 

Vsiiley, Rev James 

Beeson Hon Jessie G 

Bucklin Mr tnd Mis. William I 

lto».n( Sti I 1 u 111 I Htiin ih 



;HAPTEIiXXVIll-ONTi\^.-i:arlyHlstorlcIiitcrest-Edward.s 
burg, the Enil.ivorn\ -Thr ( ..untrv ms s.in I'V i:/r:i r.iiinis- 
ley.tiieFirst-- ••' ' ■ ' ■ ■ -' - . ■ . . .. 
niug of Kill- 
Same— Ple:i>< 
—Early Don I 
of an Early ^ ; 

port-Original i.aim i-.iiini-<- lavnn i.i,',.|ist— ■■.invar.iM..,,-, 
Us Demise aud llcsuiici lion, inuliuliiig Laily .Meiulianis, I'd- , 
ritoriai Road, Stage Coach. etc.-Churches- Schools— Organ- 
ization— Civil List-Biographical 2ii2 | 



Btttlr Ml II I Ml 
1I)LIIC^ Lit lolin 
Bisho|i Daniel and 
( iss ( ount> map 



Or^M 



.ITKK XXX.-PoKTKK.-Evidencesof a Preliistorii Itict- 
Earlv Settlrmeiits, InrlMdiiig the Indians' A>.s lult upon Inhn 
Baldwin— A Wolf and Wild Cat Story-Piintlicr scare-Pio- 
iieer Samaritanism— Land Entries- Reminisi ences— Or„'an 
i/alionnf Townshin— Early Taverns- Coal Oil Specul itloii— 
Religious Organizations— Schools-Products— Civil I is(— Bio- 
graphical 



IIAlTEli \X\li— ll..».Mii.-i;iiiiy b.:i.-f in iL I ii| loiliitlm 
ness— William Kirk, the llrst Sclller-The Si ttk mcnl ini liid 
ing Social Aiimsenieiits— First Maiiufactureis-I o\\ Prno 
of Farm Products— Cliaracteristics of Ploniers- 1 ind l-n 
Hies— Poll List of 1837— Yankees vs. Hoosli rs- M Uistics and 
Productions- Schools-Civil List— liiograpiiic il 

HA ITER XXX 1 1 1 — .M I i.ToN — Beardslev's Prairie .iiid Ihe Town 
ship in "Ye Olden Times "—First .Setlkis and tarly Sit- 
llement— Liuid Entries — Erection of Township— f>oil and 
Products— Religious Organizations— Schools— <'lvll List— Bl 
ographical ■ 



TABl.K OF rOXTKNTS. 



ry, . 

(I. Mr. and Mrs. James ,„,. 

i^}liri^',*!;S.?"*-8»"^" :;;::::::betWeen: 



liller, Itev. Adam 

McMaster, Dr. H. S ... 

Maisb, Austin C 

Morris, Samuel 

Matthews, Warren O. 



..laciug 2si 
..facing 372 
..facing .184 
..faping 314 



Jjewton, Hon. Mr. and Mi-s. (icorge 

Norton, Pleasant. „.., 

Norton, Levi D _ 

On. George B., residence of 

Olds, Mills 

I'utnam, Orle:in - Vi 

Piitiiam, Tzzicl '-- 

Price, Kev. .Jacob 1!. 

Prindle, l>r. C. I' „: ,„ 

Prindle, l)r. c. P.. residence u. i..c , ,,.,,,J .;S 

Putnam, Hon. IzzicI, Jr fl!- e wl 

Pitcher, Mr. and Mrs. Silas A i ueen '«•' tS 

Papsons, Mr. and Mrs. Beujamin failne 'im 

Kedlleld. Hon. Alexander H .. Uveen « m 

Kft>ublie:in,otHce of. * ,yy 

• - r . portrnit and residence fai-ini,' ifKi 

Mr. and Mrs. John, portraits an<i residence facinc 2<« 

r and Mrs. William A., portraits and residence-bet. 216, 217 

Hon.George between 264, aw 

.■.''»'^* i- facins 27« 

facinp: 3(U 



Kunklf 



It ltrothers..jt'. 

. Mr. and Mrs. Cool 

inner, Horatio W 

Ilot.iiisoii, Mr. and Mrs. Natli 
Kiekert, c. ('..residence of.. 

Keynoids.Hon. Edwin W 

Sburte, Isaac- 

Sullivan.. lames 

simth, Judge Andrew J 

Sweiitland, Dr. John B., porlr.,.. -i.,; , 

S'liool, Ca.ssopolis Union 

>i'hermerhorn, B. W 

School, nowaglac I'nlon 

MMipson, Mr. and Mrs. Moses W 

Simpson, Mrs. .Sarah H.. residence of 
Shanafelt, William H., residence of.. 

Smith, Hon. Amos 

Silver, Orren, residence of 

S<iuier, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel C 

Storey. Mr. and Mrs. Ozlal 

Spencer, E. 11 , residence of 

Shaw, .Tames 

Smith. .Mr. and Mrs. (ieorgt- 

Savage, John 

School, Marcelliis I'nion 

Sutton, Mr. and Mrs. Polenion 

Townsend, Gamaliel 

Turner, Hon. George H 

Tompkins, l>r. 1,. 1) 

Tlce, Isaac T 

Townsend. George J 

pomaa. Sherwood, residence of 

Taylor, K. O., residence of. 

Tniitt, Peter, portrait and residence. 



\ een 344, :il5 
...facing -.vii 
...facing SiKi 



Rllderback, Win.. 
Kradt. .John C .... 
BIy, Henley W.... 



Illl 1!.. 



between u;i^, ;;;!;; , 

facing 33<! 

facing 352 

between 392, 393 

facing 400 

facing 40>i 
•facing .111 
• 'tween 88, ».> I 
facing 101) ! 
.facing l!>2 
facing 2,% ' 
facing 314 ' 
..facing 3:<il ; 

T™i«; .■.am;k'M:,';ii\d7i?cr^J''!".^.^:.: ,„.;;i^S5 ^- ^ I 

Tl;i;:^^iiraV;;iM^;:i:v,;;,.;;v;,- ;::::: : :::;;::::::::::::::::::Si Z 

between 2011. 2"i i 

facing 22(1 

.portraits and residence facing 22x ' 

between .128. ' 



<'lark,.l)r. William I 

Curtis. Dr. Cyrus 

Curtis, Dr. Eugene .\ 

Carbine, Dr. H 

Casterllne, Thomas . 
Copley, Alexander. 
Copley, Hon. Alexan 

Condon, William 

Chapman, James M 

l),.s''\ ,i,.'i!' ' \, I: 



Dopp, Kansom 

Dyer, J. M 

Easton, Dr. W W 

Edwards, I^wis 

Engle, B. F 

Emei-son, Mathew II 
Fowler, Dr. Henry II 
Flora, Dr. William.. 
Follett, Dr. Henry. 

Flero, vVbram 

Flero, Charlr^ 
Field, Harvpv K 
Gagp,Rev. .Iiisiiis 
Glover. Ixiw.-I I II 



HolllM.r N 
Howell, .Mai 
Howard, Wi 
Hnllanil, lir 
How.ll. II. ' 



u" j 



Wells 

Wright, Stephen li., imi 

Wells, Mr. and .Mis. llo 

Whitbeck, George, residence of.. 



iminernian. 



iH.. 



.facing 318 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

A.iains, .lohii T 

\iwell. Freeman J 

.vidrich. Dr. Levi 

.Allen, Dr. .Tacob... 

Allison, C. C 

.\dains, Tlionia.s W 
Anderson, Samuel I 

Andrews, G. W 

Aldrlfli. Henry . 
Ashb-y, Key. .lami 
Byriics, Key .loliii 
Bradford, VImciii I 
Itlai'kinan. Haiiirl 



Hick.-*, i;. \' 

Hull, Isaac 

Huyck, Abijah 

Jewell, Kllas 

.loiies. (!. ('.. Horace ('. 
Jenkins. Wiiiiiiis r.iM 
,Tar\is Xmiiii,.., 
Jom-,11 ,,. 



Bliuly, .\lr. anil .Mrs 
Baooij, H(,n. Cvru.s 
Bacon, Cyrus, ,Ir., M 

Beebe. AWI 

Bionson, o. P 

Iteaucliamp, Manliive i 
Beaiiclianip, James H.. 



TABLK OF CONTENTS. 



Norton. Levi I) 

Osborn. Dr. I-eauder.. 

Oren, James 

Osborn, Charles 
Orr, George 1'. 

Olds, MiUs 

ITice, Elder.i.i ■ 1 
I'enwell, Dr. l.i.- 
Phillips, Dr. II. n 
Prindle, Dr. C. 1' 
Prlndle, Dr. E.C 

Peck, William W 

Peck, A. E 

Palmer, Wm. K 
Putnam, V/.i.u 



Parsons, liinj.mi;!: 
KedSeld, AleNanilr-r I 

Keshore, Frank H 

Kayniond. Dt.I.. K. 

Hepublican omce 

Uobertson Dr. John 

Keed, S. T 

Koot, Eber 



K08S,FredH 

Kodgers, John 

Hodgers, William A 
Uedfleld.Hon. (ieory. 

Kodgers, George 

Kinehart Bros 

Kunkle, Cool 

Rider. Horatio W 
Kobinson. Nathan. 
Kickert, Charles C 
Kcynolds, Hon. hdwi; 

Kodgers. John 

Shurte, Isaac 

Sherman. Elias B 

Stuart, Charles E.. 

Sullivan, James. 

Smith, Ezekiel s 

Shanahan.Cliltord 
Smith. Judge Andrw 
Spencer, James M . 
Smith, Harsen D 



.'.'between 408, 409 ' Thomas, 



1.... 



Sweetland. Dr. John B . 
Stebbins, Dr. Edward Sa^ 

Smith, Joseph 

Shaw, John 

Shepard, James M. 

Shermerhom, B. W 

Smith, Joel H...... 

Simpson, Moses W. ... 

Shanafelt, William H.. 

smith, Hon Amos 

Silver, Kev. Abiel 

silver, Orren Silver 

Squier, Daniel C 

Storey, Ozial 

Spencer, Joseph 

Shaw, James 

Smith, George 

.Savage, John 

Sutton, Polemon 

Townsend Gamaliel 

Turner, Hon. George B 

Talbot, John A 

Thompson, M. A 

Tompkins, Dr. I,. D 

Treadwcll,Dr. A. B.. 

Treat, Dr. John 

Thorp, I>r. A. 1> ■ 

Taylor, Pr. James 1>. 

Turner, .S. A 

Tietsort, John 

Tice, Isaac T 

Townsend, George J 

Thomas. Sherwood 

Tavlor, Emery O 

Truitt, Peter 

Truitt, James M 

Tharp, S C ■- 

Thomas, J. Hubbard 

Townsend, George J 

Van Riper, Jacob 

Wright,J 

Wooster, John 

Wheeler, Dr. J. H..^ 

Wells, Dr. Charles P 

Wells,Hon. H.B 

Wells, Homer 

Wright, Stephen 1) 
Whitbeck, George 
Zimmerman, Jacob H 



i.eiween 184, 185 

Wi 

facing 212 

213 

facing 260 

.T.- 

27"J 

2!1S 



npson. 




HI8T0EY 



CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BY ALFRED MATHEWS. 



CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCTORY AND DESCRIPTIVE. 
Plan and Scope of the Work— Tlie Region Kepreseuted in the History 
Described— Topography of Cass County— Actual f,and Areas In the 
Several Townships— Varieties of Soil- Dimensions of the Principal 
Prairies and Lakes— The Pre-hlstonc Garden Beds and Mounds. 

THE pages of this volume are intended to present a 
complete and exhaustive history of Cass County,* 
and they contain incidentally many fragments of the 
history of Michigan and of the West. An effort is 
made, in many instances, not only to chronicle facts, 
but to explain their relations as causes and effects in 
the great chain of events through which a wilderness 
has been reclaimed and added to the mighty realm of 
civilization. In the first few chapters of the book, a 
chronological order of arrangement is maintained, but 
in subsequent ones which treat of subjects in the 
narrower field, which is our especial province, the topical 
form is resorted to for reasons which will be obvious to 
every reader. Following the brief description of the 
county and of the traces of a pre-historic population, 
which is given in this chapter, is a condensed account 
of the French exploration of the Northwest, written 



*Tlin countv was named in honor of Lewid Casn, Oitvernor nf Uicbigtin 
from l»»13 lo 18:J1, who, in the lanKUHgp of a hi torlan, "did more f.>r (lie pioB- 
I'erity of MIchiiean than any otiier man HvjnK or dead." Cais was born in 
Exeter, N. H.. OcUilier 9. 1782. Ue settled In Mailetia, Ohio, about UVU; was a 
memtior of the Leglsla'urv, and Manihal of the Slate; came to Michigan in 
1812 as (;ol<.nelof the Third Rrgiraent Ohio Vnlunleere; look a dislinKnlstaed 
liart in the war, and was promoted to the rank of a Brigadiei. In Ocliibt-r. 
1813, be was appointed Governor of Alk'higHti Territory by Pr.-si(lent Madixon. 
This position Ue held for elehteen yeara advancing, by his wise and energetic 
admlniHtrallon, the material in:eresls of the Territory In a large degree. In 
July, 18al. he was appointe.t, by President Jackson, Secretary of War. From 
lg:i6 to 1842, ho was M.nitter to France. The Legislature of the State of Sllcli- 
Igao elected him to the UnitrnJ Sutes Senate io 1845— an office whi.h he re- 
signed three years later, when he became the candMate of the Democracy lor 
the Presidency. After his defeat, in 184U, the Leglslatura ie-p|ecied lihn to the 
Senate lor the expiration of his original term lie was succeeded by Kacharlah 
Chandler, the KepiibllcaD parly having come Into the ascendency. Presi- 
dent Buchanan, however, appointed him as Secretary or State, and he re- 
mained in that position until the early part of 1860, when he resigned. For the 
next six years he resided In Detruit. where he owned a large property. Ue died 
in July, 1886. Gen. Cass was an able lawyer, a polished and i-loquent orator and 

ergy of character. Ue ha<l the conAdeuce and respect of the people, and his 
fine social qualllles, his genial, courteous way and liberal hospitality, combined 
wllh his intellectual worth aod illustrious services, made liim the must |>opular 
man of his Ume In Michigan. 



with especial reference to "the St. Joseph country," 
which was the theater of many of the operations of 
La Salle and of other indomitable pioneers of France 
in the New World. This chapter is supplemented by 
one upon the contest of France and England for su- 
premacy in the West, and this in turn by one upon 
Michigan, under American rule, as Territory and State. 
Two chapters are devoted to the Pottawatomie occu- 
pation of the country, and contain much curious 
information in regard to this tribe, drawn from the 
most authentic sources. Then follows a chapter giving 
a synopsis of the titles to Michigan, an account of 
the survey and sale of lands and of the Indian treat- 
ies by which cessions of territory in Southwestern 
Michigan were made. The Carey Mission, founded 
near the site of Niles, in 1822, is brought into prom- 
inence as a cause and center of settlement. Succeed- 
ing this is a chapter entitled " The Advent of the 
White Man as a Settler," which, like each one of 
those that follow, pertains wholly to Cass County. 
The chapters preceding relate to the county only in 
part. The chapter on settlement is followed by a 
description of pioneer life, of cabin building, "break- 
ing," the occupations of men and women, the perils 
and the discomforts they endured. This is followed 
by an account of the erection and organization of the 
county, its division into townships, the establishment 
of courts, the early meetings of the Supervisors and 
the erection of publio buildings. The chapter is sup- 
plemented by a complete and carefully compiled roster 
of civil officers. Religious and educational matters, the 
Cass County bar, the medical profession, the press 
and internal improvements have each a place, and are 
considered at length. The history of the Under- 
ground Railroad and the Kentucky Raid is given in 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



detail. Two very valuable chapters show what Cass 
County did in the war of the rebellion, and contain a 
roster of the soldiers enlisted, together with important 
facts concerning them. The Cass County Pioneer 
Society, the Agricultural Society and a compilation of 
statistics upon population, politics and productions, 
constitute the concluding chapters of the general his- 
tory. The history of the county is followed in its 
minor details in seventeen voluminous chapters upon 
the townships, the village of Cassopolis and the city 
of Dowagiat. In these will be found carefully made 
records of the early settlement, and accounts of all 
local institutions. 

CASS COUNTY. 

The region of which this history treats is one fair to 
look upon — beautiful alike to the eye of the husband- 
man and the lover of nature. It is true there are 
here no scenes of grandeur or the rugged picturesque, 
but all of the elements of gentler beauty are present, 
and they compose a panorama of varied and exquisite 
loveliness. The sparkling lakes, the undulating ex- 
panse of forest and cleared fields, the level prairies — in 
summer clothed with luxuriant growth which proclaims 
the fertility of the soil — combine to form a thousand 
fresh and beautiful landscapes. Everywhere the 
kindliness of nature to man is suggested. 

* * * " Nature's hand. 
Has showered all blessings on this fruitful land." 

The county of Cass lies approximately between 
41° 49' 5" and 42° 7' north latitude and 8° 48' and 
9° 16' longitude west from Washington. The latitude 
of Cassopolis is approximately 41° 50' and the longi- 
tude 9° 2". The county is bounded upon the north 
by Van Buren County, on the east by St. Joseph 
County, on the south by the counties of Elkhart and 
St. Joseph, in the State of Indiana, and upon the 
west by Berrien County. 

The county is composed of the Congressional town- 
ships Nos. 5, 6 and 7, and the fractional Town- 
ships 8, south of the base line, in Ranges 13, 14, 15 
and 16 west, of the Principal Meridian. Were the 
southern townships full, the county would be a quad- 
rangle, measuring twenty-four miles upon each side, 
and containing 576 square miles, or 368,640 square 
acres. But the four southern townships are only a 
little more than half townships, and the area of the 
county is further lessened by the detachment of about 
two and a half square miles lying east of the St 
Joseph River. The actual area of the county is not 
far from 512 square miles. The area of a full Con- 
gressional township is thirty-six square miles, or 23,- 
040 acres, but the actual land area is in each much 
less. The following is an accurate table* of the 



amount of lands in each township of the county, deduc- 
tions being made for the lakes, etc. : 

Actual Land Areas 
TOWNSHIPS. in Acres. 

Newberg 22,167.24 

Marcellus 21,.S94.77 

North Porter 21, 780. -S? 

South Porter 10,917.40 

(Porter, total 32,097.97) 

Volinia 22,012.51 

Penn 21,468.5.5 

CaWin 22,007.82 

Mason 12,945.66 

Wayne 22,775.10 

La Grange 22,698.02 

Jefferson 22,126.16 

Ontwa 12,361.70 

Silver Creek 21,463.14 

Pokagon 22,353.04 

Howard 22,639.50 

Milton 13,482.48 



Total, actual land area of county (in acres). ..3 



.66 



While exhibiting the general characteristics of a 
j comparatively level region, the surface of the county 
presents, nevertheless, considerable variety. It is for 
the most part gently undulating, and in the northeast- 
I ern part reaches that degree of roughness which 
may be denominated as " broken." The leading feat- 
ures may be classed under the headings of heavy 
timbered lands, oak openings and prairies. Three 
distinct varieties of soil are to be found in these divi- 
j sions. That of the heavy timbered regions is a 
gravelly soil often mixed with sand or clay. The soil 
of the oak openings is usually light and sandy, but 
has proven far more productive under judicious culti- 
vation than the pioneers anticipated. Richest and 
j best is the soil of the prairies. It is a black, sticky 
and soft soil, sometimes partaking of the character of 
clay. The subsoil is sand or gravel. It is commonly 
I believed that the fertile soil of the prairies has been 
! produced by the accumulation of vegetable mold — the 
I product of centuries of annual growth and decay. 
' There are various theories in regard to the causes 
I which have produced the prairies or natural meadows 
which are so numerous in Southern and Southwestern 
I Michigan, but the scientific students of nature offer 
I in their writings nothing that is conclusive upon the 
I subject. Cass County is rich in prairie lands — the 
I mellow, warm soiled meadows which have for ages 
been in readiness for man's cultivation. The approxi- 
mate areas of the principal prairies are as follows : 

J'eardsley's 4410 

Young's 2880 

Little Praiiie Koride 1690 

La Grange 1580 

Pokagon 500 

Baldwin's 600 

.McKinnneys 400 

.><and (Pokagon; 200 

Gurd's 100 

Shavehead 70 



Total (about). 



.12,230 



HISTORY OF (JASS OOUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The foregoing are the areas as computed from the 
Government survey. Since the country has become 
thickly settled, and the timber lands surrounding the 
prairies cleared and carefully cultivated, it is often 
impossible to distinguish the original line of demarka- 
tion between timber land and prairie, and the size of 
the prairies has been consequently very commonly 
overestimated. 

Cass County is beautified with a fair proportion of 
the five thousand lakes of Michigan. One hundred 
and eighty lakes and ponds are designated upon the 
map in this work. The largest is Diamond Lake, the 
area of which is 1,083 acres (minus the area of the 
island which is 40.79 acresj, and the most peculiar is 
Stone Lake — so named from the fact that its shores 
were originally very thickly strewn with stone, in the 
form of bowlders. This lake has no visible inlet or 
outlet; its water is very fine and very soft. That of 
Diamond Lake, only half a mile distant, is hard. It 
is supposed by many people that Stone Lake is one of 
the surface spots of the great subterranean stream by 
which Lake Superior is believed to discharge its waters 
into the Gulf of Mexico ; and, it is averred in support 
of this theory, that the rise and fall in Stone Lake 
corresponds closely with that of the " shining"^ big 
sea water." There is known to be a chain of soft- 
water lakes extending for a considerable distance 
across the country from north to south. 

Following is a statement of the size of the principal 
lakes in the county : 











Barren 


255 


Baldwin 




Birch 


302 






Dewey 


239 


Donell 


274 


Eagle 




Fish 




Indian 




Lilly and Flutchings (surveyed together) 

Long and CloTerdale . . . . 


267 

295 


Magician (less islands of twenty-five acres). 
Mud 


492 

186 


Shavehead 


287 



Chief among the water-courses of the county are 
the Christianna Creek (so named by the Rev. Isaac 
McCoy, founder of Carey Mission, in honor of his 
wife, in 1822), and the North and South Branches of 
the Dowagiac. The n*me of this stream is of Indian 
origin, and its meaning is "fishing water." The 
North Branch of the Dowagiac rises in Van Buren 
County and enters Cii-ss near the center of the north 
line of Wayne Township. Its general course is south- 
westerly, and it flows through the townships of Silver 
Creek and Pokagon, and, crossing the county line 
near the northwest corner of Howard Township, it 
empties into the St. Joseph River near Niles, in Berrien 



County. The stream is sluggish, and of little conse- 
quence as a source of mill power. The country through 
which it flows is low, flat, and a considerable portion 
of it marshy. A very different stream is the south 
branch, which flows quite rapidly, and affords a valu- 
able water-power. It has its source in Marcellus 
Township, flows through Volinia and the north part 
of La Grange, makes short meanders in Pokagon and 
Silver Creek, and forms a confluence with the North 
Fork near the dividing line of these townships. Chris- 
tianna Creek rises in Penn, runs southwesterly through 
Calvin into Jefferson Township, and thence southerly 
near the eastern line of Ontwa, beyond the southern 
boundary of the county, and to the St. Joseph, which 
it reaches near Elkhart, Ind. The drainage of the 
entire county is into the St. Joseph River, which, in 
addition to the streams we have described, receives 
the waters of two other small tributaries which rise in 
Cass County — Rock Creek, of Marcellus, and Mud 
River, of Porter. 

Geologically, the county presents very little that is 
interesting. . Its surface is composed entirely of 
"drift" — the mass of debris consisting of loose stone, 
gravel and sand, which covers nearly the whole of the 
Michigan Lower Peninsula. It is undoubtedly true 
that in Cass County this deposit is several hundred 
feet in thickness. Nowhere have the streams cut their 
way through this great diluvial deposit, and nowhere 
does rock appear in situ. Minerals exist only in very 
small quantities, and detached particles mingled with 
the drift. 

ANCIENT REMAINS. 

A description of Cass County would not be com- 
plete without an account of the pre-historic remains to 
be found within its limits — the relics of those races 
which passed away before the Indian came. The 
ancient works of Michigan may be classed as (1) 
tumuli and inclosures, universally ascribed to the 
race known as the Mound-Builders, and (2) the gar- 
den beds, which many students of archieology deem 
the work of another people. 

The former class of works are found in greatest 
number, variety, size and perfection in the valleys of 
the Ohio, the Mississippi and their tributary rivers, 
while in Michigan and the lake region generally, 
they are comparatively few, and as a rule small. On 
the other hand, the class of ancient remains, commonly 
designated as garden beds, are found in Southern 
Michigan in their greatest perfection, and are prac- 
tically unknown in those parts of the country where 
the other forms of earthworks, the mounds and for- 
tifications most abound. Unfortunately, the garden 
beds (so called from their close resemblance to the 
beds of modern gardens), have nearly all disappeared. 



12 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The slightness of their elevation, and the fact that 
they were nearly always upon the richest lands, were 
circumstances conducive to their destruction by the 
plowshare. 

When Cass County was first settled, various forms 
of ancient garden plats were to be seen upon the sev- 
eral prairies and in the woods. Many have been 
spared by the agriculturist until recent years, but at 
present there are few specimens remaining. As a 
rule, the garden beds were not over eighteen inches 
high, and sometimes they were much less. The 
most common form of platting, appears to have 
been one similar to that now practiced in the 
vegetable garden, viz., that by which parallel 
beds of uniform length and breadth, separated by 
narrow paths, were arranged in blocks or parallelo- 
grams. There were many other forms, however, 
among them squares, circles, triangles and a wheel- 
shaped plat, consisting of a circular bed, with beds of 
uniform shape and size, radiating from it, all sepa- 
rated by narrow paths. A garden bed of this kind 
was discovered in Pokagon Township by Lewis Ed- 
wards, when he first came to the county. 

The area covered by the beds was usually not more 
than three to five acres, but according to Henry R. 
Schoolcraft, who wrote of them as " forming by far 
the most striking characteristic antiquarian monu- 
ments of this district of country," they have been 
found in some localities to extend over as many as 
three hundred acres of land. 

By whom the garden beds were made must forever 
remain a mystery. There are many people who believe 
them to have been the work of some large and ad- 
vanced tribe of Indians, who, centuries ago, occupied 
the Michigan Peninsula. The method of cultivation 
which they would indicate, however, had no parallel 
in the rude agriculture of the Indians known to his- 
tory, and the Indians possessed no knowledge of the 
origin of the ancient plats. The fact that the garden 
beds have seldom or never been observed in those 
regions where are found the most stupendous earth- 
works in the forms of tumuli and fortifications, is 
strong presumptive evidence that they were not con- 
structed by the Mound-Builders. 

The tumuli or mounds in Cass County are of far 
greater interest, archiieologically, than the garden beds, 
because of the character of their contents, which 
throw a faint light upon the nature of the lost race 
who reared them. 

The Mound-Builders are supposed to have passed 
away from the region of the great lakes and the val- 
leys of the Mississippi and Ohio at least a thousand 
years ago. Investigators have discovered facts which 
support strongly that belief A great majority of the 



I best authorities agree that the race, either pressed by 
I a more warlike and powerful people or seeking a 
i milder climate, emigrated, by a mighty movement, 
from their vast Northern domain to the South, follow- 
ing the valley of the Father of Waters, and event- 
ually penetrated Mexico ; that they there reached the 
height of their civilization and greatness, and devel- 
oped into the magnificent nation of Montezuma. That 
they were, while they dwelt in the North, a semi- 
civilized people, is unquestionable. The great extent 
of many of their works, their wide distribution geo- 
graphically and the contents of the mounds, in many 
cases, amply testify to this. They had settled habi- 
tations, carried on agriculture very extensively (as was 
a necessity with their vast population) and had a 
knowledge of the ruder arts, such as the manufacture 
of pottery and the making of cloth. There are evi- 
dences that they were a homogeneous people, and it 
is conjectured that they were under a single and a 
strong government. 

As has been said, the works of the Mound-Builders 
are neither numerous nor extensive in the lake region. 
They are sufiicient, however, to identify the people 
who constructed them with the people who made the 
mighty inclosures and reared the colossal temple 
mounds which appear in great numbers farther south. 
Small mounds are to be found in almost every town- 
ship in Cass County. There are a number in Volinia, 
most of which are near the Dowagiac Creek, and 
several in Porter Township, one of the best being on 
the farm of Samuel Rinehart. In Howard Town- 
ship, two mounds have been excavated. One of them, 
in Section 21, a half mile east of Barren Lake, was 
opened in 1834, in the presence of quite a number of 
people, the work being superintended by Dr. Winslow, 
of Niles. This was undoubtedly the first mound ex- 
cavated in Cass County. A quantity of human bones 
was discovered, fragments of coarse pottery and some 
other articles. Another tumulus, on the farm of R. 
East, in this township, was excavated by Amasa Smith 
and his sons, Ezekiel C. and Zenus. A large number 
of human skeletons were found (over a hundred, it is 
said), buried in a circle, with their heads toward a 
common center. Many of the skulls bore the marks 
of weapons, which indicated that death had ensued 
from violence. Those who saw them inferred that the 
skeletons were those of men who had died in battle. 
All had evidently been buried at the same time. 
j Most interesting of the Mound-Builders' works in 
Cass County are those in Pokagon. A cluster of five 
mounds may be seen by the roadside a half mile east 
. of Sumnerville, and not far away, is a faintly-visible 
I embankment inclosing nearly half an acre of ground. 
I On a ridge running east and west on the farm of 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



13 



William G. Potter, a half mile north of Champagne 
Lake, are a number of excavations, somewhat resem- 
bling rifle-pits, which are supposed to be of ancient 
anJ artificial production. The largest mounds in the ' 
county are those upon the farm of Joseph Walter. 
Three beautiful and regular mounds occur here, situ- | 
ated in a line from east to west. A short distance ' 
south of them is a well defined ditch which forms a , 
perfect horseshoe, measuring about one hundred and i 
sixty feet in length by one hundred feet in width. It ' 
is flanked upon the north by a line of ditch extending j 
parallel with its longest diameter, a distance of per- 
haps two hundred feet. There is no trace of embank- 
ment in connection with the excavations. For what 
purpose the horseshoe-shaped inclosure was made by 
the ancient people can, of course, only be conjectured. 
There is no probability, however, that it was designed, 
as many suppose it to have been, for a work of defense. 

One of the three large mounds which have been 
mentioned was excavated in September, 1878, by Dr. 
E. J. Bonine, of Niles, who operated under the aus- 
pices of the Smithsonian Institution. It was a mound 
about thirteen feet high (originally it must have been 
of greater altitude), and the diameter of its base was 
about fifty feet. On the summit of the mound, within 
the memory of the settlers, stood a burr-oak tree four 
feet in diameter, and probably three hundred years 
old. A shaft was sunk by the excavators into the center 
of the mound, which was found to be composed 
throughout of the same soil as that of the surrounding 
plain — a rich black loam. Almost invariably the hu- 
man remains found under the mounds rest upon the 
natural surface of the earth, the mounds simply being 
heaped over tiiem, but in this case the interment was 
several feet below the original level. Several skele- 
tons were found, being those of men, women and 
children, a number of fragments of pottery, a curious 
bone or ivory ornament, bearing some resemblance to 
a walrus tooth, several amulets pierced with holes, 
through which thongs had doubtless once been placed 
to attach them to the person, several bone implements 
and five copper hatchets of fine edge and good forma- I 
tion. Portions of the skeletons were in a good state 
of preservation. The femur, or thigh bone, of one of ! 
the males, which Dr. Bonine has now in his possession, i 
is of great size and indicates that its owner must have 
been at least seven feet in height. Curiously enough, I 
in the same tomb were found the bones of a very small | 
child, a child which could not have measured more i 
than eight or nine inches in height. They were more [ 
perfectly preserved than those of the adults. j 

The mound from which these remains were taken, 
after their sepulture of perhaps a thousand years, 
was undoubtedly the monument and the grave of a 



ruler and the members of his family. Nearly all of 
the mounds in Cass County are of the class to which 
archjeologists have given the name of sepulchral 
mounds, although it is possible a few of them may 
conceal the altars of the ancient people — rude hearths 
of clav or stone. 



CHAPTER II. 

FRENCH EXPLORATION AND OCCL'PATION. 

J»c<iuea ('artier the rioneerof New France— Chaniplain— He Wins the 
Friendship of the .Vlgonfinins and Trovnltes the Hatred ot the Iro- 
quois— Effect upon Future French Exploration and Colonization— 
I,e Caron— Religious Zeal of French Explorers— The Huguenots 
Excluded from New France— Breben, Daniel, Lalleniand— Raym- 
bault and Jouges— Claude AUouez-Pere Marquette— His I'assage 
down the St. .Joseph Kiver in 1U75— His Death on the Shore of Lake 
Michigan— l.a Salle— He Builds Fort Mlainls at the Mouth of St. 
.loseph in 1670— His Journey across the Michigan I'eninsula in liiSo 
—Frequent Subsequent Visits to the St. .Joseph— Founding of De- 
troit by De la Motte Cadillac— Tlie Mission ot St. Joseph Estab- 
lished—A Mission near the Site of Nlles— The Mianils and the Pot- 
tawatomies. 

IN 1534, Jacques Cartier, sailing from France, 
entered and explored the Gulf and the River St. 
Lawrence — to the former of which he gave the name 
of his patron saint. Returning to France, he made 
another voyage to the New World in 1536, this time, 
ascending the "great River of Canada" to the site of 
Montreal, which city, when it came into existence, 
took its name from the elevation near by, which Car- 
tier called Mount Royal. In 1541, this explorer, 
under the patronage of Sieur de Roberval, a French 
nobleman, attempted to plant a permanent colony upon 
the St. Lawrence, but the project failed. 

For nearly seventy years, no further attempt was 
made on the part of the French to colonize America, 
or that part of it which Cartier had called New 
France. 

In 1608,* however, Samuel de Champlain founded 
the settlement of Quebec. 

An episode in the career of Champlain (interesting 
to those who are fond of tracing tremendous results to 
apparently insignificant causes) determined the direc- 
tion of future French exploration. To secure and 
augment the friendship of the Indians ( Algonquins) 
by whom he found himself surrounded, Champlain, 
during the same year in which he arrived, joined them 
in an expedition against their enemies, the Iroquois, 
who had a strong-hold upon the banks of the lake 
which bears his name. In the battle which ensued, 
the allied forces were the victors. The event secured 
for three generations the alliance of the Algonquins 
and the implacable hatred of the Iroquois. f 

• Thin WM only on« year latoi: tlian llio i-sUliliiilinient of the first prmiantnt 
Englldli Betllbfnf*nt npon tlid Atlntilic coast — Jamralawn, Va , — and ualy forty- 
three yearn later than the foiindtng of the flnit Spiulsh settlomorit — the oldest 
city ia America— St. Augustloe, Kla. 

t James R. Albscb's ADnalsofthe West. 



14 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The French would doubtless have entered zealously 
into the exploration of the region to the southward 
had not their implacable and powerful foe formed a 
barrier. Their alliance with the Algonquins, how- 
ever, left often to them the vast interior lake country, 
occupied principally by the western tribes of the Algon- 
quin nation, and so this region became a field for their 
exploration and colonization. 

Charaplain, in 1611, established a trading-post on 
the site of Montreal, and, in 1615, he made an expe- 
dition to the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. In the 
same year he led an army of 2,500 Algonquin war- 
riors against the Iroquois, and was compelled to retire 
without gaining the conquest he had hoped to. The 
barrier interposed between the French and the south- 
ern region remained unbroken. 

In 1616, Le Caron, with two compani6ns, pene- 
trated the wilderness to Lake Huron, and for ten 
years they there labored as missionaries among the 
Indians. They were Franciscans. The means, the 
devotion, and the discipline of this order proved in- 
adequate to the carrying-on of its self-imposed task, 
and the missions established under its authority ulti- 
mately passed into the possession of the Jesuits. 

Through all the history of French discovery, ex- 
ploration and colonization in America runs the story 
of religious zeal and martyrdom. Wherever the 
Bourbon lilies were planted as the standard of France, 
there was found also the cross of the Society of Jesus 
and of the Holy Catholic Church. The indomitable 
pioneers of France in the New World were more 
largely actuated by religious motives than by personal 
ambition or commercial enterprise. Champlain re- 
garded " the salvation of a soul worth more than the 
conquest of an empire," and those who followed after 
him were sustained amidst their toils and privations 
by the thought that they might Christianize a heathen 
race — win the wild denizens of the dark " forest con- 
tinent " to the Church of Rome. But the very zeal 
with which the explorers and pioneers of France were 
inspired, and which furnished them the motive for 
penetrating the wilderness of the northwest was 
coupled naturally with an intolerance which not im- 
probably prevented France from maintaining an 
ascendancy upon American soil. Cardinal Richelieu, 
the champion of absolutism in France, had turned his 
attention as early as 1627 to the New France, and 
under his patronage a splendid and powerful organiza- 
tion was formed for the purpose of colonizing on a 
grand scale the new possessions. Upon this company, 
of " the hundred associates" was conferred sovereignty 
over all the French territory in America. The colo- 
nies to be planted by " the hundred associates " were 
to be exclusively French in nationality, and Catholic 



' in religion. Champlain was made the civil and mili- 
tary Governor of the colony, and the Jesuits were 
chosen as the guardians of its spiritual welfare. Under- 

j this arrangement the Huguenots were, of course, 
rigorously excluded. They were the most enterprising 
class in France, and the most strongly inclined to im- 
migration. Had they been permitted to people the 
shores of the New France, it is possible that the whole 
destiny of the French in America might have been 
changed. Francis Parkman gives it as his opinion that 
" had New France been thrown open to Huguenot emi- 
gration, Canada would never have become a British 
province; that the field of Anglo-American settlement 
would have been greatly narrowed, and that large 
portions of the United States would, at this day, have 
been occupied by a vigorous and expansive French 

I population." 

! In 1634, Brebeuf and Daniel, and later Lallemand, 

I passed, by way of the Ottawa River, Lake Huron 
and the Sault Ste. Marie,* to Lake Superior, and es- 
tablished missions in the country of the Hurons, which 
tribe, at that time, according to Jesuit authorities, 
numbered 30,000 souls. Rayraebault and Jouges fol- 
lowed in 1640, and were probably the first Europeans 
who set foot upon the soil now included within the 
boundaries of Michigan. These Jesuit missionaries 
carried the tidings of salvation to the Western tribes 
five years before Elliott preached to the Indians within 
a few miles of Boston Harbor. In the following year, 
Jouges and one of his fellow-missionaries were capt- 
ured and tortured by the Iroquois. Daniel was killed 
in 1648, and a year later the same savage enemy laid 
waste several of the missions and burned at the stake 
the two Jesuits, Brebeuf and Lallemand. In the en- 
suing Huron-Iroquois war, nearly all of the devoted 
apostles of Catholicism fell as martyrs of their faith. 
The advance of the French explorers was temporarily 
checked; but no obstacles could discourage and no 
horrors dismay the brave spirits who had entered upon 
the task of carrying to the inhabitants of the wilder- 
ness what they devoutly believed to be the only true 
religion. With the terrible fate of their brothers 
fresh in their minds, the Jesuits pressed on, with al- 

I most superhuman zeal, to plant the holy cross and the 
golden lilies upon the shores of the Western waters. 

Rene Menard (or Mesuard) wa3 probably the first 
of the Jesuits who visited the West after the close of 
the Indian war. He founded a mission upon the south 
shore of Lake Superior in 1660, and in the following 
year had fallen a victim to the Indians, or, at least, 
such was the supposition, his breviary and cassock 
afterward being f)und in the possession of the Sioux. 
In 1665, Claude Allouez was sent out to the far West. 

♦ Falls of the River St. Mary's, between Lakes Huron and Superior. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



He visited the great fresh-water sea (called by the 
Indians Gitchi Goinee, which Longfellow translates 
"Big Sea Water" or "Shining Big Sea Water") and 
named it, in honor of the new Viceroy of the French 
province, Lac Tracy au Superieur. Landing at the 
chief village of the Chlppewas, on the bay of Chego- 
imegon, he established a mission, and, on behalf of the 
French colony, made with the Chippewas, the Potta- 
watomies, Sacs, Foxes and the Illinois, an alliance 
against the Iroquois. The next year, at the western 
extremity of the lake, he came in contact with the 
Sioux, and received from them information of a vast 
and mysterious river that flowed southward, which 
they called "Messipi." Aliouez returned to Quebec, 
filled with wonder at the marvelous stories he had 
heard of the Father of Waters, and dreaming, doubt- 
less, of the splendor and vastness of the future French 
dominion and Catholic triumph. 

In 1668, Jacques (or James) Marquette and Claude 
Dablon arrived at the Sault, and established the mis- 
sion of St. Marie. Marquette advocated with enthu- 
siasm the exploration of the Mississippi, and the proj- 
ect was furthered by Talon, the Intendant under 
Tracy, who was ambitious to extend the power of 
France. On the 13th of May, 1673, Marquette, 
Joliet and five voyageurs, embarking in two birch- 
bark canoes at Michilimackinac (or Mackinaw, as it is 
now called), made their way across Lac des Illinois, 
or Lake Michigan, to Green Bay. From thence they 
passed, by way of the Fox River, to a great Indian 
town, where dwelt together, in harmony, numbers of 
the Miami,* Mascoutin and Kickapoo nations. Al- 
iouez had preached here, but beyond the village no 
explorer had penetrated. Marquette and his compan- 
ions pressed on, through the wilderness, over lakes 
and dismal marshes, until they reached the westward 
flowing Wisconsin. Committing themselves to the 
current, they floated onward until, upon the 17th of 
June, their boat shot out athwart the broad bosom of 
the Mississippi. But we cannot follow the brave and 
pious voyageur in his inspiring and joyous journey. 
He went nearly as far South as the mouth of the 
Arkansas, and was the discoverer of the Des Moines, 
Illinois, Missouri and Ohio Rivers. The party re- 
turned, laboriously working their way against the 
current of the great river, to the mouth of the Illi- 
nois, which they entered. At a village, which Mar- 
quette called Kaskaskia (near the site of the present 
village of Utica), an Indian chief offered to guide 
them to the lake of the Illinois (Michigan). The offer 
was accepted, and the voyageurs, passing up the Des- 



; fpv, of llie Minniin at tblx tII1bh«. and tb 

itump.l to tlK. ahurea of Lake Micliinan 

, which country, oa will bo hereafter aliov 



plaines River and across the portage to the site of 
Chicago,* entered the lake and made their way to the 
mission station on Green Bay, which was reached in 
September. 

Marquette, ever on the alert to advance the cause of 
his religion, had determined to found a mission at the 
Indian village on the Illinois, and had promised the 
chiefs that he would soon return to them for that pur- 
pose. With this object in view he set out from 
Green Bay October 25, 1674, with a flotilla of ten 
canoes manned by Frenchmen and Illinois and Potta- 
watomie Indians. Following the west shore of the 
lake, they entered the Chicago River, and had pro- 
ceeded up the stream but a few miles when Marquette 
became so sick that he could go no further. The 
little party went into camp, and the Father's illness 
continuing unabated, they remained there through the 
winter, sustaining life upon the game which abounded 
in that region. In the early spring of 1675, how- 
ever, the missionary had so far recovered that he was 
able to resume his journey, descending the Des- 
plaines River, and reached the Illinois village by the 
route over which he and Joliet had returned from 
their voyage to the Mississippi in 1673. Before a 
vast concourse of the red men, Marquette unfolded the 
plan of Christian salvation and laid the foundation of 
a mission which he named the Immaculate Conception. 
The missionary, however, felt that his malady must 
soon prove fatal, and he made preparations to return 
to the North — to St. Ignace. About the middle of 
April, he set out with his escort of Frenchmen and 
Indians for Lake Michigan by a route which no white 
man had ever traveled. 

The now dying priest, led by Indian guides, pro- 
ceeded up the Illinois to the mouth of a stream the 
Indians called Teankakeek (the Kankakee of our 
day), whioh they followed to a portage communicating 
with the stream now known as the St. Joseph. The 
priest named this water-course the " River of the 
Miamis,"t because he found the Indians of this 
nation upon its banks, and one of their principal vil- 
lages a few miles south of it upon the portage. 

Marquette and his companions were the first white 
men who passed over the St. Joseph River. They 
came to it at, or very near, the site of South Bend, 
and steered their canoes to its mouth upon Lake 
Michigan, where the village of St. Joseph now stands, 
and thence made their way northward along the east- 
ern shore of the lake, the priest hoping before his life 
ebbed away to reach the mission of St. Ignace. 

*SoDie writ«ra have atated that Marquette and Joliet returned to Laka 
Michiitaii by way of the St. Joseph Ulver. Parknian ia the authority for the 
ttatement aburu given. It was while returnint from hia leooml Journey, In 
I6r>, that >[Hr<iue(to piiu^ddown the St. Joaeph. IIiavl«lt to the aite of Chicago, 
In 107:1, w.ia uri loubtejly the first one made by a European. 

tXhla name waa not auperaede.1 by the preaont one until about the year 
17u:i. 



16 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Slowly and patiently paddling their frail canoes along : 
tlie border of the lake, they reached a point about one 
hundred and seventy-five miles from the mouth of the 
St. Joseph, within the bounds of the present county 
of Leelenaw, and here, upon the wild and lonely coast, 
surrounded only by a few Indians and his fellow-voy- 
agers, and distant a hundred miles from his beloved i 
mission station, Marquette died. The time was even- ' 
ing, the day May 19, 1675. One account says : ' 
" Leaving his men with the canoe he went a little 
way apart to pray, they waiting for him. As much 
time passed and he did not return, they called to mind i 
that he had said something of his death being at hand, j 
and anxiously went to seek him. They found him | 
dead ; where he had been praying he died." He was I 
buried near the mouth of a little stream which was 1 
afterward given, and, for many years, bore his name. ' 
But his bones were not to be long left in the desolate ' 
solitude where he died. They were disinterred in the ' 
following spring by some Ottawa Indians who had 
been converted by him, and carried to St. Ignace, 
where they were with due ceremony committed again 
to the earth. The grave of the missionary and 
explorer long lost has been, in recent years, discovered ; 
and marked with an appropriate monument, which \ 
serves to remind the visitor to St. Ignace of the early 
history of the Northwest, and of one of the foremost 
pioneers of France. The religious zeal and energy, 
the wonderful devotion and self-denial of the Jesuits, 
was finely exemplified in Father Marquette. He 
sought nothing for himself; he dared all things for 
the church ; his whole being was merged in it. When 
warned of dangers that lay before him in the vast 
wilderness, and urged to turn back, he replied that the 
salvation of souls was at stake, for which he would be 
overjoyed to give his life. His mind was not influ- 
enced by the important discovery of the Mississippi, 
which opened up the great valley to the enterprise of 
his countrymen; "but," said he, "if ray perilous 
journey had been attended with no other advantage 
than the salvation of one soul, I would think my 
peril sufficiently rewarded." 

Following Marquette carae two French explorers, 
differing widely from him and from^ each other — La 
Salle and Hennepin. 

Robert Chevalier Sieur de la Salle, the most 
famous explorer of the Northwest and of the 
Mississippi Valley, came to Canada in 1667, and en- 
gaged in the fur trade. He had been educated under { 
the Jesuits. He afterward publicly denounced and ' 
was very hostile toward the order, although he 
remained a stanch supporter of the Catholic faith. 
La Salle's ambition was aroused by the discoveries 
which Marquette and Joliet reported, and he resolved 



to win renown for himself in the wild regions which 
had been the scenes of his predecessors' exploits. He 
held to the quite popular opinion that the Mississippi 
flowed west or southwest to the Pacific Ocean, afford- 
ing a passage by which China and Japan could be 
conveniently reached from the New France. This 
outlet of the great river he had an ambition to dis- 
cover, and he w;is still further incited to become an 
explorer by visions of vast wealth, which he believed 
could be acquired in a monopoly of the fur trade with 
the Indian nations of the hitherto unknown interior. 
Obtaining the assistance of Frontenac, the Governor 
General of Canada, and the approval of his king, 
he immediately began preparations for his voyage. 

In September, 1678, La Salle met at Fort Fron- 
tenac the Recollet Friar Hennepin, who was to be 
his co-laborer and rival, having received from his 
superiors authority to take charge of the religious 
concerns of the expedition. On the 26th of January, 
1679, at the mouth of the Cayuga Creek, on the 
American side of the Niagara, about six miles above 
the Falls, La S;ille laid the keel of the Griflin.* 
Upon the 7th of August, 1679, the little barge was 
ready to sail, and with the singing of Te Beams and 
the discharge of arquebuses, she began her voyage. 
Hers was the first sail that cast a shadow upon the 
waters of Lake Erie, or that traversed the lakes be- 
yond. Over the swelling billows of Erie, through 
the straits and the little lake, which La Salle named 
Sainte Claire,t and through Lake Huron to Michili- 
raackinac, the voyagers sailed under pleasant skies 
and with favoring winds, except during the last few 
on Huron, when they " were troubled by a great 
storm, dreadful as those upon the sea." 

La Salle remained at Michilimackinac from the 
27th of August until the latter part of September, 
and founded there a fort. From Michilimackinac he 
went to Green Bay, and finding there a large quan- 
tity of furs which had been collected by his men, he 
determined to load the Griffin with them and send 
her back to Niagara. L^pon the 18th of September, 
the little barque set sail for her return voyage, her 
crew having orders from La Salle to bring her back 
with all possible despatch, to meet him at the mouth 
of the River of the Miamis (the St. Joseph). La Salle 
had now remaining a party of fourteen men, three 
Friars, "Hennepin, Membre and Ribourde. ten other 
Frenchmen and a Mohican Indian, who had been em- 
ployed as a hunter. This little company, imme- 
diately after the departure of the Griffin, set out in 
canoes for the St. Joseph River, proceeding slowly 

♦The name wm bestowed upon the veMel in honor of Frontenac In whoee 
crest the UrlOlu was a conspicuous 6]^ure. A carreJ Griffin adorned the prow 
of the boat. 



IIISTOHV (»K CASS CM)UNTY. MICIIKJAN. 



southward along the western shore of Lake Michigan 
— the same wild, deserted shore along which Mar- 
quette had voyaged in 1675. Their progress was 
slow as their canoes were heavily laden with merchan- 
dise and provisions, arms, ammunition, implements of 
labor and a blacksmith's forge. At night, they 
bivoucked on the bank of the lake. It was the mid- 
dle of October before they reached the site of Chi- 
cago, and the let of November when they arrived at 
the St. Joseph. Their journey had been made a 
perilous one by the prevalance of storms, and once 
they met Indians who evinced hostility ; but they 
came in contact with others who were very friendly. 
They would doubtless have died of famine had it not 
been for the liberality of the latter in supplying them 
with food. La Salle's men were anxious to push for- 
ward to the Illinois River, and it was with difBculty 
they could be restrained. The leader desired to make 
the mouth of the St. Joseph his base of operations 
on Lake Michigan, and there to await the coming of 
Tonti, his Lieutenant, from Michilimackinac, with a 
company of twenty-one men. The same royal author- 
ity which had empowered him to prosecute his discov- 
eries, had given La Salle permission to build forts at 
such points as he thought proper, in the country he 
explored. He decided to erect one at the mouth of 
the St. Joseph, while awaiting Tonti's arrival, and 
immediately began the work. The men who had at 
first been mutinous, finally yielding to his will, when 
they found that neither persuasion nor threats could 
induce him to penetrate the country to the Illinois 
villages. The fort was a small stockade. La Salle 
named it Fort Miamis, probably from the fact that the 
Miami Indians were living in the region roundabout. 
This was the first French post established within the 
limits of the lower Peninsula of Michigan, although 
several had been founded upon the opposite shores. 

Fort Miamis was nearly completed when, after the 
lapse of three weeks from the time of La Salle's 
coming to the St. Joseph, Tonti arrived at the head 
of a re-enforcing party. The entire force now con- 
sisted of thirty-three men. On the 3d of December, 
ihey were mustered, ready for departure ; the fort was 
deserted, and the company embarking in canoes, made 
their way slowly up the sinuous channel of the St. 
Joseph, and thus was resumed the "great voyage and 
glorious undertaking " of the ambitious La Salie. On 
reaching the abrupt turn in the river near the s'te of 
South Bend, Ind., they crossed by way of the portage 
which Marquette had traveled, to the Kankakee, and 
descending that stream, reached the Illinois. At the 
contiiience of the rivers, they found the clustering 
villages of the Illinois, but they were deserted, and 
hence La Salle passed on to Peoria Lake. Here he 



met with many of the natives who received him with 
friendly manner. It was not long, however, before 
they grew suspicious, and threatened the safety of the 
explorers. It has been averred that Allouez, the 
Jesuit, who was then in the country, sent Ma.scou- 
tin emissaries to them who prejudiced their minds 
against La Salle by telling them that he was the 
friend of the Iroquois. His own men, too, become 
discontented, and some of them deserted. Attempts 
were made to poison him. He was filled with anxiety 
in regard to the fate of the Griffin, of which he had 
received no intelligence since his departure from Green 
Bay, and he had a foreboding that he must soon turn 
back and abandon for the time the prosecution of his 
cherished plans. The fort which he built at the foot 
of Peoria Lake he named Crevecceur (the Broken 
Heart.) 

But in spite of the dangers, the difficulties and dis- 
couragements with which La Salle found himself sur- 
rounded, it was very far from his purpose to relinquish 
the project of exploration. He set about building a 
vessel to take the place of the Griffin, instructed Hen- 
nepin to familiarize himself with the Illinois, left 
Tonti in command of the fort and started with a small 
party of men upon a journey of at least twelve hun- 
dred miles on foot, through the wilderness, to Canada. 
He needed sails, rigging, and an anchor for the little 
vessel of which he had laid the keel, and he had also 
to procure additional means and enlist new men to 
aid him in carrying on his great project. This daring 
journey of La Salle's led the indomitable explorer 
through, or at least very near, to the territory now in- 
cluded in the bounds of Cass County. 

La Salle, with four French companions and the 
Mohican hunter, who has been alluded to, left Fort 
Crevecceur March 2, 1680, and arrived at Fort Miamis 
three weeks later. From this point they pursued as 
direct a route as possible to the Detroit River. They 
were the first white men who crossed the great penin- 
sula from lake to lake. This stage of the now almost 
inconceivable journey, made two hundred years ago, 
is graphically described by Parkman, who translates 
and paraphrases the French manuscript journal of La 
Salle, entitled Relation des Decouverteg. 

"They were detained," says he, " till noon of the 
2oth (of March) in making a raft to cross the St. 
Joseph. Then they resumed their march, and as they 
forced their way through the brambly thickets, their 
clothes were torn, and their faces so covered with 
blood, that they could hardly know each other, 
Game was very scarce, and they grew faint with hun- 
ger. In two or three days, they reached a happier 
region. They shot deer, bears and turkeys in the 
woods, and fared sumptuously. But the reports of 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



their guns fell on hostile ears. * * * On the 
evening of the 28th, as they lay around their fire, 
under the shelter of a forest, by the border of a prairie, 
the man on guard shouted an alarm. They sprang to 
their feet, and each, with gun in hand, took his stand 
behind a tree, while yells and bowlings filled the s"r- 
rounding darkness. A band of Indians were urion 
them, but seeing them prepared, the cowardly assail- 
ants did not await to exchange a shot." 

The scene of this occurrence could not have been 
far from the northeast corner of Cass County. La 
Salle had surely not progressed far from the mouth 
of the St. Joseph in three and a half days. Allowing 
that he had made fifteen miles per day, which, consid- 
ering the season and the condition of the country, is a 
liberal estimate, the explorer and his party would, by 
the time of this alarm, have penetrated the forest no 
further than the dividing line of Cass and St. Joseph 
Counties. It is not improbable that the prairie by 
which the men were encamped, on the night of the 
28th of March, was Prairie Ronde, in the southwest- 
ern corner of the present county of Kalamazoo, or it 
may possibly have been Little Prairie Ronde, in Vo- 
linia Township, Cass County. 

Parkman's account of the journey continues : "They 
crossed great meadows, overgrown with rank prairie 
grass, and set it on fire to hide the traces of their pass- 
age. La Salle bethought himself of a device to keep 
their skulking foes at a distance. On the trunks of 
trees, from which he had strippei the bark, he drew, 
with charcoal, the marks of an Iroquois war party, 
with the usual signs for prisoners and for scalps, hop- 
ing to delude his pursuers with the belief that he and 
his men were a band of those dreaded warriors. Tims 
over snowy prairies and half frozen marshes, wading 
sometimes to their waists in mud, water and bulrushes, 
they urged their way through the spongy, saturated 
wilderness. During three successive days, they were 
aware that a party of savages were dogging their 
tracks. They dared not make a fire at night, lest the 
light should betray them, but, hanging their wet clothes 
on the trees, they rolled themselves in their blankets 
and slept together on piles of spruce and pine boughs. 
But the night of the 2d of April was excessively cold. 
Their clothes were hard frozen, and they were obliged 
to kindle a fire to thaw and dry them. Scarcely had 
the light begun to glimmer through the gloom of the 
evening when it was greeted from the distance by 
mingled yells, and a troop of Mascoutin warriors 
rushed toward them. They were stopped by a deep 
stream, a hundred paces from the bivouac of the 
French, and La Salle went forward to meet them. 
No sooner did they see him, and learn that he was a 
Frenchman, than they cried that they were friends 



and brothers, who had mistaken him and his men for 
Iroquois, and, abandoning their hostile purpose, they 
withdrew peacefully. Thus his device to avert danger 
had well-nigh proved the destruction of the whole 
party. Two days after this adventure, two of the 
men fell ill from fatigue and exposure, and sustained 
themselves with difficulty until they reached the banks 
of a river, which was probably the Huron. Here the 
sick men rested, and their companions made a canoe. 
There were no birch trees, and they were forced to 
use elm bark, which, at that early season, would not 
slip freely from the wood until they loosened it with 
hot water. Their canoe being made, they embarked 
in it, and for a time floated prosperously down the 
stream, when at length the way was barred by a 
matted barricade of trees fallen across the water. 
The sick men could now walk again, and pushing 
eastward through the forest, the party soon reached 
the banks of the Detroit."* 

Crossing the river upon a raft, the little company 
made their way through the woods to Lake Erie, along 
the north shore of which they passed, in a canoe, to 
! Niagara. From thence, with three fresh men. La 
1 Salle proceeded to Fort Frontenac, where he arrived 
j on the 6th of May. During sixty-five days (from the 
j time he left Fort Crevecoeur, on Peoria Lake) he had 
! traveled more than a thousand miles, through a wil- 
1 derness inhabited only by wild beasts and wild men. 
I At the foot of Lake Erie, on the spot where the Grif- 
I fin was built, he learned of the loss of the vessel, with 
I her cargo of furs, and also of the wreck of a ship from 
France freighted with his merchandise. At Fron- 
j tenac, he received other discouraging tidings. Pushing 
\ on to Montreal, additional misfortunes were thrust 
J upon his knowledge. His creditors had become im- 
I patient and his property had been seized. 
I The heart of La Salle remained resolute in spite of 
I the complication of troubles which surrounded him. 
I In spite of his impaired credit, he succeeded in 
emyloying twenty-five men — soldiers, voyageurs, ship- 
builders and other mechanics and a surgeon, and was 
able to purchase such supplies as he needed. Then he 
! set out upon the long, weary journey to the Illinois 
country with the firm determination of now complet- 
ing the work he had been compelled to abandon in the 
spring and of realizing the great project to which he 
had dedicated his energies and his life — the explora- 
tion of the Mississippi. At the very outset he received 
news of appalling nature. When he reached Fort 
Frontenac, he found a letter from Tonti awaiting him, 
in which the faithful Italian lieutenant stated that 
nearly all the men left with him at Fort Crevecoeur 
had deserted, after destroying the fort, that they had 

i » Dlscoytrr of the Gr««t West, pp. 179-181. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



19 



also razed to the ground Fort Miamis, and then going 
to Michilimackinac had seized La Salle's property, 
and left for the East with the avowed purpose of 
taking their master's life should they meet him upon 
the lakes. Almost any other heart than La Salle's 
would have been crushed by this last information, but 
he was not to be deterred from his purpose, even by 
the complete destruction of all that his past labors 
had accomplished. He set out upon Lake Ontario, 
met a party of the treacherous villains, boldly attacked 
them, killed several and took the others as prisoners 
to Frontenac, there to await such sentence as the 
Governor should think proper to pronounce upon 
them. Again, he set his face toward the West. He left 
Frontenac on the 10th of August, and, upon the ith of 
November, was at the mouth of the St. Joseph. The 
ruins of the fort corroborated what Tonti had written 
him. He pressed forward, by way of the St. Joseph 
and the Kan-ka-kee to the Illinois River. Passing 
by the ruined Fort Crevecoeur, he followed the Illi- 
nois to its mouth, and beheld for the first time the 
mighty Father of Waters. But this moment which 
La Salle had looked forward to through all his trials 
with the liveliest anticipations, brought little of joy 
to him. Ilis mind was filled with anxiety in regard 
to Tonti and Hennepin. He conjectured that the 
latter was upon the Upper Mississippi (for he had 
instructed him to explore that river to the northward 
as well as to traverse the Illinois), but Tonti, to whom 
he had been warmly attached, he feared had met with 
death. Along the Illinois he had found terrible 
destruction. The Iroquois had made an invasion of 
the country, and the villages of their enemies were 
now only blackened ruins amidst which lay the bones 
of hundreds of Illinois victims. He not unnaturally 
supposed that his lieutenant had met with the same 
terrible fate which had overtaken his Indian friends. 
Tonti had, in fact, been captured by the fierce Iro- 
quois, and, narrowly escaping death, and passing 
through many vicissitudes, finally made his way to 
Michilimackinac, where La Salle met him in June, 
1681. 

In the meantime, however, the great explorer was 
ignorant of his whereabouts and even of his existence. 

Again we find La Salle upon the St. Joseph. He 
returned there from the Illinois in January, 1681. A 
small party of men, whom he had left at the mouth of 
the river in charge of stores in November, re-enforced 
by a number of the original force who had been left 
at Michiliraacinac — in all eighteen souls — under 
command of Sieur de la Forest, had rebuilt Fort 
Miamis, cleared a considerable space around it for 
planting in the following spring, and had made a 
saw-pit from which they had turned out nearly all of 



the timber and planks necessary for the construction ' 
of a vessel. Here, at the mouth of the St. Joseph, 
two centuries ago, was presented the first well-defined 
picture of civilization in what is now the Lower Penin- 
sula of the State of Michigan — the home of nearly a 
million and a-half of people. The little stockade was 
the abiding-place of twenty-five white men during the 
winter of 1680-81. Near by was a group of Indian 
wigwams occupied by Mohicans and Abenakis, who, 
driven from their ancestral lands near the Atlantic, 
had sought a refuge in the Far West, and located for 
the winter under the protection of the French fort. 
The winter months passed slowly and without notable 
incident. Preparations were made for resuming ex- 
ploration in the spring. The master and leading 
spirit of the company employed the days and nights 
in devising plans for future action, and in speculating 
upon the attainment of the end for which he had 
striven. " He might," says Parkman, " have brooded 
on the redoubled ruin that had befallen him — the 
desponding friends, the exulting foes, the wasted 
energies, the crushing load of debt, the stormy past, 
the black and lowering future. But his mind was of 
a diff"erent temper. He had no thought but to grap- 
ple with adversity, and out of the fragments of his 
ruin to rear the fabric of a triumphant success." 

When the first of March came, although there waa 
still snow upon the ground, La Salle, with nineteen 
men, started on a mission to the Illinois Indians, to 
induce them to make peace with the other tribes and 
to locate in the region about Fort Crevecoeur (or its 
site) under French protection. Accomplishing the 
object he sought, the party returned to Fort Miamis. 
An expedition for a similar purpose was made later 
in the spring to the great village of the Miamis on 
the portage between the St. Joseph and the Kanka- 
kee. The conference with the Miamis was success- 
ful, and La Salle congratulated himself on having 
won the friendship of the two most powerful tribes 
through whose country he must pass to the Missis- 
sippi. But before commencing his great undertaking 
he had to return again to Montreal. The long, 
weary journey was made, and in November, 1681, 
La Salle returned to Fort Miamis, accompanied by 
Tonti, whom he had found in June at Michilimack- 
inac. A month was spent at the mouth of the St. 
Joseph in preparation for the great expedition. 

This spot must ever retain an interest as the scene 
of La Salle's frequent visits, the place at which he 
passed most of his time in the Northwest, and where 
this daring but unfortunate explorer, the chief of the 
pioneers of France in Americi , matured the project 
which led him to the mouth of the majestic river. 

On the 21st of December, the first detachment of 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the exploring company commanded by Tonti left ' 
Fort Miamis, coasted along the south shore of the lake, 
and landed at the mouth of the Chicago River. There 
they were joined in a few days by the remainder of the 
force under La Salle." They reached the Mississippi 
on the 6th of February, and on the 6th of April, 1682, ; 
after many adventures, La Salle discovered the three 
passages by which the Father of Waters debouches 
into the Gulf of Mexico. On the 9th, in sight of the 
blue expanse of the sea, with great pomp and cere- 
mony, in the name of Louis XIV, King of France, 
he took possession of all the lands watered by the 
great river, bestowing upon the vast region the name 
of Louisiana. 

Li September, La Salle reached and descended the 
St. Joseph River on his way to Montreal (as he 
supposed), it being his intention to return to IT ranee, 
but at Michilimackinac he received tidings which 
turned him back to the Illinois country. 

Once more he ascended the St. Joseph — late in 
the fall of 1682 — and this was destined to be his last 
view of the beautiful sinuous stream with whose gentle 
meanders and forest-clad banks he had become so 
familiar. He returned to Lake Michigan in the fall 
of 1683, but by way of the Chicago portage, journeyed 
to Quebec, and from there sailed to France. He never 
again visited the northern region of America, but he 
made an expedition to the Gulf of Mexico, landed in 
Texas, and was there basely assassinated by some of 
his own men on the 19th of March, 1687. 

It does not appear that Fort Miamis was regularly 
occupied either as a military post or a base of supply 
by the French, after La Salle's final departure.* Com- 
paratively little is known of the history of the French 
in this immediate region during the century following 
La Salle's explorations. In a subsequent chapter, we 
ahall lay before the reader what information we have 
from various sources upon the mission of St. Joseph 
located at Fort Miamis about the beginning of the 
eighteenth century, and in the meantime conclude this 
chapter with a rapidly drawn outline of the French 
occupation of Michigan. 

The Mission of St. Ignace was founded at the 
Straits of Michilimackinac in 1671. The surround- 
ing region was known by the latter name, and the 
same appellation was given to the military post estab- 
lished there in 1680 — a post which became one of the 
most important in the whole lake region. Up to this 
time, no French garrison had been established upon 
the Detroit River, although the eligibility of the loca- 



tion had long before been noted by explorers, and the 
project of founding a settlement discussed by several 
of the Governors of New France. In 1686, Greysolon 
de Lhut, at that time commandant of Michilimackinac, 
was ordered by Gov. Gen. Denonville to establish a 
fortified post on "d'etroit,"* near Lake Erie. De 
Lhut, however, used his own discretion in so far that 
he located the post near the foot of Lake Huron 
(where Fort Gratiot was built in 1814, by an Ameri- 
can officer). Two years after it was built, this fort, 
which was named St. Joseph, f was evacuated and 
burned by Baron La Hontan, who succeeded De Lhut 
as its commandant. Soon after Fort Detroit was built 
upon the eastern shore of the lake, but, like Fort St. 
Joseph, it soon passed out of existence, and now no 
man knows exactly where it stood. 

It is probable that about this time a few French- 
men located on the Detroit River, on or near the site 
of the future city, but they were not permanent set- 
tlers. If there was any structure like a fort there, it 
must have been merely a post of the Coureurs des bois 
and not recognized by the government. One reason 
why the French had not built a stockade and located 
a garrison at this commanding point was because they 
had, in the Ottawa River, a more direct] route from 
Montreal to Michilimackinac, and the upper lakes than 
the Straits and Lake St. Clair afforded. Some time in 
the year 1700, Antoine de la Motte Cadillac, who 
had become, in 1694, the commandant at Michili- 
mackinac, recognized the fact, as others had before 
him, that the Detroit was the gateway in the direct 
route between the English Colonies and the Iroquois 
country on the one side, and the western lakes on the 
other, and that, however little the French themselves 
might need the strait, it was necessary that they 
should guard it against their allied enemies. Cadillac 
went to France to procure the full measure of author- 
ity, which he wanted, and, obtaining it, returned to 
Canada in March, 1701. On the 24th of July, in 
the same year, he arrived at the site of Detroit, then 
occupied by an Indian village, t and there founded the 
first permanent settlement in Michigan. It was the 
plan of Cadillac to gather all of the Indians of the 
lake region about Detroit, for purposes of trade, and 
he was largely successful, although his efforts were 
strongly opposed by the Jesuit influence. The com- 
pany which formed the settlement at Detroit con- 
sisted of about fifty soldiers and as many Canadian 
merchants and mechanics, a Jesuit who went out as a 
missionary to the Indians, and a RecoUet priest who 



*Sorao writers have stated that Fort Miamis was maintained as a French 
post up to the time or the ReTuiutionarjr war. Tliis is a manifest error. There 
WAS no ftarrison at the month of the St Joseph when Charlevoix visited the 
spot in 17>1. II had been removed, s.ys Judge C.mpbeli in his "OuUlnea of 
qislory," to Soatb Be 
tks year 1700. 



• Soatb Bead. The Jesuit mlsaion of St. Joseph 



ipbeli in 



■ founded about 



donbtlen to the fiict that the latter was on the St. Joseph River. 

IThls wa< a Buron village, and w u called Teuch&a Orondie (or l^j agh.mgh- 
ron.diel. It was probabljr established as earl/ as 1659, hut not permanentljr 
occupied. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



21 



was Chaplain. Under Cadillac, the principal officer 
was Alphonse de Tonti, a brother of Henri de Tonti, 
the companion of La Salle. A fort was erected and 
named after the French Minister, Fort Pontchartrain. ' 
Detroit immediately became, and long remained, a 
post of large commercial consequence, and under the 
patronage of " the Company of the Colony of Can- 
ada," an organization which ha<l, by royal authority, 
a monopoly of the fur trade, it was in fact the center 
of commerce in the great Northwest. Five years 
after it was established, over two thousand Indians 
were living in the vicinity of Detroit. In 1712, it j 
became the scene of terrible carnage. In the absence { 
of the friendly Indians, the Foxes and Mascoutins be- 
sieged the garrison, which was, at that time, under 
command of M. du Buisson, and were in turn be- 
sieged by the allies of the French when they returned, 
and upward of a thousand of their number killed, the 
massacre being attended with circumstances of the 
most horrible atrocity. 

About the time that Detroit was settled, the mouth 
of the St. Joseph, where La Salle and his followers 
had so often been, and where they passed one long, 
dreary winter, again became the scene of French 
activity. The Miarais, who left the country in 1681, 
returned about ten years later, and the Jesuits, ever 
zealous to make proselytes of the natives, soon after 
established among them the mission of St. Joseph. It 
is probable that, at the same time, the name St. 
Joseph was bestowed upon the river which, in the 
earlier period of French exploration, had been called 
the River of the Miamis. The exact date of the 
founding of the mission is not known, but most 
writers place it in the year 1700.* The earliest men- 
tion of it that has been discovered occurs in a letter 
from the Jesuit. Joseph T. Marest, to the Governor 
General of Canada, dated Michilimackinac, August 
16, 1706. After mentioning a plot of the Ottawas 
(which had been temporarily frustrated) for a joint 
attack with the Sacs and Foxes upon the Miamis of 
the St. Joseph, the writer says : " I asked the savages 
if I could send a canoe manned with Frenchman to 
the River St. Joseph with any degree of safety. They 
replied that I could, and urged me to do so, seeming 
to take an interest in the fathers who are there. The 
truth is, they do not feel at liberty to make war upon 
the Miamis, while the rr.isionaries remain there, and 
for that reason would prefer that they should come to 
us. I had previously engaged some Frenchmen to 
carry the news to the River St. Joseph, and to relieve 



clearly Hn orror. LaStllri 

tliftt he fuiind the placo hod ernr be 

Stiloi ImI tail fullowon and (1678) t 



lainn wu OTtablldhed bj CUude Allonez 
country as early as 17ii5. Thin l> very 
^e liny mention which wnuld indicate 
h^lilled. Parlioian laya : ■■ Here he ( La 
1 fun, and here u afttr gtan the Jeeuila 



I our fathers if they were in any difficulty ; but one of 
I them has been so much intimidated by the represen- 
I tations of his friends that he dare not trust himself 
among the savages." 

" As affairs areat present, I do not think the removal 
of the fathers is advisable for that (St. Joseph) is the 
most important post in all this region, except Michili- 
mackinac ; and if the Ottawas were relieved from the 
existence of the mission, they would unite so many 
tribes against the Miamis that in a short time they 
would drive them from this fine country. * * j 
have at last found another Frenchman who is willing 
to go to the River St. Joseph, and I hope the four will 
now depart immediately. We have reason to feel 
anxious concerning the safety of the Fathers on 
account of so many war parties going down on that 
side. At last we shall have news from St. Joseph 
unless our men find too many dangers in the way." 

The Miamis abandoned the St. Joseph Valley and 
the country contiguous to the head of Lake Michigan 
in 1707, and it is probable that the Pottawatomies 
who succeeded them in its occupation came very soon 
after their departure. The Jesuit mission was con- 
tinued among the Pottawatomies. In 1712, it was 
reported by Father Marest as being in a very flour- 
ishing condition and the most important mission on 
the lakes, except Michilimackinac. Its condition,. one 
might judge from these words, was as favorable in 
1712 among the Pottawatomies as in 1706 among 
the Miamis. It had probably been continued without 
any intermission. A military post, too, had by this 
time been established at St. Joseph, and a little colony 
of Canadian traders had an existence under the pro- 
tection of the soldiery, and its members doubtless did 
more toward degrading the Indians than the pious 
Jesuits did toward their elevation. The Pottawato- 
mies, however, were as a nation more tractable and 
more inclined to profit by religious teachings than 
were the Miamis, or, for that matter, any of the other 
tribes of the Northwest. Years after the Jesuits left 
them, and, in fact, down to the time when the tribe 
emigrated to the far West, a large number of them, 
including some of the chiefs, remained earnest adher- 
ents to the faith their ancestors had learned of the 
Jesuits at the old mission of St. Joseph.* 

The Jesuits had another mission upon the St. Jo- 
seph River, near the southern limits of the city of 
Niles. It was established prior to 1721, for Charle- 
voix mentions a visit which he made to it in that year. 
Further than this, there is no authentic information in 
regard to this missionary station, although there are 
some quite circumstantial pretended accounts of it in 

•Th" PciltawatuniiM living io Can and Van Buren Cunnliea, and In 
Northern IndUna are, at Uiia day, with acarcely an excepUon, momben of the 
Boman Caihulic Church. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



existence, and many vague and entirely untrustworthy 
traditions afloat.* It is probable that the mission on 
the site of Niles was not continued for a very long 
period. No allusions are made in the official docu- 
ments of the time to its existence, though the mission 
of St. Joseph is frequently mentioned. But little 
remains to be said of the French occupation of the 
northern lake region. Nothing of great importance 
concerning the peninsula occurred during the period 
embracing the first half of the eighteenth century. 
The several missions were zealously supported, a vast 
traffic with the Indians was carried on, and, in 1749, 
quite a number of French agricultural settlers, en- 
couraged by grants of land, located on the banks of 
the Detroit. Their number did not, however, exceed 
twenty-five hundred in 1761 ; and there were no other 
points of settlement in the Lower Peninsula of 
Michigan except the military establishments and 
the missions. These were merely minute dots of 
civilization upon the border of an unknown wilder- 
ness, in which the savage roamed free, as he had for 
centuries before. France had won a vast though a 
transient dominion. It was destined that the Briton 
should rule the land the Gaul had found ; that the 
standard of the lion should supplant the lilies and the 
cross. Already the forces were in operation which 
were to eflect this result and to mold the future of a 
continent. 



CHAPTER in. 



CONTEST FOR POSSESSION. 

Great Britain Succeeds France in Domination of tlie Nortliwest— 
Michigan Posts Occupied by tlie Britisli— Treaty of 17G3— Hatred 
of the Western Tribes Aroused— Tliey are Craftily Encouraged in 
tlieir Enmity by tlie French— Pontiac's Conspiracy— The Potta- 
watomies join the League— Siege of Detroit— Miissacre of the Gar- 
rison at Fort St. .Joseph— An Exploit of the Tribe of Topinabe— 
Indians Propitiated by the British— The Quebec Bill— Little Ac- 
complished During a Century of French and British Occupation— 
The Revolutionary War— Comiuest of the Northwest by George 
Rogers Clark— Evacuation of Detroit. 

nnHE contest between France and England for 
J- supremacy on American soil was appealed to 
the arbitrament of the sword and settled as have been 
80 many other important issues, in blood. 

The two great powers had transferred their hatred 
from the Old World to the New, and the course of 
circumstances was such as to develop an armed 
hostility. The war of 1754-60 practically terminated 
French dominion in America. Braddock's defeat 
was avenged by the British when Wolfe gained his 
great victory over the French upon the Plains of 



• The last inicM of a small circular earthwork are remiining at Niles, and 
the prevailinK l^cal npiniun is thai this au-called " fori," which snmebrKly has 
given the nsnit* of " Fort Oola," was of French a^nstruction. The French bnilt 
no earthworks in the Indian country ; their forts were all stockades. " Fort 
Oola," of which the full outlines were plainly discernihie when the pioneers came 
into the country, undoubtedly belongs to the pre-historic period. 



Abraham in 1759. Quebec fell in the same year, 
and Montreal on the 8th of September, 1760. On 
the 29th of November, Detroit was surrendered to 
Capt. Robert Rogers and the red cross of St. George 
was raised for the first time upon the soil of Michi- 
gan. 

The French were not immediately called upon to 

surrender their other points of pos.session in the West 

for the reason that the weather became so cold that it 

was impracticable for the English troops to make thalr 

way over Lake Huron. Early in August, 1761, 

however, three hundred men of " the Royal Ameri- 

j cans" — His Majesty's Sixtieth Regiment — command- 

j ed by Lieutenant Leslie, reached Michilimackinac 

' and took possession in the name of the King of 

1 England. A few days later a smaller detachment 

arrived at the St. Joseph River and occupied the fort 

at its mouth, over which the Bourbon flag had floated 

for more than fifty years — during the second period 

I of French occupation at this point. 

The treaty by which France formally ceded to 

i England all of her possessions in America was made 

in Paris in 1763. The peace which it was hoped 

this instrument would secure to the scattered inhabit- 

i ants of the Northwest was rudely broken even before 

! the treaty was promulgated — a fact for which the 

French in the New World were in ;i large measure 

I accountable. 

The change in the ownership of the soil was at- 
I tended by no immediate good results, but on the 
I contrary by many evil ones. Most of the French 
j traders left the country with the French soldiers, and 
' their places were quickly filled by Englishmen. 
Neither the English officers nor the commercial ad- 
venturers who accompanied their march into the West 
were calculated to win the friendship of the savages. 
j The soldiers treated them with rude contempt, and as 
[ vagabonds. The same line of conduct which had 
I estranged the Iroquois (the allies of the English since 
i the time of Champlain) so that they refused to aid 
Braddock in 1755, very soon aroused the hatred of 
the Western tribes. Whatever cause of grievance 
they omitted was supplied by the traders. Many 
I of these, according to Parkman, " were ruffians of the 
coarsest stamp, who vied with each other in rapacity, 
violence and profligacy. They cheated, cursed and 
plundered the Indians, and outraged their families, 
off'ering, when compared with the French traders, a 
most unfavorable example of the character of their 
nation." 

The seeds of disaffection were widely sown. The 

Pottawatomies, the Chippewas and the Ojibways, were 

ready and eager to enter into the conspiracy proposed 

I by the crafty and powerful Ottawa Chief Pontiac, who 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



was also the leader and head of the confederacy, com- | 
posed of the several tribes mentioned. His plan was ! 
to unite the several tribes of the Northwest, and, by a 
preconcerted signal, fall upon all of the British posts 
simultaneously, massacre the garrisons and destroy the 
forts, and so prepare for the return of the French, i 
The French Canadians craftily encouraged the savages i 
by informing them that already the armies of King 
Louis were advancing to reclaim their lost possession. 

In the autumn of 1762, Pontiac sent messengers to i 
the various nations, disclosing his plan, and inviting ! 
them to join the league. The Pottawatomies who, 
at this time, had their principal population in the [ 
country along the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo Rivers, [ 
lent a willing assent to Pontiac's request. Emmissa- 
ries were dispatched to far-distant nations, and these, ' 
in turn, sent representatives to a great council, ap- , 
pointed by the leader, at the River Ecorces, near De- i 
troit, in April, 1763. The plan of the campaign in j 
general was here arranged, and the details were per- I 
fected at a subsequent gathering, held at a Pottawato- 
mie village. The posts to be assaulted were Niagara, 
Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, Venango, Du Quesne (now 
Pittsburgh) Ouiatenon, Detroit, Michilimackinac, 
Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay and St. Joseph, a chain 
extending along more than twelve hundred miles of 
frontier. There was gathered together for this pur- 
pose a vast concourse of Indian warriors from the 
Michigan Peninsulas, from Lake Superior, from the 
region beyond Lake Michigan, from the Ottawa 
River of Canada, and even from the Lower Mississippi 
Valley. So perfect was Pontiac's plan, and so well 
carried out by the allied tribes, that nine of the posts 
fell into their possession, and only three escaped — 
Niagara, Pittsburgh and Detroit. The time set for 
the attack was May. On the 7th of that month, Pon- 
tiac and a number of lesser chiefs presented them- 
selves at thd gates of Fort Detroit, and requested ad- 
mission, saying that they had come to hold a council 
with the commandant. Under the blanket of each 
was concealed a tomahawk and a gun, the barrel of 
which had been filed off short, that it might be more 
effectually hid. It was arranged that at a precon- 
certed signal, the warriors in the council house were 
to throw off their disguise and massacre the officers, 
and that as soon as the first shot was heard, the Indians 
outside the fort should rush in and massacre the 
entire garrison. The chiefs were admitted, but they 
were chagrined to find that knowledge of their treacher- 
ous scheme had been communicated to the command- 
ant. Maj. Gladwyn, and that the most thorough 
preparations had been made to prevent a surprise. 
The garrison was under arms, the cannoneers stood 
by their guns, and the officers who met them in the 



council house had swords and pistols at their sides. 
After a short and hollow harangue with Maj. Glad- 
wyn, Pontiac and his companions, baffled in the accom- 
plishment of their dastardly design withdrew. It is 
traditionally asserted that the British officer in charge 
had been warned of his danger by an Ojibway girl, 
who lived at the Pottawatomie village, where the 
chiefs had been in conference. 

The rage of the discomfited Indians was unbounded. 
They resolved to make an oRea attack, and on the 10th 
of May 800 warriors surrourtded the little fort, and 
assaulted it with all of the fierceness of which they 
were capable. The battle raged from dawn to dark, 
and it seemed as if the garrison must inevitably be 
overcome. The British, however, resisted success- 
fully, and, thwarted again, Pontiac determined upon 
besieging the fort and compelling it* inmates to sur- 
render. The siege was continued five months, and 
during that time several assaults were made, which 
the garrison received as a great roek does the waves 
of the sea. 

The Pottawatomies were present at the first attack 
of Detroit, and during the early stage of the siege, in 
large numbers. They fought under their chief, Ninav6, 
and were given a post of honor in the battle. After 
the unsuccessful attack, they were assigned to the de- 
struction of Fort St. Joseph, in their own country, 
and, with their thirst for blood intensified by their 
repulse at Detroit, the wolfish horde went trooping 
through the wilderness to accomplish the destruction 
of the weaker post. The day fixed upon for the mas- 
sacre of the little garrison was the 25th of May. On 
the morning of that day, the commandment of St. 
Joseph, Ensign Schlosser, was informed that a band 
of Pottawatomies had arrived from Detroit upon a visit 
to the members of the tribe in the vicinity. Probably 
he believed this story, and felt no uneasiness for the 
safety of the garrison. All accounts agree that he 
was taken completely by surprise. Not long after he 
had heard of the presence of the Indians in the neigh- 
borhood, Schlosser was visited by the chief Washash^ 
and a few others of the tribe, who announced that they 
had come for a friendly talk with the white chief. 
While he was engaged in conversation with them, a 
Canadian (who lived in the little settlement founded, 
under the protection of the fort, in 1712) came to him 
with the startling intelligence that the stockade was 
entirely surrounded with Indians, and that their man- 
ner indicated impending trouble. He quickly gave 
orders to his men to fall in instantly, with their arms, 
and returned to the parade ground. During his brief 
absence, more Indians had assembled here, and quite 
a number of tho Canadians had also come in. The 
latter the commandant endeavored to press into his 



HISTOHV OK CASS CtHNTV. MICHIGAN. 



service, but while he was talking to them, the dreadful 
war-whoop was heard, and a scene of carnage quickly 
ensueil. The garrison numbered only fourteen men, 
and i\>uld offer no adequate resistance to the horde of 
savages by which they were surrounded. Eleven men 
were killed and scalped, and the remaining three, 
with Schlosser, were taken prisoners, securely bound, 
and afterward taken to Detroit, where they were finally 
e.xchangeil for some Pottawatomies whom Maj. Glad- 
wyn had captured at the commencement of the siege. 
With the massacre of its garrison in 1763, the history 
of Fort St. Joseph ^originally Fort Miamis) is practi- 
cally closeii. There is no proof that the British again 
occupieil it as a military post, although the forts at 
Green Bay and Michilimackinac, which suftered the 
same fate during the conspiracy of Pontiac, were sub- 
sequently re-established. 

The trading-post at Fort St. Joseph was, at the 
time of the m.issacre, owneil by one Richard Winston. 
He escaped death, as did also several others besides 
the Canadians. The trading-post passed out of exist- 
ence when the garrison fell, and was probably not 
re-opened.* 

The massacre of the garrison at Fort St. Joseph, 
the only event of the Pontiac conspiracy in South- 
western Michigan, was the chief exploit of the Potta- 
watomie Indians. Soon af^er, they, with the Wyan- 
dots, pretended to withdraw from the league which 
Pontiac commanded, and suetl for peace, which was 
grantetl them by Maj. Gladwyn at Detroit. In ac- 
cordance with their treacherous natures, however, they 
still continued inimical to the British, aided in the 
attack on the force of Capt. Dalzell, which was march- 
ing to the relief of Detroit, took j>art in the slaughter 
at Blooiiy Run, on the last of July, and, a month 
later, were among the savages who made an assault 
on the schooner "Gladwyn.' In the last-mentioned 
engagement they suffered severe loss, and it was prob- 
ably their last fight during the siege. 

The war had been a severe one for the British, but 
disastrous to the plans of Pontiac. At its close, the 
English endeavored to bring about such a condition of 
affairs as would preclude the possibility of recurrence 
of hostilities. The French settlers in the West who had 
incited the Indians to war, and in some instances aided 
them in carrying it on, although they had sworn 
allegiance to the British crown, were treated with 
much greater magnanimity than their treachery merited. 
A policy of pacification toward the Indians of the 
Northwest was adopted, and the friendship of most of 



i*Miri<rik«r«i« 



the tribes was won by their late enemy. George 
Croghan, a man familiar with Indian character, was 
sent to the West to confer with representatives of the 
several nations. He reached Detroit August 7,1765. 
The Indians were ready to accept the offers of peace, 
and the propitiatory presents which the emissary of 
Sir William Johnson brought to them. Parkinan 
speaks particularly of a band of Pottawatomies who 
were present, and whose "wise man," after hearing 
Croghan"s reasoning, (intended tosoften their antipathy 
to the English, and to expose the falsehoods of the 
French), thus delivered himself: "We are no more 
than wild creatures to you, fathers in understanding ; 
therefore, we request you to forgive the past follies of 
our young people, and receive us for your children. 
Since you have thrown down our former father (the 
French), upon his back, we have been wandering in 
the dark like blind people. Now you have dispersed 
all this darkness which hung over the heads of the 
several tribes, and have accepted them for your 
children, we hope you will let us partake with them 
the light, that our women and children may enjoy 
peace. We beg you to forget all that is past. By 
this belt we remove all evil thoughts that are in your 
hearts. Fathers, when we formerly came to visit our 
fathers, the French, they alwttys sent us home joyful, 
and we hope that you fathers will have pity on our 
women and young men who are in great want of 
necessaries, and not let us go home to our towns 
ashamed." 

This craven, begging speech, delivered by a chief 
of the tribe which had massacred the garrison at St. 
Joseph, and had an active hand in nearly all of the 
atrocities of the Pontiac war, serves well to illustrate 
one phase of the Indian character — a phase exhibited 
in common by the Pottawatomies and all other tribes. 

From the time of the British accession until 1774, 
civil law had no existence in the western portion of 
the great territory the French had been forced to 
relinquish. Martial law was exercised, and Detroit 
was the seat of the ruling power. In 1774, however, 
the British Parliament passed what was known as the 
" Quebec Bill. " By this act. Michigan and all of the 
lands northwest of the Ohio, and between the great 
lakes and the Mississippi, was made a part of Canada. 
Sir Henry Hamilton was made Lieutenant Governor, 
and was in command at Detroit, which was the British 
headquarters for the Northwest from 1744 until 1779, 
when he was captured by Gen. George Rogers Clark, 
at Vincennes, on the Wabash. 

One hundred years of French and British domi- 
nation witnessed little progress in the condition of 
the great Northwest. In 1780, it was essentially 
what it had been a century b«»fore in the time of La 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



25 



Salle. It was to form a magnificent portion in the 
heritage of, and to be developed bv, the young, strong, 
expansive nation born amidst the throes of the Revo- 
lution. The period of the war from 1775 to 1783 
while crowdef] with results of the most rital impor- 
tance as affecting the future of this region, was not a 
period rich in events within it. There was one, how- 
ever, of immeasurable conse^juence. We refer to the 
conquest of the countrj by Gen. George Rogers 
Clark, of Kentucky, under the authority of the Com- 
monwealth of Virginia. The man who was to take 
so prominent a part in shaping the destiny of the 
great West, was in 1774 an officer in the army of 
Lord Dunmore, which marched against the Indians in 
Ohio, and in 1776 was a pioneer settler in Kentucky. 
He was a realization of the ideal soldier — cool, cour- 
ageous and sagacious, and perhaps at that time the 
most powerful and certainly the most picturesf^uc 
character in the West. It was his foresight and 
prompt, efficient action, which, at the close of the 
Revolutionary war. made the lands between the great 
lakes, the Ohio and the Mississippi, a portion of the 
United States instead of leaving it in the possession 
of the British. He foresaw that even should the 
colonies be victorious in their war for independence, 
they might be confined to the Eastern side of the 
AUeghanies, unless the West was made a special field 
of conquest. He failed to interest the House of 
Burgesses in his scheme, but obtained from Patrick 
Henry, Governor of Virginia, the authority which he 
needed to carry out his plans, viz., commissions which 
emjwwered him to raise seven companies of soldiers, 
and to seize the British posts in the Northwest. In 
January, 1778. he was at Pittsburgh securing ammuni- 
tion and provisions ; in June, he was marching through 
an unbroken forest, at the head of a small, but valiant 
army, principally composed of his fellow pioneers 
from Kentucky. His march was directed toward the 
Illinois country. His able generalship and courige 
soon placed the garrisons of Cahokia, Kaskaskia 
and St. Vincent in his possession, and his equally 
great tact enabled him to win over the French inhabit, 
ants to the American cause, and make of them warm 
allies. And thus the vast country afterward known 
as the Northwest Territory was won. Its cession by 
treaty to the United States, or rather the old confed- 
eration on September 3, 1783, "was due," says an 
eminent authority, "mainly to the foresight, the 
courage and endurance of one man who never received 
from his country an adequate recognition of his great 
service."* 

The treaty was formally ratified by the American 
Congress on the 14th of January, 1784. 

•JuiM A. GarikeU in UMoricsl mUnrn d«liTn«d tn 1873. 



Notwithstanding the nature of the treaty provis- 
ions, the British for a number of years retained pos- 
session of several posts within the ceded territory — 
Oswegatchie 'Ogdensbnrg). Oswego. Niagara, Presque 
Isle (Erie). Sandusky, Detroit and Macinac. They 
rebuilt an old fort on the Maumee in 1794, and did 
not evacuate Detroit until July 12, 1796, when the 
flag of the United States was first unfurled over the 
settlement which was to become the Michigan me- 
tropolis. 



CHAPTER IT. 

<»rTLrVE OF CrVTL mSTORT 

OniinaDceof " ' Vorth- 

we« Terr . rritory 

Organiw ! . nend- 

ing Admi-- War- 

Michigan E'-nvr- iLl U;^-jr iviil_^_j .h Ucu u; ihe Mvunee 
S«am|>— B«moTaJ of the Capital— Coostlititional ConreDtion o( 
IKoO— Lists of Territorial and Slate GoTernois— PopulatloD from 
1T:« to WeU. 

\ S soon as the title to the Northwest was vested in 
-^^^ the United States, Congress took measures to 
clothe it with law. The first endeavor was futile. In 
1794, acommittee, of which Thomas Jefferson was chair- 
man, reported to Congress an ordinance for the establish- 
ment and maintenance of government in the North- 
west Territory. It contained an article prohibiting 
slavery after the year 1800, which, however, was 
stricken out before it came to its passage. The ordi- 
nance remainei] practically inoperative, and the only 
good that was accomplished by its passage lay in the 
fact that it paved the way for a subsequent act of national 
legislation. On May 20. 178.5, Congress oassed the or- 
dinance providing for the survey and sale of Western 
lands (which is spoken of at length in a subsequent 
chapter). 

It was not until the passage of the famous act known 
as the ordinance of 1787 that the civil law of the 
republic had anything more than a nominal existence 
in the region from which the States of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin have 1 een formed. 
Even in a work which gives the history of only a small 
fragment of the great territory covered by the ordi- 
nance of 1787, we deem it appropriate to say a few 
words concerning that great instrument. It was the 
foundation upon which five splendid commonwealths 
were to be built up. the fundamental law, the consti- 
tution of the Northwest Territory, and a sacred com- 
pact between the old colonies and the yet uncreated 
Stat*^ to come into being under its benign influence. 
It forever proscribed slavery upon the soil of the ter- 
ritory it organized, and it is undoubtedly true that to 
this ordinance the people of the nation owe thanks for 
the final complete suppression of the " peculiar insti- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tution " within its borders, for it is probable that had 
the system been allowed a foothold north of the Ohio, 
it would have grown to such proportions as to have 
successfully resisted all measures for its overthrow. 
But when the ordinance is considered simply as an 
act of legislation providing for the opening, develop- 
ment and government of the Territory, its value is not 
less apparent or admirable. It provided for succes- 
sive forms of Territorial government, and upon it were 
based all the Territorial enactments and much of the 
subsequent State legislation. It was so constructed 
as to give the utmost encouragement to immigration, 
and it offered the greatest protection to those who be- 
came settlers, for "when they came into the wil- 
derness, they found the law already there. It was im- 
pressed upon the soil while as yet it upbore nothing 
but the forest. Never, probably, in the history of the 
world, did a measure of legislation so accurately ful- 
fill and yet so mightly exceed the anticipation of the 
legislators."* 

The authorship of the important clauses of the 
ordinance and the causes which really led to its for- 
mation, have, until very recently, been misunderstood. 
The authorship has been commonly ascribed to Nathan 
Dane, Congressman from Massachusetts, and some- 
times accredited to Hufus King of the same State, 
and to Thomas Jeiferson. And yet nothing is clearer 
than that the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, the pastor of a 
Congregational Church, at Ipswich (now Hamilton), 
Mass., and agent of the Ohio company, was the 
true author, at least of the great ideas embodied 
in the ordinance. As agent of the New England 
Ohio Company, he went before Congress to purchase 
an immense tract of land upon the Ohio River, that 
within which Gen. Rufus Putnam and other Revolu- 
tionary characters in the year 1788, made the first 
permanent English settlement in the whole Northwest 
Territory. The ordinance represented and embodied 
the advanced thought of New England — of Massachu- 
setts — and yet this act, embracing a clause prohibit- 
ing slavery was passed by the votes of Southern mem- 
bers of Congress. There were two inducements 
which operated strongly on the minds of the legisla- 
tors, influencing them to grant Dr. Cutler's applica- 
tion for the purchase of a part of the public domain. 
The first was the urgent need of an increase in the 
public revenue. The second was the apparent need 
of planting a strong colony of patriotic men in the 
West to bind it to the east, for it must be remembered 
that about that time it was seriously apprehended that 
Kentucky would embrace the first opportunity to 
separate from the Confederacy and join her fortunes 
with Spain. 

« Chief Justice Salmon 1>. Cbasc. 



The situation of affairs not only made it possible to 
secure the purchase for the Ohio Company, practically 
at his own terms, but to so mold the organic law of 
the Territory in which the lands were situated, as to 
make that purchase desirable. It is only when the 
Ohio Company's purchase and the ordinance of 1787 
are considered in connection with each other, that the 
latter can be properly understood.* 

The settlement of Marietta was made upon the 7th 
of April, 1788. The Governor, Gen. Arthur St. 
Clair arrived there in July of that year, and during 
the same month the first territorial government in the 
United States was formally established. 

Michigan, as an integral part of the Northwest Ter- 
ritory, was under this government until the year 1800. 
Wayne County erected upon the 18th of August, 
1796, by Winthrop Sargent, included the whole of 
the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, with portions of 
Ohio and Indiana. It was entitled to three members 
in the Territorial Legislature, which met in Chilli- 
cothe (Ohio). 

Indiana Territory was erected by an act of Con- 
gress passed on the 7th of May, l-sOO. It consisted 
of that part of the Northwest Territory lying west of 
a line drawn from the Ohio, opposite the Kentucky 
River, to Fort Recovery, and thence due north to the 
line dividing the LTnited States from the British pos- 
session. This line divided the Lower Peninsula 
almost exactly in the center, crossing the Straits of 
Mackinac and meeting the international line above 
the Sault Ste. Marie. Cass County, being west of this 
line, was in Indiana Territory, of which William 
Henry Harrison was appointed Governor. Ohio 
being organized as a State upon the 29th of Novem- 
ber, all of that part of Michigan, which lay east of 
the boundary line between the two Territories and which 
had remained in the Northwest Territory was added 
to Indiana Territory. The capital was fixed at Vin- 
cennes. 

The Territory of Michigan was erected by act of 
Congress passed on the 11th of January, 1805, 
which, however, did not take effect until June 30 of 
the same year. On the 26th of February, the Presi- 
dent nominated the Territorial officers who were en- 
dowed with legislative power. Gen. William Hull 
was nominated for Governor and Hon. A. B. Wood- 
ward for the office of Presiding Judge. Both 
were confirmed, and the officers proceeded to Detroit, 
the capital, Judge Woodward arriving there on the 
29th of June, and Gov. Hull upon the Ist of 

•Williitm F. Pool« (Librarian of llie Cliicago Public Library), In an admir- 
aMe article In the Wortt Amtrieitm Htvieie, for April, 1878, on the ordinance and 
Dr. CutlerV ajsency in ita formation, says: "The ordinance of 1787 and the 
Ohio purcliuse »er« parts of one and the same transaction The purchase 
teould not have been uuide without tlje ordinance, and the ordinance could no/ 
have been except as an essential condition of (he purchase. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



27 



July. Upon the 2d, the Territorial government went 
into active operation. Its jurisdiction originally in- 
cluded only the Lower Peninsula, but when Illinois 
was made a State in 1818, the. region now known as 
Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula were added to 
Michigan Territory, and in 1834 the far-away lands 
of Iowa and Minnesota were attached temporarily. 

The war of 1812 was the most important event 
which occurred during the existence of the Territorial 
government. It is beyond our province to speak of 
that struggle in this chapter, and we only allude to 
it for the sake of making the observation that it 
brought about indirectly one great good for Michigan 
— the appointment of Gen. Lewis Cass as Governor. 
The oflSce was given to him upon the 13th of October, 
1813, and he held it until 1831. His administra- 
tion was an able one and he did much to promote the 
prosperity of the Territory by various wise measures. 

In 1819, Michigan was authorized to send a dele- 
gate to represent her people in Congress. The first 
delegate chosen was William Woodbridge. In 1823, a 
Legislative Council, consisting of nine members was 
appointed by the President of the United States, and 
two years later the number was increased to thirteen. 
This was a change which completely revolutionized 
the Territorial government, as it removed the legis- 
lative power from the Judges. 

The period from 1820 to 1830 was one of great im- 
provement in Michigan. The introduction of steam 
navigation (1818) and the placing of lands in the 
market had stimulated emigration. The white popu- 
lation of the Territory which, in 1820, was less than 
9,000 souls, had, by 1830, been increased to over 
31,000. The advance in legislation and method of 
government kept apace with that of material improve- 
ment. A judiciary system was established and 
militia organized. In 1827, the elective system was 
resorted to for the choice of a body of as many mem- 
bers as the Legislative Council contained, to act in 
union with that assemblage. 

In July, 1831, Gen. Cass resigned his office to 
take a seat in the cabinet of President Jackson, and 
Gen. George B. Porter, of Pennsylvania, was ap- 
pointed Governor in his place, entering upon the dis- 
charge of the duties of his office in September. 

As early as 1830, it had become apparent that 
Michigan must soon pass from the Territorial to the 
State form of government. The ordinance of 1787 
made provision for the erection of not less than three 
nor more than five States from the Northwest Terri- 
tory. Three had been formed prior to 1818, viz., 
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Michigan was entitled 
to knock at the door of the Union for admittance as a 
State whenever her free white population should num- 



ber 60,000. On the 29th of June, 1832, a statute 
was passed to call an election on the first Tuesday of 
October to determine whether it be expedient for the 
people of this territory to form a State government. 
" The result of tiie election," says Judge Campbell 
(in his Outlines of the Political History of Michigan) 
" was a very decisive expression in favor of the 
change." This was the first action taken tending 
toward the establishment of the State, and it does not 
appear that there was any other until 1834. In that 
year, the Territory contained a population of 87,273, as 
was shown by a census taken by order of the Legisla- 
tive Council. The increase over the population of 
1830 was 61,768. " More people had come into 
Michigan in four years than the 60,000 which entitled 
her to become a State,"* and this did not include any 
part of the emigration into that portion of the territory 
west of Lake Michigan (Wisconsin). At its session of 
January, 1835, the council passed an act authorizing 
the holding of a convention at Detroit on the second 
Monday of May following, for the purpose of forming 
a State Constitution. This convention composed of 
eighty-nine delegates met upon the day specified and 
continued in session until June 24. A constitution 
was formed which was submitted to the people upon 
the first Monday in October, at which time also a full 
set of State officers, members of the Legislature and a 
representative to Congress were elected. The consti- 
tution was ratified, Stevens T. Mison was elected 
Governor ; Edward Munday, Lieutenant Governor, 
and Isaac E. Crary, Representative. 

Michigan had now two governments, State and Ter- 
ritorial ; Gov. Mason at the head of the former, 
which still lacked the recognition of Congress and 
Secretary (Acting Governor) John S. Horner, who 
had been appointed just prior to the election, holding 
his place at the head of the Territorial Government. 

The heated controversy in regard to the Southern 
or Ohio boundary line, which has gone into history 
under the sanguinary title of "the Toledo war" 
delayed the admission of Michigan into the Union. 
This was a contest between Michigan and Ohio, in 
regard to the possession of a strip of land extending 
from the Indiana line eastward to the mouth of the 
Maumee River, embracing the site of Toledo. It was 
almost five miles wide at the west end, and eight at its 
eastern extremity. The land belonged in equity to 
Michigan, the line which her people claimed being 
that established by the ordinance of 1787. Action 
had been taken at various times by the State of Ohio, 
the Territorial authorities of Michigan and the Con- 
gress of the United States, looking toward a settle- 
ment of the rival claims, but nothing definite had 

•James V. CanipbeU's History of Michigan. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



been accomplished. On the 23d of February, 1835, 
the Ohio Legislature passed a resolution declaring the 
disputed strip to be the property of Ohio, and pro- 
viding for the re-survey of the line and the marking of 
the strip into townships. Michigan had, at this time, 
held possession of the Territory for thirty years, sue- 1 
cessfully opposing attempts to collect taxes under 
Ohiolaws,andtheLegislativeCouncil!ipprehendingtlie j 
action of the Ohio Legislature passed an act on the 12th 
of February, prohibiting any person or persons from 
exercising official functions in the Territory of Michi- i 
gan, except upon authority derived from the Territorial 
Government, or from the United States. The people 
of the tract in dispute were divided in allegiance 1 
between the contesting authorities, some taking sides 
with Michigan and some with Ohio. On the 9th of 
March, Gov. Mason ordered Gen. Joseph W. Brown, 
in command of the Third Division of Michigan Militia? 
to be ready to repel any invasion of the Territory. 
Gov. Lucas, of Ohio, with a party of surveyors and I 
about six hundred militia, approached the boundary 
line about the last of the month. Simultaneously, or 
nearly so, Gov. Mason marched into Toledo with a 
force of from eight hundred to twelve hundred men. 
Gov. Lucas made ready to attack the Michigan army, 
and serious bloodshed was probably only avoided by 
the intervention of two Commissioners, sent from 
Washington to settle the dispute. A truce was patched 
up, but after a few weeks, Gov. Lucas' surveyors 
beginning their work, were again attacked and put to 
flight. The onslaught was a bloodless one. Nine | 
Ohioans were taken prisoners. In Ohio a special | 
session of the Legislature was called to take action 
upon this insult. It met on the 8th of June, passed 
an act to prevent the forcible abduction of Ohio citi- j 
zens ; one to establish the country of Lucas in the 
disputed territory, with Toledo as its seat of justice ; 
another to hold a session of the Circuit Court there on 
the 7th of September following, and made an appro- 
priation of $300,000 for carrying on the war. Ten 
thousand volunteers were raised in short order. 
Matters were becoming serious. President Jackson 
advised that the quasi agreement made by the Gov- 
ernors before the Commissioners be observed, and 
that the parties abstain from pressing their claims 
until Congress could meet. Meanwhile the 7th of 
September approached, and to prevent the holding of 
the proposed court at Toledo, Gen. Brown repaired to 
the vicinity with a force of militia, estimated at over 
twelve hundred. It is said that the court was organ- 
ized in the night in spite of the watchfulness of the 
soldiery. However that may have been. Gen. Brown's 
force was soon after disbanded. In the meantime, 
numerous arrests had been made, a number of people 



imprisoned, some small hostilities engaged in (personal 
encounters) and a furious indignation aroused. 

Such was the condition of things (although actual 
hostilities had ceased) when on June 15, 1836, Con- 
gress accepted the Constitution of Michigan, and 
passed an act, admitting her as a State on condition 
that she accede to the boundary claims of Ohio. In 
September, a convention of regularly elected delegates 
was held at Ann Arbor, to act upon the proposition of 
Congress and rejected it. On the 14th of December, 
another convention was held, which was made up 
entirely of delegates known to be in favor of accept- 
ing theproposition. This gathering was known from 
the cold nature of the weather at the time it was held, 
and from the illegality of its action, as the "Frost- 
Bitten Convention." The convention voted unani- 
mously, and with much alacrity to accept the condi- 
tions imposed by Congress, and that body acting upon 
the acceptance formally admitted Michigan as a State 
upon the 26th of January, 1837- The principal 
irregularity in the convention lay in the fact that it 
was not called by the Legislature. Its members and 
those who had favored it were, for several years, deri- 
sively dubbed "submissionists." Theirsubmission was, 
however, an act of great value to Michigan. As an 
inducement to Michigan to forego claim to the long- 
disputed strip of land along the southern border, she 
was given the Upper Peninsula, which has proven a 
domain of far greater value. 

"The State," says Judge Campbell, "was recog- 
nized when admitted as having existed as such since 
November, 1835, when the Senators and Repre- 
sentatives, Governor and Legislature, came into 
office." 

The admission of Michigan into the Union, was 
further complicated by being connected with the 
admission of Arkansas. The measure was thus made 
one of political character. 

The seat of government, by act of the Legislature 
approved March 16, 1847, was removed from Detroit 
to Lansing. 

The new constitution — the one now in force — was 
adopted by a convention which met at Lansing June 
3, 1850, and ratified by the people at the November 
election following. 

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OF MICHIGAN. 

Following are the names of the Chief Executives, 
who have governed Michigan as a part of the North- 
west Territory, Indiana Territory, Michigan Terri- 
tory, and as a State : 

Northwest Territory— Gen. Arthur St. Clair — 
1787-1800. Winthrop Sargent (Secretary and Act- 
ing Governor), 1796-1800. 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



29 



Indiana Territory — Gen. William Henry Harrison 
1800 to 1805. 

Michigan Territory — Gen. William Hull from 
March 1, 1805, to August 16, 1812. Gen. Lewis 
Cass from October 13, 1813, to August 1, 1831. 
(During his administration, William Woodbridge, the 
Secretary, was Acting Governor at several periods.) 
James Witherell, Secretary and Acting Governor 
from January 1, 1830, to April 2, 1830. Gen. John 
T. Mason, Secretary and Acting Governor from Sep- 
tember 24, 1830, to October 4, 1830, and from April 
4 to May 27, 1831. Stevens Thomson Mason, 
Secretary and Acting Governor from August 1, 
1831, to September 17, 1831. Gen. George B. 
Porter, Governor from August 6, lfe31, to death, 
July 6, 1834. Stevens Thomson Mason, Secretary 
and Acting Governor at various periods from 
October 30, 1831, to February 7, 1834. Stevens 
Thomson Mason, exofficio Governor as Secretary 
of the Territory, July 6, 1834, to August 29, 
1835. Charles Shaler was appointed to succeed 
Mason as Secretary August 29, 1835, but declined. 
John S. Horner, Secretary and Acting Governor, 
September 8, 1835, until after organization of State 
government. 

State Governors under Constitution of 1835 — 
Stevens T. Mason, November 3, 1835, to April 13, 
1838. Edward Mundy (Lieutenant Governor and 
Acting Governor), April 13 to June 12, 1838, and 
September 19 to December 9, 1838. William Wood- 
bridge, January 7, 1840, to February 23, 1841. James 
Wiight Gordon (Lieutenant Governor and Acting 
Governor), February 24, 1841, to January 3, 1842. 
John S. Barry, Governor, January 3, 1842, to Jan- 
uary 5, 1846. Alpheus Felch, January 5, 1846, to 
March 3, 1847. William L. Greenley (Lieutenant 
Governor and Acting Governor), March 4, 1847, to 
January 3, 1848. Epaphroditus Ransom, Governor, 
January 3, 1848, to January 7, 1850. John S. 
Barry, Governor, January 7, 1850, to January 1, 
1852. 

Under the Constitution of 1850— Robert McClel- 
land, January 1, 1852, to January 5, 1853. Andrew 
Parsons (Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor), 
March 8, 1853, to January 3, 1855. Kinsley S. 
Bingham, January 3, 1855, to January 5, 1859. 
Moses Wisner, January 5, 1859, to January 2, 1861. 
Austin Blair, January 2, 1861, to January 4, 1865. 
Henry H. Crapo, January 4, 1865, to January 6, 
1869. Henry P. Baldwin, January 6, 1869, to Jan- 
uary 1, 1873. John J. Bagley, January 1, 1873, to 
January 3, 1877. Charles M. Crosswell, January 3, 
1877, to January 1, 1879. David H. Jerome, Jan- 
uary 1, 1881, to . 



POPULATION. 

The population of Michigan (white) at various pe- 
riods from 1796 to 1880, has been as follows : 

1796 (cstiinateJ) 3,000 

1800 3,200 

1810 4,762 

1820 8,896 

1830 31.6.S9 

1834 87,273 

1840 212,267 

1850 397,6 4 

1854 (Sittte census) 507.621 

1860 (United Stales census) 749,113 

1864 (State census) 803,661 

1870 (United States census) 1,184,282 

1874 (Slate census) 1,334,031 

1880 (United States census) 1,636,885 



ClIAPTEE V. 

LAND TITLE AND SURVEY. 

Ownersliip of the Northwest— The Claims of France and EnRland— 
Of States— Their Cession to the United States-System of Survey 
Introduced in ITSii- Its Benefits- Modifications for Michigan- 
Survey of Cass County Lands— Land Sales at White Pigeon— 
I'nfavorable Report on Michigan Lands— School Lands— Indian 
Title Extinguished— The Treaty of Chicago in 1821— Other Nego- 
tiations. 

FRANCE, as we have seen, was the first civilized 
nation that laid claim to the soil of the territory 
now included within the boundaries of the State of 
Michigan, as an integral portion of the great Northwest 
and the Mississippi Valley. Her claim was based 
upon the discoveries of La Salle and Marquette, and 
upon the provisions, subsequently, of several European 
treaties. The English claims rested on the priority 
of their occupation of the Atlantic coast in latitude 
corresponding to the territory claimed, upon an oppo- 
site construction of the treaties upon which the French 
relied and upon alleged cession of the rights of the 
Indians. The last was the principal ground of their 
claim. As has been heretofore shown in this volume, 
France successfully resisted the claims of England, 
and maintained control of the territory between the 
Ohio, the Mississippi and the lakes, by force of arms, 
until the treaty of Paris was consummated in 1763. 
By the provisions of this treaty. Great Britain came 
into possession of the disputed lands, and retained it 
until the ownership was vested in the United States 
and confirmed by the treaty of 1783. 

All of England's charters to the colonies 'expressly 
extended their grants from sea tq sea. From the na- 
ture of these charters, arose grave trouble when the 
American confederation was formed. The conflicting 
claims of States, or more properly colonies, threatened 
even to disrupt the infant nation. Happily, however, 
they were ceded within a few years, and all rights and 
titles were consolidated and vested in the Genenil Gov- 
ernment. New York State, which had a charter ob- 
tained from Charles II in March, 1664, embracing 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



territory west of her borders (which had formerly been 
granted to Massachusetts and Connecticut) made ces- 
sion of her claim in 1781. Virginia, with a far more 
valid title, followed in 1784, making, however, a large 
reservation (in Ohio). Massachusetts ceded her claims, 
without reservation, the same year, and Connecticut 
gave up to Congress all her "right, title, interest, jur- 
isdiction and claim to the lands northwest of the Ohio, 
excepting the Connecticut Western Reserve (about 
3,300,000 acres of land in Northeastern Ohio) in the 
year 1786. 

METHOD OF SURVEY. 

Even before the last of the.'.e measures had been 
consummated, Congress began the consideration of 
two very important matters — the extinguishment of 
the Indian title to the soil of the Territory Northwest 
of the Ohio River, and a plan for surveying it, prepar- 
atory to sale and settlement of the lands. Passing, 
for the present, the former subject, we devote a small 
space to the consideration of the system of the gov- 
ernment survey. 

The provision under which the lands of the North- 
west Territory were surveyed into uniform sections 
and townships was contained in an ordinance passed 
by Congress May 20, 1785. Time has demonstrated 
the wisdom of its measures. They were undoubtedly 
first suggested by Gen. Rufus Putnam, in a letter ad- 
dressed to George Washington, in June, 1783, and 
modified in a small degree by William Henry Harri- 
son when he was the Representative of the North- 
west Territory in Congress in 1800, but in all essen- 
tial particulars the plan of survey prescribed by the 
ordinance of 1785 has remained unchanged down to 
the present time. The ordinance provided that "the 
surveyors, as they are respectively qualified, shall pro- 
ceed to divide the said Territory into townships of six 
miles square, by lines running due north and south 
and others crossing these at right angles as near as 
may be." * * * " The geographer shall desig- 
nate the townships or fractional parts of townships by 
numbers, progressively from south to north, always 
beginning each range with number one ; and the 
ranges shall be distinguished by their progressive 
numbers to the westward, the first range, extending 
from the Ohio to Lake Erie, being marked one. The 
plats of the townships, respectively, shall be marked 
by subdivisions into Ibts of one mile square, or 640 
acres, in the same direction as the external lines, and 
numbered from one to thirty-six, always beginning 
the succeeding range of the lots with the number next 
to that with which the preceding one concluded." 

The division of the land into townships of fixed 
size paved the way for the introduction of the admira- 
ble New England system of town or township organ- 



ization, of which political economists have had much 
to say. In nearly all of the Southern States the 
county is the unit of political organization, the 
township being scarcely known. Many writers have 
regarded the systems in vogue in the North and the 
South as in a large measure affecting the condition of 
the two sections as regards their general advancement 
and civilization. 

But considered in relation to its more immediate ef- 
fects, the system of survey and township division 
which has prevailed in the Northwest Territory has 
been one of almost incalculable good. Daniel Wester, 
speaking in the Senate of the United States in 1830, 
upon the two methods of disposing of the public do- 
main — the Northern and the Southern — said that the 
latter — that of warrants and patents— "was one 
which had shingled over the country in which it had 
been applied with conflicting titles and claims, 
causing the two great evils in a new country of spec- 
ulation and litigation." " From the system actually 
established" (in the North) said he, "these evils are 
banished. * * * I^ effecting this great system, 
* * * New England acted with vigor and effect, 
and the latest posterity of those who settled northwest 
of the Ohio will have reason to remember with grat- 
itude her patriotism and her wisdom. New England 
gave the system to the West, and while it remains, 
there will be spread all over the West one monument 
of her intelligence in matters of government and her 
practical good sense." 

The first surveying under the new ordinance was 
done in 1786, in what was known as the "seven 
ranges " in Eastern Ohio. The first land surveys in 
Michigan were made in 1816, in the vicinity of the 
Detroit River. 

In the survey of the public lands of Michigan, 
there was a departure from some of the minor and 
unimportant provisions of the ordinance of 1785. A 
base line and principal meridian were established, and 
the townships numbered north and south from the 
former, while the ranges were numbered east and 
west from the latter. The Michigan meridian was 
the first one located in the United States public lands, 
and is called " the First Principal Meridian." It 
passes through the State (of course, in an axact north 
north and south direction), from a point where the 
boundaries of Ohio and of Hillsdale and Lenawee 
Counties meet, to a point in Cheboygan County, 
nearly south of Bois Blanc Island. The base line 
crosses the State from east to west, and forms the 
northern boundaries of the Counties of Wayne, 
Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van 
Buren. 

In the survey of the Territory, three lines were 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



31 



run parallel with the base line, called "auxiliary " or 
" correction lines." They are about sixty miles 
apart and all north of the base line. Another pre- 
caution taken against errors was the establishment of 
" Guide Meridians," surveyed at convenient distances 
— usually forty-eight miles apart. 

The lands of Cass County — Townships 5, 6, 7 and 
8, south of the base line, in Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 
Ifi west of the Principal Meridian — were surveyed in 
the years 1826 to 1830. Most of the boundary lines 
(township and range divisions), were surveyed by 
William Brookfield in 1827, and it is probable that 
he was responsible for the work done in all. The 
County Surveyor's book indicates, however, that the 
boundaries of Township 8 south. Range 13 west, 
were run by Robert Clark, Jr. The earliest date 
reported as that of the survey of any of the lands of 
Cass County is December, 1826. William Brookfield 
certifies that he finished running the boundaries of 
Township 7 south, Range 13 west, at that time. In 
the following year his company consisted of Orlean 
Putnam and Chester Ball, chainmen ; Nathan 
Young (after whom Young's Prairie was named), ax- 
man ; a packer, named Joel Wellman ; and Emory 
Stewart, who served in the capacity of cook. In 
1828, Orlean Putnam's brother, Benjamin, took the 
place of Ball as chainman, a man named Bartlett was 
ax-man, and one George Claypole, cook. Of this 
company of surveyors, Orlean Putnam, of La Grange 
Township, is believed to be the only one still living. 
Brookfield died in Texas. Besides the surveyors 
mentioned, there were engaged in running the sub- 
divisions (section lines) in Cass County and adjoining- 
lands, John Mullett and Calvin Britain. 

LAND SALES. 

In 1818, there was brought into market the first 
public lands sold under United States governmental 
provision in Michigan.* A land office had been es- 
tablished in Detroit in 1801, and a few titles given, 
which, although they may not have been strictly legal, 
were ccnfirmed by subsequent acts of Congress. 

The lands sold in 1818 were all in the vicinity of 
Detroit. In 1823, the Detroit Land District was 
divided, and a land office established at Monroe, at 
which all entries of lands west of the principal merid- 
ian were made up to 1831. All lands were at first 
offered at public sale, and, after the bids were all in, 
the office was closed while they were being examined, 
causing a delay which greatly annoyed those i)ur- 
chasers who were or intended to become settlers. The 

*The earliest legal conveyance of land in Micliigati was in tlie time of tlie 
French ocrnpnllon, in llie year 1707, l>y Antoine do la Motte Cadllac, Ihe 
French conimamJant, to Francis Falf-irde Delorme. In tlie American State 
paper«(Public Lands), it is stated that but eight legal titles to lands In Michigan 
were given during the French and English cccnpatlon. 



plan was considered ailvantageous to the speculators, 
and on account of that fact and some others the sys- 
tem of public sales was finally abolished. 

In 1831, a land office was opened at White Pigeon 
(St. Joseph County), for the entry of lands west of 
the principal meridian, and in 1834 it was removed 
to Kalamazoo (then called Bronson), where it was con- 
tinued until about 1858. Another office was estab- 
lished at Ionia, in 1838. The sales, while the office 
, was at White Pigeon, were comparatively small. At 
Kalamazoo they were extensive, and reached the max. 
imum in 1836, when upward of $2,000,000 was re- 
ceived there. The amount of lands disposed of from 
1831 to January, 1838, are shown in the subjoined 
table : 



EARS. 



1882., 



179.93 



Amt. Kec'd. 

117,12« 26 
'.18,060 23 

1833 9.5.980.25 123,466 25 

1834 128,244.47 160,321 85 

18.55 745,661.34 932,076 64 

1836 1,634,511.82 2,048,866 87 

1837 313,855.15 394,316 77 

The total amount of moneys received in the Kala- 
mazoo Land District from 1831 to 1858, was about 
$4,375,000, of which all but about $400,000 was re- 
ceived while the office was in Kalamazoo Village. The 
area of the district was 118 townships, which would 
have included, had all been full Congressional town- 
ships, 4,248 square miles, or 2,718,720 acres. The 
fractional townships along the Indiana line somewhat 
reduces these estimates. The entire counties of Cass, 
Berrien, St. Joseph, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo 
and Van Buren, and all of the counties of Barry and 
Allegan, except the northern tier of townships in each, 
were included in this district. The Registers of the 
Kalamazoo Land Office were Maj. Abraham Edwards, 
from 1831 to 1849 ; T. S. At Lee, from 1849 to 1857, 
and Volney Ilascall in the years 1857 and 1858. 

When the lands were first offered for sale in 1818, 
the price per acre was fixed at $2, one-fourth of which 
was required to be paid down, and the remainder in 

' three annual payments. The lands bought were sub- 
ject to forfeiture if the payments were not met. The 

I Government, however, did not choose to take the im- 

I provements of those settlers who were delinquent, 
and finally, about 1832, the credit system was abol- 
ished, and the price reduced to $1.25 per acre. 

An unfavorable report made upon Michigan lands 
by a military board of survey, had a marked effect in 
retarding the settlement of the Territory. An act of 
Congress of May 6, 1812, authorized the survey of 
two million acres of land in Michigan (and the same 

1 amount in each of the Territories of Louisiana 
and Illinois), to be set apart for the payment of 
the bounty_ awards of the Revolutionary soliiiers. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The surveyors reported, after an examination of 
the eastern part of the State, that there were no 
lands there fit for cultivation, and that the character 
of the country appeared to grow worse toward 
the interior of the State. Congress assuming the re- 
port to be substantially correct, in April, 1816, passed 
an act repealing so much of the law of 1812 as per- 
tained to Michigan and ordering the location of a simi- 
lar quantity of lands in Missouri and Arkansas. The 
report and the consequent action of Congress deterred 
many people from seeking homes in the Territory, and 
it was not until after 1830 that the bad reputation of 
Michigan lands was removed by the representations 
of actual settlers and the tide of emigration which had 
been flowing to the farther West was turned. The 
report was not, however, without its good efifect. 
Had it been favorable to the location of the soldiers' 
lands, the Territory would doubtless have been over- 
run with speculators and "land sharks," who would 
have bought up many of the warrants, and in that 
event great tracts of lands would have been held by 
non-residents. 

Cass is one of the seven counties in the. State in 
which there are no public lands for sale, the others 
being Hillsdale, Lenawee, Macomb, Shiawassee, AYash- 
tenaw and Wayne. This argues well for the quality 
of Cass County lands. 

SCHOOL LANDS. 

The ordinance of 1785. for the survey of the terri- 
tory of the United States, northwest of the River 
Ohio, provided that Section 16 of every township should 
be reserved for school purposes. One of the clauses 
in the famous ordinance of 1787 declared that 
" schools and the means of education shall ever be 
encouraged." The legislators of the old States laid 
well the foundations of the new. An act passed in 
1804 providing for the sale of the lands in the Indiana 
Territory, from which was afterward carved the States 
of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, reiter- 
ated the principles laid down in former instruments, 
and expressly reserved the school sections from sale, 
and the action taken by the Territory of Michigan, 
when it was formed in 1805, was confirmatory. 
When the State government was formed in 1835, it 
was provided that Section 16 should be granted to the 
State for the use of schools. It had originally been 
designed to give each township the section within its 
own limits, but as it frequently was the case that the 
section was entirely worthless that plan would, had 
it been carried out, have resulted in an unjust distri- 
bution of benefit, which could only have been recti- 
fied through an immense deal of trouble by making 
grants in lieu, and it is doubtful indeed whether such 



proceeding could be resorted to._ As it is, all of the 
schools of the State have shared alike in the school 
fund. The number of acres, of school land in the 
State is not far from 1,000,000, of which over one- 
half has been sold. The fund derived from the sale 
is upward of $2,500,000, and, when all the lands 
are sold, it will probably reach §5,000,000. 

INDIAN TREATIES. 

We have intentionally left for the conclusion of this 
brief chapter a review of those measures by which the 
Indian title to the soil was extinguished, although some 
of them belong chronologically to a period earlier than 
topics already treated of 

The National Congress, for a few years, acted upon 
the policy that the treaty of peace with Great Britain 
in 1783, had invested the United States with the fee 
simple of all the Indian lands ; but, about 1787, tlie 
Government came to regard the Indians as possessing 
a proprietary right in the soil, and all of its treaties 
with them subsequently were treaties of purchase, or 
treaties confirmatory of purchase. The various tribes 
were, of course, frequently forced to accept terms 
which they bitterly repented. Especially was this 
the case, when they came to realize how fast they 
were being dispossessed of their old domain, and pushed 
toward the far West by the provisions of the treaties 
which they had signed. 

The first treaty which bore directly upon the abro- 
gation of aboriginal title to the soil, now included in 
the bounds of Michigan, was that which was concluded 
at Greenville, Ohio, on the 3d of August, 1795, in 
which the United States was represented by Gen, 
Anthony Wayne. Among the many Indian tribes, 
whose chiefs and head men were present and signed this 
treaty, were the Pottawatomies, Ottawas and Chip- 
pewas, who had their homes in Michigan. They were 
the tribes chiefly affected by the cession to the Govern- 
ment of a strip of land six miles wide, extending along 
the west bank of the Detroit River, from the River 
Raisin to Lake St. Clair, including, of course, the 
military post at Detroit. Appended to this treaty 
was the name of Thu-pe-ne-ba (Tofinab6), head chief 
of the Pottawatomies. 

At the treaty of Detroit, negotiated in November, 
1807, by Gov. William Hull, the Pottawatomie, Chip- 
pewa, Ottawa and Wyandot tribes ceded to the United 
States their claim to a region which may be best 
described as including the whole southeastern part of 
Michigan, all east of the line on which the principal 
meridian was afterward established, and south of the 
present center of Shiawassee County. 

Instead of enforcing the forfeiture of their lands, 
of which it was considered the Pottawatomies, Ottawas 



HISTOHV OF CASS COrXTY. MICHKiAN. 



and Chippewas were deserving, because of their alliance 
with the British during the war of 1812, the Govern- 
ment adopted a friendly and conciliatory policy toward 
them. At the treaty of Springwells (near Detroit), 
negotiated by Gen. William Henry Harrison, Gen.' 
Duncan McArthur and John Graham, Esq., all of the 
possessions, rights and privileges which these tribes 
enjoyed before the war, were restored to them. 

An immense tract of Michigan territory was ceded 
to the United States at the treaty of Saginaw, con- 
cluded September 24, 1819. This treaty was brought 
about through the instrumentality of Gov. Cass, 
ex officio Indian Commissioner. The ceded land was 
a tract which extended from the boundary line of 1807 
as far westward as the center of Kalamazoo County, 
and northward to Thunder Bay River. The cession 
was made by the Chippewas and Ottawas, the Potta- 
watomies making no claim to the territory. 

The Chicago treaty of 1821 was the one at which 
the lands now contained in Cass County were ceded. 
It was negotiated upon the 29th of August, at Fort 
Dearborn, by Gov. Cass and Solomon Sibley, with the 
Pottawatomies, Chippewas and Ottawas, the first 
named being the tribe principally interested, and the 
others signing the instrument as auxiliaries or friends. 
The boundary line of the ceded territory was described 
as follows : 

" Beginning at the south bank of the St. Joseph 
River of Michigan, near Pare aiix Vaches (the cow 
pasture), thence south to a line running due east from 
the southern extremity of Lake Michigan ; thence 
along that line to the tract ceded by the treaty of 
Fort Meigs, in 1817, or if that tract should be found 
to lie entirely south of the line, then to the tract ceded 
by the treaty of Detroit in 1807 ; thence northward 
along that tract to a point due east of the source of 
Grand River; thence west to the source of that river; 
thence down that river on the north bank to its 
junction with Lake Michigan ; thence southward along 
the east bank of the lake to the St. Joseph River ; 
and thence up that river to the place of beginning.' 

This tract contained nearly eight thousand square 
miles, and embraced the whole of the counties of Cass, 
St. Joseph, Branch, Hillsdale, Callioun, Kalamazoo, 
Van Buren, Allegan, Barry and Eaton, large portions 
of Berrien and Ottawa, and parts of Kent, Ionia, 
Jackson and Ingham. From these lands, five small 
tracts were reserved. At least three-fourths of the 
tract belonged to the Pottawatomies, and the United 
States, in consideration of their cession, agreed to 
pay the tribe yearly, for twenty years, the sum of 
^5,000 in specie, and to make for them an annual 
appropriation of $1,000 for fifteen years, for the sup- 
port of a blacksmith and a teacher. 



Upon the 19th of September, 1827, a treaty was 
held at the Carey Mission, by Gov. Cass, the object 
of which was to gain the cession of a number of small 
Indian reservations " in order to consolidate some of the 
dispersed lands of the Pottawatomie tribe in the Ter- 
ritory of Michigan, at a point removed from the road 
leading from Detroit to Chicago, and as far as prac- 
ticable from the settlements of the whites." 

A second treaty was held at Carey Mission by Cass 
and Pierre Menard on the 20th of September, 1828, 
at which the chiefs and head men of the Pottawatomies 
ceded all of their remaining lands in Michigan (they 
had already been confined to the region west of the 
St. Joseph), except a tract estimated to contain forty- 
nine square miles, upon which their principal villages 
were situated. This unceded tract extended from the 
St. Joseph River, opposite Niles, to the South line of 
Berrien County. 

Five years later, this last foothold of the tribe, in 
Michigan, was signed away, and the chiefs of the St. 
Joseph band of the Pottawatomies agreed that they 
and their people would remove from the country in 
1836. This, the last cession of Indian title to the 
soil of Southwestern Michigan, was made at the 
second treaty of Chicago, signed September 26, 1833, 
and negotiated on the part of the government by 
George B. Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen and William 
Weatherford. 



i>ii Country 
' Massacre 
lue Dance 



CHAPTER YI. 

THE POTTAWATOMIE INDIANS. 

They Succeed the Mlauiis in the Occupation of the St. .Ii» 
—Hostilities in which tliey were EnK:iui ^1 Ih. i '.,■■■ ■ 
—Customs of the I'ottawiitomies— A l"r : .1 i' ■ M 
Deserihedby the Rev. IsaacMcCoy— !'.( 1 1 i -i saugana's 

Dream- Modes of Burial— Keligious ( . r ir> i i.iences that 

Cannibalism was Practiced by the I'ottawatoinies and Other 
Tribes— Deplorable Effects of .\rdent Spirits- Seasons of Extreme 
Destitution. 

AS has been shown in a previous chapter, the 
Miamis were the occupants of the St. Joseph 
country when it was first penetrated by white men — 
by the French explorers and missionaries in the 
seventeenth century. They were succeeded by the 
Pottawatomies, who remained in possession until 
crowded out by the irresistible stream of emigration. 
The time when they entered this region is nQt 
definitely known, but it was probably very early in 
the eighteenth century, and as they were not removed 
until 1840, their residence here extended through a 
period of more than a century and a quarter. 

The Pottawatomies were a fragment of the great 
Algonquin' subdivision of the Indian race, wliich 
included nearly all of the Northwestern tribes. They 
were cousins-german of the Ottawas and the Ojibwfvys 



34 



HISTOHV (IK CASS COUNTY. MICHIOrAN. 



(more commonly known as the Chippewas), and were 
leagued with them for a long period in a confedera- 
tion. 

The earliest authentic information which the whites 
received concerning this tribe was given by the French 
Catholic missionaries, Charles Raymbault and Isaac 
Jouges, who found many of its members as well as 
the Ojibways in the country around the Sault Ste. 
Marie. The seat of their greatest population at this 
time, however, was doubtless in the vicinity of Green 
Bay, and upon the islands at its opening into Lake 
Michigan. The tribe was certainly settled on Green 
Bay and the northwest shore of Lake Michigan in 
1669, when the mission of St. Francis Xavier was 
founded by Dablon and Allouez. At the great coun- 
cil, held at the Sault Ste. Marie in 1671, when all of 
the Indians of the Northwest were formally declared 
under the protection of France, the Pottawatomies 
were represented by a very large delegation. They 
welcomed Marquette and Joliet when they were striv- 
ing to reach the Mississippi in 1673; many of them 
accompanied the former to the country of the Illinois in 
the succeeding year, and they greeted La Salle in 1679, 
when his unfortunate little vessel, the Griffin, sailed 
into Green Bay. They were the steadfast friends not 
only of La Salle, but of Hennepin, Tonti and other 
explorers. 

One of the Catholic Fathers — Marest — alludes in 
a letter written in 1706 to the formation of an alliance 
between the Pottawatomies and Ottawas against the 
Miamis, and it is probable that at this time was begun 
the movement which resulted in the displacement of 
the latter tribe and the occupation of their country by 
the Pottawatomies. The migration once begun, was 
carried on slowly until almost the entire tribe had 
removed from the northwestern to the southeastern 
shore of the lake. Their territory extended to the 
head-waters of the St. Joseph, the Kalamazoo and 
Grand Rivers. Upon the north their neighbors were 
the Ottawas ; still farther to the northward were the 
Ojibways. The three nations occupied, or called 
theirs, nearly the whole of the Lower Peninsula of 
Michigan. 

The Pottawatomies at the time Pontiac organized 
his great confederation, placed themselves under his 
command, and took a prominent part in the war 
against the English. In 1764, at the council held 
by Col. Bradstreet, at Detroit, they transferred their 
allegiance from the French to the English. During 
the Revolution, and afterward, until Wayne's signal 
victory over the united tribes in 1794, they served the 
interests of the British, and were almost" constantly 
waging war against the border settlements, either in 
Virginia, Kentucky or Ohio. 



At Wayne's treaty held in 1795, at Greenville, 
Ohio (commonly called the Treaty of Greenville), 
this tribe, like the other important ones, received 
$1,000 and the promise of a small annuity. This 
was chiefly in consideration of the cession to the 
United States of a six-mile tract at Chicago, which 
was within the bounds of the territory the Pottawat- 
omies clainjfd to own. In 1807, at a treaty made 
with Gov. Hull, they ceded their interest in lands 
lying in the Southeastern part of the Territory of 
Michigan, and in 1808 surrendered the claim which 
they assumed to certain lands along the south shore 
of Lake Erie. 

The famous Shawanese chieftain Tecumseh visited 
the Pottawatomies in the autumn of 1810, to induce 
them to enter a league with the other Western tribes, 
for the purpose of driving the whites from the coun- 
try. He was successful in his mission, for a large 
number of the St. Joseph band, with Topinabe at 
their head, and some members of the tribe from the 
southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, in all about 
three hundred warriors, promised to enter the confed- 
eracy. In the following year, they were present and 
engaged fiercely in the battle of Tippecanoe, fought 
on the 7th of November — a sharp engagement in 
which Gen. Harrison's force of about seven hundred 
soldiers were opposed by upward of one thousand 
Indians. The whites finally repulsed the Shawanese 
and Pottawatomies, and they fled in all directions. 
The Pottawatomies returned to their vilhiges on the 
St. Joseph after this defeat, and from that time until 
the Chicago massacre upon the 15th of August, 1812, 
their history exhibits no remarkable exploit. 

THE MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 

Allusion has already been made to a tract of land 
six miles square ceded to the United States by the 
Pottawatomies at the treaty of Greenville. Upon 
this land, where the city of Chicago now is. was per- 
petrated the greatest atrocity upon the whites of 
which the tribe was ever guilty. To the credit of the 
St. Joseph band of Pottawatomies, be it said that • 
only a small number of their warriors were engaged 
in the wholesale murder and that Topinabe, Winne- 
mac (or Winneneg) and other chiefs made strenuous 
endeavors to avert it. 

At the breaking-out of the war of 1812, Fort 
Dearborn (which had been built in 1804), and named 
after Gen. Henry Dearborn, at one time Commander- 
in-Chief of the United States Army), was garrisoned 
by about seventy-five soldiers under Capt. Heald. 
The same dispatch, from Gen. Hull at Detroit, which 
announced the declaration of war, contained instruc- 
tions that Fort Dearborn should be evacuated, and 



inSTOKY OF CASS COINTV. MICIIKiAN. 



that Capt. Heald's force should march to Fort Wayne 
or Detroit. The bearer of the dispatch, the friendly 
Pottawatomie, Winnemac, finding the country be- 
tween Detroit and Fort Dearborn swarming with 
hostile savages, labored strongly to dissuade the com- 
mandant from carrying out the order of his superior. 
He argued that a retreat would be extremely danger- 
ous, but that if made at all, it should be done at once, 
and that the goods in the fort should be left undis- 
turbed, in order that the Indians, while plundering 
them, might allow the fugitives a better start in their 
flight. Mr. Kinzie, the post trader, gave advice simi- 
lar to that of Winnemac, but Capt. Heald paid no 
attention to his counsel, or to that of the subordinate 
officers. 

The Indians had, as soon as war was declared, at- 
tached themselves to the British, thinking that they 
saw an opportunity to drive the whites j^beyond the 
Ohio. Every day they had become more bitter in 
their hatred of the Americans. Before Capt. Heald 
had finished his preparations for evacuating the fort 
the Pottawatomies jn the vicinity, were aroused to 
tlie highest pitch of war feeling. Those who were 
friendly to the trader Kinzie and a few other inmates 
of the fort, were unable, as it proved, to restrain the 
greater number, who thirsted for blood. Upon the 
12th of August, Capt. Heald met the Indians in 
council, telling them that it wa^ his intention to dis- 
tribute among them all the goods in the storehouse 
with the provisions and ammunition, and requested 
the Pottawatomies to furnish him an escort to Fort 
Wayne, promising them a liberal reward on their ar- 
rival there, in addition to the presents which he would 
give them before setting out. They were profuse in 
their professions of friendship, and assented to all 
that was proposed. Mr. Kinzie endeavored to make 
the commander realize the danger of the course which 
he proposed to pursue, but in vain. Capt. Wells, a 
brave man, who had had much experience with the 
Indians, arrived at the fort on the 14th, escorted by 
fifteen friendly Miarais, with whom he had made a 
forced march from Fort Wayne. He had heard of 
Gen. Hull's order for the evacuation of the fort, and 
foresaw the danger to which its occupants must be ex- 
posed. Mrs. Heald was his sister, and it was doubt- 
less the hope of saving her life, which had led him 
forward on his perilous journey. When he arrived, 
the goods had been distributed to the Indians, though 
the whisky, of which there had been a large quan- 
tity in Mr. Kinzie's possession, was withheld, and 
subsequently poured into the river, and this fact com- 
ing to the knowledge of the Indians, had greatly 
enraged them. It had been Capt. Wells' intention to 
dissuade the commander from leaving the fort, but 



the action already taken had rendered that plan 
absolutely impossible, and there was nothing before 
the garrison but the course on which Heald had stub- 
bornly insisted. Seeing no alternative, Capt. Wells 
did what he could to hasten the departure. A second 
council was held on the afternoon of the 14th, at 
which the Indians expressed great indignation at the 
destruction of the whisky. The ammunition had 
been withheld from them and thrown down in an old 
well. •' Murmurs and threats were heard from every 
quarter." 

Preparations were made for the evacuation and 
march. The reserved ammunition, twenty-five rounds 
to a man, was distributed, the baggage-wagons and 
wagons for the sick, the women and children were got 
in readiness. 

The morning of the loth dawned, beautiful and 
bright. The day that began as the sun rose from the 
waters of Lake Michigan was in strange contrast to 
the dark deeds of man to be enacted before the sun 
went down. 

The following graphic account of the massacre is 
from -James R. Albach's " Annals of the West:" 

" Early in the luorning, a message was received 
by Mr. Kinzie, from To-pe-nee-be, a friendly chief 
of the St. Joseph's band, informing him that the 
Pottawatomies, who had promised to be an escort 
to the detachment, designed mischief Mr. Kinzie 
had placed his family under the protection of some 
friendly Indians. This party, in a boat, consisted of 
Mrs. Kinzie, four young children, a clerk of Mr. Kin- 
zie's, two servants and the boatmen, or voyageurs, 
with two Indians as protectors. The boat was in- 
tended to pass along the .southern end of the lake to 
St. Joseph's. Mr. Kinzie and his oldest son, a youth, 
had agreed to accompany Capt. Heald and the troops, 
a.s he thought his influence over the Indians would 
enable him to restrain the fury of the savages, as they 
were ■much attached to him and his family. 

" To-pe-nee-be urged him and his son to accompany 
his family in the boat, assuring him the hostile Indians 
would allow his boat to pass in safety to St. Joseph's. 

" The boat had scarcely reached the lake, when 
another messenger from the friendly chief arrived to 
detain them where they were. The reader is left to 
imagine the feelings of the mother. ' She was a 
woman of uncommon energy and strength of charac- 
ter, yet her heart died within her a.s she folded her 
arms around her helpless infants.' And when she 
heard the discharge of the guns, and the shrill, terrific 
war-whoop of the infuriated savages, and knew the 
party and most probably her beloved husband and 
first-born son were doomed to destruction, language 
has not power to describe her agony. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIfiAN. 



" At 9 o'clock, the troops with the baggage- 
wagons left the fort with martial music, and in mili- 
tary array. Capt. Wells, at the head of his Miamis, 
led the advance, with his face blackened after the 
manner of Indians. The troops, with the wagons, 
containing the women and children, the sick and lame, 
followed, while at a little distance behind were the 
Pottawatomies, about five hundred in number, who 
had pledged their honor to escort them in safety to 
Fort Wayne. The party took the road along the lake 
shore. 

" On reaching the point where a range of sand-hills 
commenced (within the present limits of Chicago City), 
the Pottawatomies defiled to the right into the prairie, 
to bring the sand-hills between them and the Ameri- 
cans. They had marched about a mile and a half 
from the fort, when Capt. Wells, who, with his Miamis, 
was in advance, rode furiously back, and exclaimed : 

" ' They are about to attack us ; form instantly and 
charge upon them.' " 

• " The words were scarcely uttered, when a volley 
of balls from Indian muskets behind the sand-hills 
were poured upon them. The troops were hastily 
formed into lines, and charged up the bank. One 
man, a veteran soldier of seventy, fell as they mounted 
the bank. The battle became general. The Miamis 
fled at the outset, though Capt. Wells did his utmost 
to induce them to stand their ground. Their chief 
rode up to the Pottawatomies, charged them with 
treachery, and brandishing his tomahawk, declared 
he would be the first to head a party of Amer- 
icans and punish them. He then turned his horse 
and galloped after his companions over the prairie. 

" The American troops behaved most gallantly, 
and sold their lives dearly. Mrs. Helm, the wife of 
Lieut. Helm, who was in the action, behaved with 
astonishing presence of mind (as did all the other 
females), and furnished Mr. Kinzie with many thril- 
ling facts, from which are made the following ex- 
tracts : 

" ' Our horses pranced and bounded and could hardly 
be restrained, as the balls whistled around them. I 
drew ofi" a little and gazed upon my husband and 
father, who were yet unharmed. I felt that my hour 
was come, and endeavored to forget those I loved, and 
prepare myself for my approaching fate. While I 
was thus engaged, the Surgeon, Dr. V., came up; he 
was badly wounded. His horse had been shot under 
him, and he had received a ball in his leg. Every 
muscle of his countenance was quivering with the 
agony of terror. He said to me, ' Do you think they 
will take our lives?' I am badly wounded, but I 
think not mortally. Perhaps we might purchase our 
lives by promising them a large reward.' ' Do you 



think there is any chance?' * Doctor V.,' said I, 'do 
not let us waste the few moments that yet remain to 
us, in such vain hopes. Our fate is inevitable. In a 
few moments we must appear before the bar of God. 
Let us endeavor to make such preparation as is in our 
power.' 'Oh! I cannot die, exclaimed he ; I am not 
fit to die — if I had but a short time to prepare — death 
is awful.' I pointed to Ensign Ronan, who, though 
mortally wounded and nearly down, was still fighting 
with desperation upon one knee. 

•' ' Look at that man,' said I, ' at least he dies like 
a soldier.' 

" ' Yes,' replied the unfortunate man, with a con- 
vulsive gasp, ' but he has no terrors of the future — he 
is an unbeliever !' 

" At this moment, a young Indian raised his toma- 
hawk at me. By springing aside, I avoided the blow, 
which was aimed at my skull, but which alighted on 
my shoulder. I seized him around the neck, and while 
exerting my utmost efforts to get possession of his 
scalping knife which hung in a scabbard over his 
breast, I was dragged from his grasp by another and 
an older Indian. 

'■ The latter bore me struggling and resisting toward 
the lake. Notwithstanding the rapidity with which I 
was hurried along, I recognized as I passed them, 
the lifeless remains of the unfortunate surgeon. Some 
murderous tomahawk had stretched him upon the 
very spot where I had last seen him. 

" I was immediately plunged into the water and 
held there with a forcible hand, notwithstanding my 
resistance. I soon perceived, however, that the object 
of my captor was not to drown me, as he held me 
firmly in such a position as to place my head above 
the water. This assured me, and .regarding him 
attentively, I soon recognized, in spite of the paint 
with which he was disguised. The Black Partridge. 

" When the firing had somewhat subsided, my pre- 
server bore me from the water and conducted me up the 
sand banks. It was a burning August morning, and 
walking through the sand in my drenched condition, 
was inexpressibly painful and fatiguing, I stopped 
and took off my shoes, to free them from sand with 
which they were nearly filled, -when a squaw seized 
them and carried them off and I was obliged to pro- 
ceed without them. When we had gained the prairie, I 
was met by my fiither, who told me that ray husband 
was safe, and but slightly wounded. They led me 
gently back toward the Chicago River, along the 
southern bank of which was the Pottawatomie en- 
campment. At one time I was placed upon a horse 
without a saddle, but soon finding the motion insup- 
portable, I sprang off. Supported partly by my kind 
conductor and partly by another Indian, Pee-so-tum, 



lllSTOIiV OF CASS (■ 

who held dangling in his hands the scalp of Capt. 
Wells, I dragged my fainting steps to one of the wig- 
wams. 

" The wife of Wau-bee-nee-mah, a chief from the 
Illinois River, was standing near and seeing my ex- 
hausted condition, she seized a kettle, dipped up some 
water from a little stream that flowed near, threw 
into it some maple sugar, and stirring it up with her 
hand gave it to me to drink. This act of kindness 
in the midst of so many atrocities touched me most 
sensibly, but my attention was soon diverted to an- 
other object. The fort had become a scene of 
plunder to such as remained after the troops had 
marched out. The cattle had been shot down as 
they ran at large and lay dead or dying around. 

" As noise of the firing grew gradually less, and 
the stragglers from the victorious party dropped in, I 
received confirmation of what my father had hurrie<lly 
communicated in our rencontre on the lake shore, 
namely, that the whites had surrendered after the 
loss of about two-thirds of their number. They had 
stipulated for the preservation of their lives and those 
of the remaining women and children, and for their 
delivery at some of the British posts, unless ransomed 
by traders in the Indian country. It appears that 
the wounded prisoners were not considered as in- I 
eluded in the stipulation and a horrible scene occurred 
upon their being brought into camp. 

" An old squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends, 
or excited by the sanguinary scenes around her, 
seemed possessed by a demoniac ferocity. She seized ; 
a stable fork and assaulted one miserable victim who 1 
lay groaning and writhing in the agony of his wounds, I 
aggravated by the scorching beams of the sun. With 
a delicacy of feeling scarcely to be expected under | 
such circumstances, Wau-be-nee-raah stretched a mat 
across two poles, between me and this dreadful scene. 
I was thus spared in some degree a view of its horrors, [ 
although I could not entirely close my ears to the 
cries of the sufferer. The following night five more 
of the wounded prisoners were tomahawked. 

'' But why dwell upon this painful subject 'i Why 
describe the butchery of the children, twelve of 
whom, place! together in one baggage wagon, fell be- 
neath the merciless tomahawk of one young savage ? j 
This atrocio IS act was committed after the whites, ! 
twenty-seven in number, had surrendereil. When 
Capt. Wells beheld it, he exclaimed, ' Is that their 
game? Then I will kill too! ' So saying, he turned 
his horse's head and started for the Indian camp near 
the fort, where had been left their squaws and chii- j 
dren. 

"Several Indians pursued him, firing at him as he 
galloped along. He laid himself flat on the neck of j 



NTV MIClIKi.VN. 



37 



his horse, loading and firing in that position. At 
length the balls of his pursuers took effect, killing his 
horse and severely wounding himself At this mo- 
ment he was met by Winnemac and Wau-ban-see, 
who endeavored to save him from the savages who had 
now overtaken him ; but as they supported him along 
after having disengaged him from his horse, he re- 
ceived his death blow from one of the party (Pee-so- 
tum), who stabbed him in the back. 

" The heroic resolution of one of the soldiers' 
wives deserves to be recorded. She had from the first 
expressed a determination never to fall into the hands 
of the savages, believing that their prisoners were al- 
ways subjected to tortures, worse than death. When, 
therefore, a party came up to her to make her pris- 
oner, she fought with desperation, refusing to surren- 
der, although assured of safe treatment, and lit- 
erally suffered herself to be cut to pieces rather than 
become their captive. 

" The heart of Capt. Wells was taken out and cut 
into pieces and distributed among the tribes. His 
mutilated remains remained unburied until the next 
day, when Billy Caldwell gathered up his head in one 
place and mangled body in another, and buried them 
in the sand. 

'•The family of Mr. Kinzie had been taken from 
the boat to their house, by friendly Indians, and there 
strictly guarded. Very soon a very hostile party of the 
Pottawatomie nation arrived from the Wabash, and it 
required all the skill and bravery of Black Part- 
ridge, Wau-ban-see and Billy Caldwell (who arrived 
at a critical moment), and other friendly Indians, to 
protect them. Runners had been sent by the hostile 
chiefs to all of the Indian villages to apprise them of 
the intended evacuation of the fort and of their plan 
of attacking the troops. In eager thirst to participate 
in such a scene of blood, but arrived too late to par- 
ticipate in the massacre, they were infuriated at their 
disappointment, and sought to glut their vengeance 
on the wounded and prisoners. 

"On the the third day after the massacre, the fam- 
ily of Mr. Kinzie, with the attaches of the establish- 
ment, under the care of Frangois, a half-breed inter- 
preter, were taken to St. Joseph's in a boat, where 
they remained until the following November, under 
the protection of To-pe-nee-be and his band. They 
were then carried to Detroit, under the escort of Chan- 
donnai and a friendly chief by the name of Kec-po- 
tah, and, with their servants, delivered up as prisoners 
of war to the British commanding officer. 

"Of the other prisoners, Capt. Heald and Mrs. 
Heald were sent across the lake to St. Joseph's the 
day after the battle. Capt. Heald had received two 
wounds and Mrs. Heald seven, the ball of one of 



38 



HISTORY OF ("ASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



which was cut from her arm by Mr. Kinzie, with a 
penknife, after the engagement. 

" Mrs. Heald was ransomed on the battle-field by 
Chandonnai, a half-breed from St. Joseph's, for a 
mule he had just taken, and the promise of ten bottles 
of whisky. 

" Capt. Heald was taken prisoner by an Indian 
from the Kankakee, who, seeing the wounded and en- 
feebled state of Mrs. Heald, generously released his 
prisoner, that he might accompany his wife. 

"But when this Indian returned to his village on 
the Kankakee, he found that his generosity had ex- 
cited so much dissatisfaction in his band that he 
resolved to visit St. Joseph's and reclaim his prisoner. 
News of his intention having reached To-pe-nee-be, 
Kes-po-tah, Chandonnai and other friendly braves, 
they sent him, in a bark canoe, under the charge of 
Robinson, a half-breed, along the eastern shore of 
Lake Michigan 300 miles, to Mackinac, where they 
were delivered over to the commanding officer. 

"Lieut. Helm was wounded in the action and taken 
prisoner, and afterward taken by some friendly Indians 
to the Au Sable, and from thence to St. Louis, and 
liberated from captivity through the agency of the 
late Thomas Forsythe, Esq. 

"Mrs. Helm received a slight wound in her ankle, 
had her horse shot from under her, and, after passing 
the agonizing scenes described, went, with the family 
of Mr. Kinzie, to Detroit. 

" The soldiers, with their wives and children, were 
dispersed among the different villages of the Potta- 
watomies upon the Illinois, Wabash, Rock River and 
Milwaukie. The largest proportion were taken to 
Detroit and ransomed the following spring. Some, 
however, remained in captivity another year, and ex- 
perienced more kindness than was expected from an 
enemy so merciless." 

The Chicago massacre well illustrated the Indian 
character, the prominent traits of which were blood- 
thirstiness and treachery. The occurrence affords one 
of the strongest elements of opposition to the theory 
held by some persons that Indian hostilities were 
always commenced by the aggressions of the whites. 
Although the St. Joseph Pottawatomies did not take 
a prominent part in the horrible affair at Fort Dear- 
born, and notwithstanding the fact that the chiefs — 
Topinabe and others — endeavored to prevent the mas- 
sacre, they almost immediately afterward engaged in 
hostilities elsewhere. Capt. Heald, who, taken as a 
prisoner to the St. Joseph, lived with Burnett, the 
trader, says: "In a few days after our arrival there, 
the Indians all went off to take Fort Wayne." 

The Pottawatomies not only fought at Fort Wayne, 
but at Fort Harrison, where, in company with the 



Shawanese and other tribes, they were stoutly resisted 
by a small but brave band, under Col. Zachary Tay- 
lor. The tribe appeared in large force at the battle 
of Frenchtown, on the River Raisin, in January, 1813, 
and in the summer of the same year took part in the 
operations under Proctor, opposite Fort Meigs, on the 
Maumee, and on Sandusky Bay. They were, in fact, 
one of the most valuable and active allies of the 
British throughout the war. 

INDIAN CUSTOMS. 

During the period intervening between the close of 
the war of 1*812 and the time when actual settlement 
of their country was begun, the St. Joseph Pottawato- 
mies led, so far as is known, a quiet and uneventful 
existence. The only outward influences brought to 
bear upon them were those exercised by the traders, 
and by the little band of missionaries which the Rev. 
Isaac McCoy led among them. The pioneer of Chris- 
tianity among the heathen (the founder of Carey 
Mission upon the site of West Niles in 1822), was a 
close observer of the people among whom he lived and 
labored for eight years. His book, "A History of 
Baptist Missions among the Indians," affords many 
interesting glimpses of Pottawatomie life and customs 
as they appeared during his residence on the St. 
Joseph, and we therefore make ample extracts from its 
pages. 

In one place he says, " If we would form a correct 
opinion of a people, we must notice small matters as 
well as great," and then he proceeds to give an ac- 
count of a social gathering among the Pottawato- 
mies : 

" In the summer of 182.5," he says, " I attended 
an Indian festival, which, according to custom, they 
accompanied with dancing. These festivals professedly 
partake of a religious character, but in reality it seems 
otherwise. Different festivals have appropriate names. 
The seasons for some occur regularly, but most of them 
are occasional, as circumstances are supposed to sug- 
gest or re(iuire them. That which occurred at this 
time was one at which singular feats of legerdemain, 
such as taking meat out of a boiling pot with their 
naked hand, drinking boiling hot broth, eating fire, 
etc., are attempted. Some ignorant whites who have 
mingled with Indians, have reported that the latter 
were very dexterous in these feats, but we have never 
seen anything of the kind attempted among them that 
was not very clumsily performed. 

" On the present occasion a little tobacco prepared 
for the pipe, was placed in the center of the hall, on 
the bottom of a new moccasin (Indian shoe) with a 
small bundle of cedar sticks, resembling candle 
matches. Three large kettles of meat, previously 



lIlSTor.V OK CASS COUNTY. MI(!HICrAN. 



boiled, were hanging over a small fire near the center 
of the house. 

" The aged chief Topinabe, led in the ceremonies. 
He delivered a speech of considerable length, without 
rising from his seat, with a grave countenance, and his 
eyes almost closed. He then sat and drummed with 
one stick and sang at the same time, while his aid at 
his side rattled the gourd. At length four women 
appeared before him and danced. A while after this 
he arose, delivered another speech, then drumming 
and dancing, turned round, and moving slowly around 
the dancing hall, was followed by all the dancing party. 
When he had performed his part in leading, others 
went through the same ceremonies, and these were 
repeated until every pair had twice led in the dance. 
These exercises were accompanied with many uncouth 
gestures and strange noises. Occasionally, a man 
would stoop to the kettle and drink a little soup. One 
fellow assuming a frantic air, attended with whooping, 
lifted out of a kettle a deer's head, and holding it by 
the two horns, with the nose from him, presented it, 
first upward, and afterward toward many of the by- 
standers, as he danced around, hallooing. The drop- 
pings of the broth were rather an improvement to the 
floor than an injury, it being the earth, and now be- 
coming pretty dusty. At length he tore asunder the 
deer's head, and distributed it to others, and jvhat 
was eatable was devoured with affected avidity. 

" At the conclusion, which was after sun setting, 
each brought his or her vessel, and received a portion 
of the food. Chebass, a chief, sent to me and in- 
vited me to eat with him, and I having consented, he 
placed his bowl on the earth beside me and said: 
' Come, let us eat in friendship.' The same dish con- 
tained both meat and soup. The chief took hold of 
the meat with one hand and with a knife in the other, 
severed his piece, and I followed his example. After 
eating, another speech was delivered, the music fol- 
lowed, all joined in a dance with increased hilarity, 
and most of them with their kettles of meat and broth 
in their hands, and at length breaking off, each went 
to his home." 

THE "ME-TA-WUK," OR MEDICINE DANCB. 

One of the festivals most punctiliously observed by 
the Indians was the '^Me-ta-wuk" or Medicine Dance. 
Mr. McCoy makes mention of one of these assem- 
blages which occurreil on the 11th of October, 1824, 
near the Carey Mission, probably upon Pokagon Prai- 
rie, and which was attended by a number of his peo- 
ple who wished to gratify their curiosity by witness- 
ing the curious exercises. He adds that " Old 
Topinabe, the principal chief, had a child lying a 
corpse, but he was so intent upon attending the festi- 



val that he could not attend to its burial, but intrusted 
the management of the funeral to another." 

Elsewhere, McCoy gives in his valuable book a de- 
tailed account of one of these medicine dances which 
we reproduce. He says : 

" The apartment in which the services were per- 
formed had been specially constructed for such occa- 
sions. Stakes were driven into the ground at proper 
distances, on which poles were tied horizontally, with 
bark ; on the outside of these, grass mats were fast- 
ened, which raised a temporary wall about as high as 
a man's breast. The hall was about twenty feet wide 
and sixty feet long. On three sides were spread mats 

I and skins for the company to sit upon. Through 
the center, three posts were erected, ranging with each 
other the longer way of the apartment, and extending 
so much higher than the sides that a temporary roof, 
in case of rain, might be made to rest upon poles that 
lay along their tops. 

" On our arrival, the chief was delivering to the 
few who were with him short speeches to which the 
others occasionally responded with 0-oh, in a more 
plaintive tone than is commonly heard among Indians. 
Between speeches the chief drummed and all sung. 
Two of them held in their hands a gourd, to which 
had been fastened a wooden handle. Gravel or corn 

j within the gourd made a rattle resembling a child's 
toy. The drum consisted of a skin stretched over the 
end of a small keg, after the heading had been dis- 
placed, and was beaten with one stick only ; the 
strokes, without changing their force, occurred regu- 
larly at the rate of about one hundred and thirty a 
minute. The gourds were shaken so as to make their 
rattling in unison with the strokes of the drum. 

" About 11 o'clock, thirty or forty persons, in- 
cluding men, women and children, assembled about 

I thirty yards from the dancing house, at which place 

! they had loft most of their children and some of the 
women. The others formed in single file and marched 
until the leader reached the door of the dancing hall 
and halted, the whole maintaining their order. The 
leader stamped a few times with his foot, crying Ho! 
ho! ho! Those within responded with their Ho! 
Several who were on the front end of the line sung 
for a few minutes and then all marched into the hall, 
and around the room three times, halting and singing 
twice each time. Invariably through the whole day. 
when they marched around the room, the circle was 
described by turning to the left so that if a person 
seated near the door to the right desired to walk out, 
he never retraced his steps, but walked around the 
room with his left hand toward the center, until he 
reached the door. All took their seats with their 
backs against the wall. 



HISTORY OF CASS COrXTY. MICHiaAX. 



" A principal man then arose and addressed the 
company in a speech of considerable length ; after 
which one drummed, two rattled gourds, several sung, 
and two women and one man danced. The musicians 
and dancers then passed round the hall, severally 
pointing a finger to each one seated, as they passed, 
and using words which I did not understand. The 
person pointed at responded each time with a mourn- 
fiil groan, A-a-a ; then all took their seats. Another 
man arose and made a speech ; two men held a short 
private consultation in a low voice, and then mixed 
some powders which they called medicine. A little 
tobacco, or rather the common mixture of tobacco and 
the leaves of some other plants which they use in 
smoking, made fine as if prepared for the pipe, was 
sprinkled at the foot of the two posts of the door, and 
of those planted along the center of the building, and 
a small quantity put into the fire. Another man 
arose and delivered a lengthy speech, which was fol- 
lowed by drumming, singing and dancing. A little 
respite ensued, which the men employed in smoking ; 
another speech was made, and followed by the danc- 
ing of ten persons to music ; another turn of smoking 
ensued and the two men who had charge of the 
medicine allowed each person to take a little between 
the fingers and put it in an otter's skin, with which 
each was furnished. These skins had been taken ofi" 
the animals entire, including the bones of the head. 
The sack thus formed by a whole skin has an opening 
into it on the throat, which is generally the fashion of 
an Indian's tobacco-pouch. These medicine-bags are 
esteemed sacred, and are used for no other purpose 
than those belonging to this festival occasion, and to 
hold the sacred medicine. Artificial eyes, usually of 
metal that will glisten, are inserted ; the teeth are 
disclosed by the drying of the skin, and the sides of 
the mouth are ornamented by soft feathers, dyed red, 
extending along the sides of the jaws three or four 
inches. The tails are ornamented with porcupine 
quills, to the end of which, and also to the feet, small 
brass thimbles and bells are suspended, which make a 
tinkling sound whenever the skin is moved. Each 
keeps his or her skin hanging upon the arm at all 
times while in the house, during the festival, except-, 
ing when seated, when they are hung upon the wall 
by the owner's seat. 

" Another speech being delivered, four men and 
two women marched out at the door of the hall with 
ho-ho's and gesticulations which cannot be described. 
They formed a semi-circle in front of the door, and 
one of the men delivered a speech which was followed 
by singing. Their otter skins were held horizontally 
in the two hands, with a tremulous motion that rattled 
the trinkets suspended to them, and which made the 



skin assume the appearance of the living animal when 
about to leap forward. While thus shaking their 
skins they ran around, now stooping toward the 
earth, and then stretching upward and hallooing; 
they then marched into the hall again, severally point- 
ing a hand to each one seated as they passed, and 
each person pointed at uttered an awful groan as be- 
fore. They marched around the hall until they 
reached the door again, when each of the four men 
pretended to swallow a small bullet, which apparently 
almost choked him, and gave him great uneasiness 
at the moment ; but as he did not fall to the ground, 
it was understood that he was wise and good, and an 
expert in the performance. 

" All these fooleries were but preliminaries to the 
regular course of exercises on which they were now 
prepared to enter. Two principal men took the lead ; 
each held in one hand a rattle, and in the other 
a piece of folded cloth to defend the hand against 
injury when the gourd should be struck against it. 
The leader delivered a speech, and all became seated 
again, when the drummer, and the gourd-men on each 
side of him, beat in unison, and the leader sung alone. 
Three or four persons presented themselves before the 
drum and danced ; when these dancers had retired to 
their seats, the musicians rose and the leader delivered 
a brief speech. They then marched twice around the 
hall with their instrumental music, stopping to sing a 
few minutes at the completion of each semi-circle. 
The drummer then facing the door, became seated by 
the middle post, with one of the rattlers in front and 
one behind ; the principal one delivered a speech at 
the conclusion of which they both commenced singing, 
and then rattled, and were joined by the drummer. 

"Now all appeared to become inspired with new 
life. Some rose and danced in their places, then 
others, until all were on their feet and dancing to the 
sound of the drum and the gourds. Suddenly, as if 
moved by supernatural impulse, one man stepped 
from his place into the space left for them to pass in 
single file around the room, which, as before observed, 
is always with the left hand toward the center ; he 
bends forward, whirls around (always to the left), ap- 
pears frantic, though not mad, shakes his otter skin, 
crying Ho-o-o-o in a quick, frightful tone. He falls 
into the rear of the music, now passing around the 
room, and somewhere in his circuit he becomes more 
frantic, gives a few louder Whoh-whohs, and suddenly 
punches the nose of his otter skin against some one of 
the company, who are all standing with their backs to 
the wall. The person punched either drops to the 
earth as if dead, like a butcher's beef, or bows and 
staggers back against the wall, uttering a horrid 
shriek of 0-ho-ho, as if pierced to the vitals. He 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MTCIIIOAX. 



41 



now kisses the nose of his otter skin with gestures 
expressive of profound respect and warm affections. 
These fond kisses counteract the electric shock just 
received from the nose of his neighbor's otter skin, 
and in half a minute he is restored and falls into the 
rear of the company as they march around with the 
music. 

" When a person fell apparently lifeless, I noticed 
he never hurt himself in falling. Each one invariably 
fell in the same position. In about half a minute, he 
would recover and rise, and as in the other case, fall 
into the company of the music. Each one on recover- 
ing from the electric shock, before he went around the 
room once, would become frantic and Whoh- whoh oftener 
and louder than usual, and punch his otter skin at the 
nose of another person, after which he danced until he 
came around to his proper place, where he again took 
his station, with his back to the wall. In this manner 
they continued to go around the room, usually seven 
or eight persons at a time, with their music, whooping 
and dancing, and shaking their otter skins and punch- 
ing them at each other's faces. Sometimes a short 
pause is made, and again the vocal music strikes a 
new tune, and at the same instant many set up a 
hideous whoop of Ho-ho-ho, until the ear is stunned 
with almost every frightful kind of noise that can be 
imagined. Having proceeded in this way a sufficient 
length of time, the music ceased, and each took his or 
her proper place against the wall. The principal 
actor, followed by the other gourd man, with the 
drummer in the rear, went twice around the hall, 
halting and singing twice in performing each circuit ; 
at length, halting at the man who was designed next 
to use a gourd as the leader in the farce, they made an 
uncommon ado in hallooing and in singular antics and 
gesticulations, and finally laid down the gourds, 
cushions and drums at his feet. They then continued 
around the hall once more, each pointing a finger at 
every one as they passed, groaning each time, and 
being answered by the person pointed at with a fright- 
ful groan. 

" Another now takes the lead, and the same cere- 
monies are acted over again, and this round is repeated 
until every male has once led in the exercises. If, 
therefore, the company be small, the exercises will 
end the sooner. Sometimes the company is so large 
that the services continue until late in the night, and 
even all night. The females follow in all the exer- 
cises, but never lead. They carry their otter skins, 
or medicine bags, sing, dance, blow, etc., and at this 
meeting one went so far as to deliver two short public 
speeches, but this was a rare occurrence. The males 
having each led in a round of the regular ceremonies, 
all became seated to rest, and the men smoked. On 



coming together, each had brought a kettle or bowl ; 
seven or eight large kettles of boiled meat were now 
brought into the house, and every one's small kettle 
or bowl was placed near the food. A man then arose 
and delivered a speech. Next, the man who had sup- 
erintended the cookery, distributed to each a. portion, 
using a sharpened stick for a fork ; and when a piece 
was not too hot lie took hold with his hand. 

" It was now between sundown and dark ; they all 
ate, having nothing before them besides meat. An- 
other speech was delivered, and when it was concluded, 
every one rose, vessel in hand, in which remained a 
considerable portion of food. They marched once 
around the room, and the leader halted at the door, 
where he performed some antic feats, attended by 
noises of divers kinds, and then marched out of the 
house, followed by all in single file ; and those who 
did not reside at the place marched directly off" to 
their homes, not stopping within sight to speak to 
any one, or even to look back." 

ILLUSTRATION OF INDIAN SUPERSTITION. 

The following story, illustrating Indian superstition, 
was related by Bertrand, the half breed French trader. 
The episode occurred, as he related it, while a large 
party of Pottawatoraies were on their way to the treaty 
of Wabash, in the autumn of 1826. he (Bertrand) 
accompanying them : 

" After their company was formed," said he, " which 
consisted of four or five hundred souls, they set out 
for the treaty-ground, compelled by circumstances to 
travel slowly. Within the first three days' journey, 
their most expert hunters, to the number sometimes 
of fifty, with their utmost vigilance, were unable to 
kill a deer. They saw game, and often shot at it, but 
killed nothing. The consequence was that they began 
to be distressed for want of food. Soon after, the 
company halted to encamp on the eyening of the third 
day, Saugana, a well-known chief, fell asleep and 
slumbered soundly through the night. On the follow- 
ing morning, he informed the company that in a dream 
a person had acquainted him with the cause which had 
rendered their hunting unsuccessful, which was an 
error in Chebass, a celebrated chief, who had been the 
principal agent in prevailing them to set off on the 
journey to atiend a place at which business of impor- 
tance was to be transacted, and had neglected to make 
a sacrificial feast before they started. He had started 
on this important journey, the dreamer said, as a white 
man would, without making any religious preparation, 
and, for this dereliction of duty, the whole company 
had been rebuked by being left by the Great Spirit to 
realize the scarcity of food. In order to propitiate the 
Deity, Chebass must fast that day ; twelve men, neither 



42 



HISTOKY OF OAfJ? COUNTY. MICHmAX. 



more nor fewer, with faces blacked, indicative of hunger i 
and want, and of their devotion, must proceed to their ! 
hunting, six of them on each side of the road, along 
which the company had to travel. By the time the j 
sun had risen to a height pointed out in the heavens | 
(we should say about 9 o'clock), Saugana said they I 
would have killed four deer, and he assured them that 
such would be the fact, because he had seen in the 
vision four deer lying dead. 

" The hunters set off according to instructions ; 
killed the four deer within the time spoken of, and 
brought them to the company. A general halt was 
called. The four deer, including heads, legs, feet, etc., 
were all boiled at the same time, and feasting immedi- 
ately followed, in which all participated, each receiving 
a portion meted out, excepting Chebass. The feast 
was considered his, and, on that account, it was neces- 
sary for him to fast until the sun had gone down. 
Several speeches were made during the festival. About 
noon of the same day, the company resumed their 
march, and, on the following day, they killed five deer 
and one bear, and, during the two or three remaining 
days of their journey, had plenty.'" 

MODES OF BURIAL. 

Various modes of disposing of the dead were in vogue 
among the Indians. Mr. McCoy gives descriptions 
of several. 

On one occasion, when he was present with some 
other missionaries at the death of a Pottawatomie 
man, whom he says they had buried as decently as 
time would permit. He continues : " It is their 
custom to bury their dead as soon as possible. We 
were not allowed time to procure a coflBn ; but we 
placed boards about the corpse. They will not permit 
their graves to be dug so deep as civilized people 
usually inter their dead. Agreeably to their custom, 
a piece of tobacco was by them put into the grave at 
the head. The countenance of his wife indicated 
melancholy, and her sister shed tears. Before the 
burial, a nephew of the deceased, who was somewhat 
intoxicated, came running and hallooing like a madman. 
He set up a hideous lamentation, which resembled the 
howling of a wolf more than the expressions of grief 
of a bereaved relative. After some foolish incantations, 
such as blowing his breath into the nostrils of the corpse, 
etc., he declared that the deceased had been poisoned, 
and hurried off, threatening to be avenged upon the 
Indian whom he suspected of the crime. To us it was 
evident that his death had been caused by intemper- 
ance and privation.'" 

Sometimes the corpse was inclosed in a hollow log. 
The position of the body was in most cases recum- 
bent, but instances were common where the corpse 



was placed in a sitting posture, and occasionally 
standing erect. The same authority whom we have 
been quoting says that in some instances the corpse 
was placed on the surface of the earth and inclosed 
with small poles, the walls either being laid up per- 
pendicularly or inclining inward. Frequently in the 
graves of men, a small wooden post extended a few 
feet above the tomb, on which were cut notches, each 
supposed to stand for a scalp which the deceased had 
taken. Over the graves of chiefs, tall poles were 
usually erected, from the tops of which flags depended. 

Almost universally, food and various implements, 
weapons and ornaments were placed in the graves of 
the dead. In cases where the body was placed above 
ground in an inclosure of poles or logs, a small aper- 
ture was made at one end to introduce food or tobacco 
from time to time. McCoy mentions a Pottawatomie 
" who had acquired the name of Tobacco from his 
fondness for that article, and who desired to be buried 
in" a public place which travelers would frequently 
pass, in the hope that by this means he should fre- 
quently receive a piece of tobacco, the use of which 
he could not think of discontinuing." Accordingly, 
he was buried in the forks of a road between Detroit 
and Chicago. 

Disposal of the dead by placing upon an elevated 
platform, supported by poles or the limbs of trees, 
was frequently practiced by the Northern tribes, but 
seldom or never resorted to by the Pottawatomies or 
other tribes in Southern Michigan. 

An Indian funeral is thus described : " I saw a 
company of women carrying kettles of food to the 
grave of a child who had been buried a few weeks 
previously. The nature of this funeral rite, as it 
was described to me at the time, is as follows : A few 
days after the burial of a child, the father or mother, 
or if neither of these be living and present, another 
of the near relatives of the deceased, makes a feast. 
The food is prepared and carried to the grave to 
which the company of sympathizing friends repair. 
If the feast be prepared by a man, none but men 
attend, and the same principle applies to the females. 
When assembled at the grave, the ruler of the feast 
distributes to each of the attendants a portion of the 
food which has been prepared, and each, before eating 
any, puts a small quantity on the head of the grave. 
A small aperture is usually made in the poles or 
boards which cover the dead, through which the food 
is passed. If it be a company of females, and one of 
their number be esteemed profligate, she is not per- 
mitted to make the ofiiering to the dead from her own 
hands, but another receives it at her own hand, and 
oflers it in her behalf. After the offerings are made 
to the deceased, the remainder of the food is eaten by 



IIISTOKV OF CASS COlM'y. MlCHKiAN. 



43 



the company. Similar feasts are prepared for adults 
as well as for children, and when the party consists 
of males, addresses are made to the deceased. These 
festivals are usually repeated once a year. On re- 
turning from their wintering grounds to the villages, 
in the spring of the year, the grass and weeds are 
carefully removed from about the graves of deceased 
relatives and none are permitted to grow there during 
the summer. 

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE. 

McCoy says : " I found none who possessed distinct 
ideas on the subject of their religious ceremonies. 
There has been a time, no doubt, when something more 
like system was observed in the small amount of relig- 
ion embraced by their pretensions ; but changes in their 
original ceremonies have been progressing ever since 
their acquaintance with white people. Keeshwa, the 
aged Pottawatomie female, * » * ^jj^ 

was long an inmate of our family, has stated to us, 
with tears, that since her recollection there had 
been great deterioration in the observance of religious 
ceremonies. Formerly, said she, ' on the return of 
the Indians to their villages in the spring, prepara- 
tion was early made for a feast. This would require 
a day or more. At noon on the day appointed, men, 
women and children would assemble, when an elderly 
and respectable man would proclaim aloud, that the 
time for them to take their seats had arrived. All 
being seated, he would make a speech to them, and 
they would sing a song to the Great Spirit. The 
elderly leader would follow with a prayer in behalf of 
the company, in which thanks would be returned for 
their preservation through the past winter, and for 
their safe arrival at their villages, and prayer made 
for a blessing on their labors through the summer. 
On these occasions such language as the following was 
employed : ' Oh ! Our Father, we want corn, we 
want beans, etc.; pity us and give us these things.' 
After the prayer, all would eat, and after a little 
respite they would again sing. Singing was repeated 
four times during the service. After the due observ- 
ance of this festival, all felt at liberty to commence 
preparations for planting their fields. These meet- 
ings, said she, ' were affecting, and frequently I wept 
all the time.' " 

CANNIBALISM. 

The fact that the horrors of Cannibalism were occa- 
sionally practiced among the Indians is well attested. 
Schoolcraft, Parkman, Drake and various other 
writers, whose reliability is unquestionable, cite in- 
stances of the commission of this revolting crime. 

Pokagon. the Pottawatomie chief, assured McCoy 
that the Sauks frequently killed their prisoners after 
they had been a considerable time captives and that 



they ate the flesh of their victims. He said that " in 
1825, while the Sauks were making their annual 
journey to Canada, an Osage man who was a prisoner, 
when sitting in his tent unconscious of danger, was 
approached by two Sauks, who taking him by the two 
arms, conducted him out of the company and killed 
him. A woman afterward cut him to pieces and 
boiled the flesh, and it was eaten by the party." 
Such deeds were not done on account of hunger, 
but through superstition, the Indians believing that 
they were thus endowed with greater strength and 
courage. 

It appears that the Pottawatomies had also practiced 
occasionally the abomination of which Pokagon ac- 
cused the Sauks. McCoy says " we were compelled to 
believe that it was such a people as this that we labored 
to improve. From well-attested facts, the recital of 
which was no less shocking than the above, we are 
constrained to believe that the Pottawatomies, Otta- 
was, Chippewas and Miamis, the tribes among whom 
we labored, have all been cjidlty of eannihalism. * 
* * If the accounts of the Indians can be credited, 
the last war between England and the United States, 
in which Indians were mercenaries on both sides, 
was disgraced by cannibalism ; the last instance of 
which we have been informed occurred near Fort 
Meigs, on the Maumee River, in 1813. Deeds, the 
enormity of which cannot be described, we know have 
been done in the country about us." 

FIRE-WATER. 

Many of the evil deeds of the Indians were directly 
traceable to the excessive use of ardent spirits. The 
traders who located in or traveled through the country 
sold enormous quantities of whisky, and, in fact, de- 
rived their principal support from a revenue which 
produced daily murders and a very general condition 
of destitution. So eager were the Pottawatomies to 
secure their beloved "fire-water" that they would 
sacrifice any article in their possession to secure a 
sufficient quantity to make them drunk. An instance 
is mentioned by a good authority in which an Indian 
gave a trader a tine silver-mounted rifle, worth at least 
|25, for 75 cents worth of whisky. Articles picked 
up in this way by the traders were again given to the 
Indians in exchange for furs. 

When annuities were paid to the Indians by Gov- 
ernment agents the traders, who were sure to be pres- 
ent, would receive in a few days, and in some cases in 
only a few hours, almost every dollar of the red men's 
money. Scenes of the wildest debauchery would fol- 
low, and be protracted for days or weeks. It was not 
unusual, on such occasions, that murders would be 
perpetrated, and those too under the most shocking 



41 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



circumstances. Sometimes three or four or a half 
dozen would be committed in one day. 

The utterly abject condition to which the Pottawat- 
omies were degraded in the latter days of their resi- 
dence in Michigan is vividly portrayed by the language 
of one of their chiefs, used in answer to the expostu- 
lation of Judge Lieb, a Government agent, and the 
Rev. Isaac McCoy. He spoke with great feeling, 
saying: "They were all sensible of the deleterious •< 
effects of whisky, and of the ravages it had made and 
was still making among them: that they did not seek 
it, but it was brought to them ; that they could not pre- 
vent it, nor could they possibly forbear from drinking it 
when it was within their reach; that they had lost all 
their manhood with their independence ; that they 
were a degraded and disgraced race ; that they now 
looked upon the whites as so much their superiors that 
they would not attempt to resist anything they did or 
should do. But." continued the chief, elevating his 
dignified person, "if our Great Father feels such an 
interest to preserve us as you mention, all powerful as 
he is, why does he not command his people to abstain 
from seeking, in the ways you mention, our destruc- 
tion. He has but to will it, and his will will be done. 
He can punish. He can save us from the ruin which 
surrounds us. We can do nothing ourselves. If 
whisky were not brought to us, we should soon cease 
to think of it, and we should be happier and health- 
ier." And the missionary adds: '"AH this was said 
with so much feeling and truth that I blushed for my 
country, and could find no apology for my Govern- 
ment in not devising means to restrain these licen- 
tious traders, high and low individuals and companies, 
who, by every means, open and covert, are conveying 
to the Indian the poison of his life and hopes." 

Elsewhere, McCoy says: "Many of the Indians 
manifested a dislike to this trafiic in ardent spirits, 
fraught with ruin to themselves, though they seldom 
possessed fortitude to withstand the temptation to 
drink. On the 20th of August (1824), Pokagon. a 
chief, and many others, came to inform us of liquor 
in their country and expressed a wish to go and seize 
it. We could not hope that Indians, in such cases, 
would be governed by sound discretion, and therefore 
dissuaded them from their purpose. About this time 
they frequently applied to us for aid in securing their 
little property and money received from the Govern- 
ment from the rapacity of lawless white people. But 
we could oftener pity than help them." 

SE.^SONS OF DESTITUTION'. 

In May or June, the Indians usually returned to 
their villages from their winter hunt for the purpose 
of planting their fields. From this time on until their 



corn ripened or vegetables were grown was, with them, 
the most trying season of the year, because of the 
scarcity of food. The Pottawatomies in this region 
made very frequent begging visits to the Carey Mis- 
sion. Mr. McCoy, under date of July 17, 1824, 
made the following note in his journal : " The 
Indians are so exceedingly pinched with hunger at 
this season of the year that swarms of them linger 
about us in hopes of getting a few crumbs or bones 
from our table, or the liquor in which any food may 
chance to have been boiled. We are continually 
grieved at witnessing their distresses ; we cannot feed 
them, and yet many cases present themselves, espe- 
cially of women and children, too affecting to be wholly 
disregarded. Often on presenting a petition for the 
relief of hunger, they place a hand on the stomach to 
show how it is sunken for want of food. A few 
hours ago a woman appeared in our house with moc- 
casins to exchange for powder and lead ; pleading that 
she and the family with which she lived were in a 
measure starving. She had nephews who would hunt 
for wild meat, did they possess the means of taking 
it. She was informed that we could not conveniently 
grant her the articles she needed, yet she continued 
her importunity, entreating for a ' very little.' Beg- 
ging like this occurs almost hourly through the day. 
At this time, eight or ten unfortunate women are 
at our house begging for a morsel to eat. When we 
gave the old woman alluded to above a little salt, she 
said 'this will season the weeds on which I feed.' 
She ileclared to us that for several days she and the 
families with which she was connected had not eaten 
a particle of any kind of food, except weeds boiled 
without salt or grease. This is, at this time, the con- 
dition of hundreds around us." 



CHAPTER Til. 

THE POTTAW.\TOMlE INDIANS— [O.NTiNrEn]. 

Indian Villages— Their Locations in Cas.s County— Pokagon 's Progres- 
sive Spirit— Indian Trails in Cj«ss County— The Chicago and Grand 
River Trails— Network of Patlis in Porter Township— Topinabe— 
Wee.saw, the War Chief— Pokagon. the Second Chief in Kank— 
Shavehead— His Enmity to the Whites— Probable -Manner of His 
Death- Indian Murders— Kenioval of the Pottawatomies to the 
West— Exemption of Pokagon and His Band— The I-atter Days of 
the old Chief. 

INDIAN VILLAGES. 

C^ ENERA LLY speaking, the term " permanent In- 
J^ dian village," is a misnomer. Nearly all of the set- 
tlements were abandoned in the fall or early winter, at 
which time the Indians went on long hunting ex- 
peditions, alternating the fields each season in order 
chat the game might not be exhausted. The In- 
dian method of agriculture contained nothing con- 



MISTOKY OF CASS COrNTY. MICHIGAN. 



ducive to permanency of location, and the construc- 
tion of the lodges or wigwams was so crude and simple 
as to make their removal or abandonment a matter of 
comparative indifference to the builders or possessors. 
Encampment would, in the great majority of cases, 
be a better term than village for the habitation of a 
band of Western Indians. They had, indeed, fiivorite 
localities, but their villages in such spots had at the 
most but a few years' duration. At the time the 
whites came among the Pottawatomies, they had, 
within the present limits of Berrien and Cass Coun- 
ties, at least a dozen so-called villages, and it is prob- 
able that within the first twenty-five years of the 
present century, they had occupied a hundred loca- 
tions. Every chief of any note whatever had a '' vil- 
lage," and, with a few exceptions, they were moved 
every two or three years. Besides the.se there were 
sugar camps, which are often confused in tradition 
with the places of more permanent residence. A 
Pottawatomie village usually consisted of a group of 
a dozen to a score of bark huts or wigwams made of 
flags, irregularly disposed in a locality offering some 
pecular advantages, such as water .supply, natural 
shelter, ground suitable for the growing of corn, etc. 
Proximity to a stream navigable for canoes, and afford- 
ing a supply of fish, was also considered desirable, 
and hence the most important villages in the region 
of the St. Joseph River were immediately upon its 
banks. After the Carey Mission was established, and 
as the result of its influence, the Indians in the vicin- 
ity began to make more valuable improvements than 
they had before attempted — to build houses instead of 
huts and wigwams, to fence their fields, and otherwise 
to imitate the methods of the whites. 

Pokagon appears to have been foremost in emulating 
the good example of his white brothers, and of im- 
proving the condition of himself and his people. 

McCoy makes mention of the fact that this chief 
and his band " had commenced a village about six 
miles from the mission, and manifested a disposition 
to make themselves more comfortable." (This village 
was undoubtedly west of the St. Joseph River in the 
Indian reservation.) " In the spring of 1826," con- 
tinues the writer above quoted, "we were about to 
afford them some assistance in making improvements, 
when one of those white men that are commonly hang- 
ing around the Indians for the purpose of flaying them, 
like crows around a carcass, interfered and made a 
contract for making improvements. This ended in 
disappointment to the Indians." Pokagon again ap- 
plied to the missionaries, and in November they hired 
white men to erect for the Indians three hewed log- 
houses and to fence twenty acres of prairie land. The 
Indians promised to pay for the labor and the mission 



' people became security for them, and saw that the 
work was properly performed. Subsequently they 
sent over to the Indian village one of their teams in 
charge of men, who plowed up twenty acres of prairie 
soil, made them a present of some hogs and loaned 

1 them a milch cow. 

I Prior to this there seems to have been little ad- 
vancement in the Indians' mode of life. Pokagon's 
action at this time was in accordance with prin- 
ciples of progress which actuated him during the 
remainder of his life, and which won for him the 

I respect of the old residents of Cass County among 
whom his latter years were spent. 

The first settlers in Cass County found within its 

i limits about four or five hundred Indians, almost all 
of whom were Pottawatomies. They were divided 
into three bands, each of which had a chief. Two of 
these chiefs — Pokagon and Weesaw, who have already 
been frequently mentioned in the previous chapter — 
were prominent characters, reputable and represent- 
ative men of their tribe, and the third — Shavehead — 

[ seems to have been a renegade, who enjoyed little 

I respect among the Indians, and found even less among 
the whites. He was, nevertheless, a man of sufficiently 
powerful personality or active influence to hold the 
position of chief over a small band of rather 
inferior Indians. 

Pokagon's band, which numbered over two hun- 
dred persons, occupied originally the prairie in the 
western part of the county, which retains the chiefs 
name ; but, as we have shown in svn extract from Mr. 
McCoy's history of the Carey Mission, their principal 
village was established in 1826 in Berrien County. 
A large part of the band continued to reside in Cass 
County, moving from place to place as the lands 
were taken up by settlers, and the latter years of the 
chief were also passed in this county. Weesaw's home 
appears to have been in the northeast portion of the 
county, in Little Prairie Ronde, in Volinia Town- 
ship, and Shavehead's in the southeastern, within the 
present limits of Porter Township. The number of 
men, women and children in the band of the former 
was about one hundred and fifty, and that of the lat- 
ter was scarcely half as large. 

INDIAN TRAILS IN CASS COUNTY. 

The following accurate description of the Indian 
trails in Cass County, as they appeared at the time 
the United States survey w:is made (1826-28) is fur- 
nished by Amos Smith, the present County Surveyor:* 

" 1 find that nearly every township, in the olden time, 
had its highways and its byways. Some of these seem 



on llic outHoe nmp of 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



to have beea of great importance, connecting localities 
widely separated from each other, while others of less 
note served only neighboring settlements. 

" It is noticeable that the principal Indian trails, like 
our own main thoroughfares, ran east and west, while 
others tributary to these came in from the north and 
south. The Chicago trail, more important because 
more used than any of the others, coming from the 
east, entered the county near the half-mile post on 
the east side of Section 1 in South Porter Township, 
and run thence westerly, crossing Sections I, 2, 3, 4. 
5, 8, 7 and 18 in South Porter ; Sections 13, 14, 15, 
16, 21, 20, 17, 18 and 7 in Mason ; Sections 12, 11, 
10, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Ontwa ; and Sections 12, 11, 
10, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in Milton. The Chicago road, 
as it is now traveled, varies but little from the trail as 
above described. Near the corner of Sections 4, 5, 8 
and 9, in South Porter, the Chicago trail was inter- 
sected by the Shavehead trail, a branch from the 
north. This trail, or rather system of trails, as more 
than a dozen different ones united to form it, had two 
main branches which came together on Section 29, in 
North Porter, near the lower end of Shavehead Lake. 
The west branch, which commenced near the north 
line of Penn Township, led southerly across Young's 
Prairie, dividing on Section 28 in Penn. One trail 
continued south and east to the west, and south of 
Mud Lake in Calvin, the other running between 
Donell and Mud Lakes, the two uniting near Birch 
Lake in Porter. The last-mentioned trail was of 
great service, later to the early white settlers, in pro- 
curing supplies from the old distillery, situated on the 
East Branch of the Christiana Creek, a little south of 
Donell Lake. The east branch, coming from the 
direction of Big Prairie Ronde, crossed the county 
line at the east line of Section 12 in Newberg, just 
north of Long Lake, and ran southwesterly across 
Sections 12, 13, 23, 26, 27, 34 and 33, in Newberg, 
and Sections 4, 9, 8, 17 and 20, in North Porter, and 
united with the west branch on Section 29, as before 
stated. Another branch of the Shavehead trail, of. 
less extent than either of those above described, com- 
menced at the Indian Sugar Works, near the half 
mile post on the line between Sections 10 and II, in 
North Porter, and ran thence southwesterly, crossing 
Shavehead Prairie in its course, and uniting with the 
main branch on Section 32. 

"Beside the three principal branches of the Shave- 
head trail above mentioned, there were many others. 
In fact, the whole township of Porter was a perfect 
network of trails — a regular "stamping ground" of 
the Indians, so to speak, as the numerous sugar works, 
Indian fields and villages, abundantly attest. 

" The second branch of the Chicago trail commenced , 



on Section 30, in Calvin, running thence southeast- 
erly, crossing Sections 2 and 12, in Mason, very 
nearly where the wagon road now runs, intersecting 
the Chicago trail at an Indian village, a few roads 
west of the present village of Union. 

"The third branch commenced on Section 3, in 
Mason, and ran southwesterly, entering the Chicago 
trail near what is now Adamsville. 

"^The fourth and last branch of the Chicago trail, 
coming from Fort Wayne, Ind., intersected the county 
and State line, near the southwest corner of Section 
20, in Ontwa, and running thence northwesterly, 
united with the main trail on Section 16, in Milton. 

" The trail from the Carey Mission to Grand River 
Mission, sometimes called the Grand River road, 
crossed the county line near the corner of Sections 6 
and 7, in Howard, and running thence angling across 
Howard, Pokagon, Silver Creek, Wayne and Volinia 
Townships left the county at the north line of Section 
2, in Volinia. It had no branches. The present ang- 
ling road running through the greater part of Poka- 
gon Township, the northwest corner of Howard and a 
portion of Wayne, occupies very nearly the same posi- 
tion. In fact, we are indebted to the Indian, or it 
may be to his predecessor, for some of our best lines 
of communication, and as many of these are trav- 
eled to-day, and probably will be for all time to come, 
where they were marked out hundreds, and it may be 
thousands of years ago, it shows that great skill and 
judgment must have been exercised in their location." 

POTTAWATOMIE CHIEFS. 

The tribal chief — the chief of all the Pottawato- 
mies — was Topinabe, who died near Niles, in the 
summer of 1826. Several local historians have com- 
mitted the error of stating that the same Topinabe 
who was, in 1795. recognized as the head of his na- 
tion, and who signed the treaty of Greenville in that 
year, was living in 1833. signed the treaty at Chicago 
at that time and went WesFwith the tribe when they 
were removed, under authority of the Government, in 
1838. No statement concerning Topinabe can be more 
authoritively made than that he died in 1826. At the 
time the missionary McCoy came into the St. Joseph 
country (1822) the famous chief was upward of eighty 
years of age. He had been a man of much nobility 
of character, had exerted a very potent influence in 
his tribe and had frequently given evidences of un- 
usual friendship for the whites (as, for instance, at the 
Fort Dearborn massacre), but as early at least as 1821 
he had become hopelessly enslaved by alcohol. In the 
year mentioned, at the treaty of Chicago, he was urged 
by Gen. Cass, the United States Commissioner, to 
keep sober, if possible, and make an advantageous 



niSTORV OF CASS roiTXTV. .MHMIirJAX. 



bargain for his people. His reply indicated the depth 
of his degradation. He said: ."Father, we do not 
care for the land, nor the money, nor the goods. What 
we want is whisky. Give us whisky." In May, 1826, 
one of Mr. McCoy's missionary companions, writing 
to him from Carey, says: "Since last we wrote you, 
I suppose the Indians have not passed a single day 
without drinking. Poor old Topinabe (principal chief) 
is said to be near his end from intoxication." McCoy 
himself writes: "On the ■27th of July, a poor, desti- 
tute Indian woman was murdered about a mile and a 
half from our house, under circumstances too shock- 
ing to be narrated. About the same time, Topinabe, 
the principal chief, fell from his horse, under the in- 
fluence of ardent spirits, and received an injury of 
which he died two days afterward." From this testi- 
mony, which is unquestionable, being written by a 
man who was intimately acquainted with the Potta- 
watomies, and who was living in their midst, it would 
seem that Topinabe came to his death in the latter 
part of July or early part of August, 1826. The fact 
that the name of Topinabe appears at the head of the 
Indian signatures appended to the treaty of 1828, 
made at Carey Mission, and the treaty of 1833. made 
at Chicago, does not tend to overthrow this evidence, 
for it is known there was another Topinabe in the 
tribe, a much younger man than the chief of whom 
we write. The name was undoubtedly hereditary. 
Topinabe, the valorous and cunning in warfare, the 
sagamore of his tribe, in his latter years the friend of 
the whites, has not been honored by the application 
of his name to any locality in the region where he 
dwelt, though the lesser chiefs, Pokagon and Weesaw, 
have been thus given a place in the memory of the 
race which inhabits their old hunting ground.* 

Pokagon was second in rank among the Pottawato- 
mies to Topinabe. and the most admirable character 
among the St. Joseph band. One of the members of 
the Carey Mission family says : " He was the reality 
of the noble red man of whom we read. He was a 
man of considerable talent, and in his many business 
transactions with the early settlers was never known 
to break his word." Various instances have been 
given in the preceding chapter which support this 
assertion, and prove Pokagon to have been the most 
progressive individual of his tribe. He probably owed 
his position of chief to the fact that he had a good 
command of language, and that he married the daugh- 
ter of Topinabe's brother. Ilis name was originally 
Sagaquinick. He became a convert to the Roman 
Catholic religion, and continued in the faith all of his 



• Recently the 
the Mackinnw Divigion of the 1 
u|H>n a summer roaort and embryo village i 
utaMlshecl by noiiie gentlemen of Nilon. 



life. Pokagon and most of the members of his band 
were exempted from the removal to the West which 
the Government decreed for the tribe. His chief 
objection to departure seems to have arisen from his 
fear that he and his people would lose the benefits of 
their religion and partial civilization. After the other 
Indians had been removed, Pokagon and his band set- 
tled in Silver Creek Township, of Cass County, and 
there the good chief died in 1840. As we shall have 
occasion to speak of the later history of Pokagon in 
the conclusion of this chapter, we will now pass to 
some of the other principal characters among the St. 
Joseph Pottawatomies. 

First among them (after those of whom we have 
written), was Weesaw, the war chief. He had three 
wives, of whom the favorite was a daughter of Topin- 
abe. He had a village in Berrien County, just north 
of Niles, and another (at a later period) in Volinia 

I Township, Cass County, on Dowagiac Creek on the 
farm now owned by George Newton, where, with 
about twenty families composing his band, he spent 

I several summers. In the spring, he would go to what 
is now the B. G. Bueli farm on Little Prairie Ronde, 

I and there raise corn and beans and a few other veg- 
etables. He also frequently visited the northwest 
portion of the township, in proper season, to make 
maple sugar. He only visited his hunting grounds 

I in Volinia every third year, allowing an interval for 
the restoration of game. 

j Weesaw is described by the Hon. George B. Turner 
who, when a boy, frequently saw him, as being a 
superb specimen of physical manhood, and a realiza- 
tion of the ideal Indian warrior. He was fully six 
feet high, muscular, finely formed and of stately car- 
riage. He had the appearance of one who deemed 
himself every inch a king. Fond of savage ornament 
and gaudy attire, he was usually dressed in such man- 
ner as to enhance the natural picturesqueness of his 
appearance. His leggings were bordered with little 
bells which tinkled as he walked, his head adorned 
with a turban of brilliant material, and his waist 
bound with a sash of the same, while upon his breast 
he always wore a huge silver amulet or gorget, bur- 
nished to its utmost brightness. Heavy rings of 
silver depended from his ears and nose. Occasionally 
he left off this savage splendor, and appeared in a suit 
of blue broadcloth. His favorite wife he adorned 
with a degree of Indian pomp and show, only inferior 
to his own gorgeousness, and she was always allowed 
to walk immediately behind him and ahead of the 
other wives when they accompanied their proud lord 
to the settlement of the whites. Weesaw was very 
friendly in his relations with the whites, and per- 

i formed many favors for them. Orlean Putnam has 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



occasion to remember him with pleasurable and kindly 
feeling. When the surveyors were at work north of 
"the big swamp " in 1827, they became very much 
straitened for provisions, the packer who was to 
supply them having lost his way. Mr. Putnam and 
another man in this contingency were detailed to pro- 
cure such articles of food as were needed. There 
were no white settlers nearer than Pokagon Prairie, 
but knowing that Weesaw had an encampment on 
Little Prairie Ronde, they went there conjecturing, 
and rightly as it turned out, that the chief could 
supply their wants. They arrived at the Indian 
camp at night, but the squaws, by Weesaw's direction 
immediately began preparing food to be taken to the 
surveying party, and in the morning the chief and his 
favorite wife accompanied Mr. Putnam and his com- 
panion some distance on their way back, assisting 
them in carrying the liberal allowance .of provisions 
which had been given them. 

Weesaw removed from Cass County to Berrien in 
in 1832, and died there not long after, being shot by 
his own son while the latter was in an almost crazed 
condition from the eflFects of drink. 

Other chiefs among the St. Joseph Pottawatomies 
were Chebass and Saugana. The former, who was of 
high rank, had his village within the present limits of 
Berrien County. He is frequently mentioned in Mc- 
Coy's history of the Carey Mission, but compar- 
atively little is known concerning him. Saugana | 
was the chief whose remarkable dream (related in the 
preceding chapter) was believed to have saved a large , 
party of Pottawatomies from starvation when on their | 
way to attend a treaty at the Wabash in 1826. ! 

Shavehead appears rather to have been the renegade 
head of a miscellaneous group of ill-savored savages 
than a chief among the Pottawatomies. He was one 
of the most notorious characters among the Indians of 
Cass County, and many anecdotes and traditions con- 
cerning him have been handed down to the present 
generation by early settlers who knew him. He was 
a sullen, treacherous, vindictive savage — " the ugliest 
Injun of them all," according to almost universal tes- 
timony. His appearance was in accordance with his 
evil nature. He had naturally a vicious and cruel 
look, which wa.s set off by a peculiar device — that of 
shaving nearly all the hair from his head. Only a 
lock on the top and a strip down the back of his head 
was left, and this flowed down in a shape suggestive 
of the mane of a lion, or perhaps of some lesser 
beast. Shavehead never ceased to regard the white 
man as an enemy and an intruder upon the Western 
soil. It is probable that he enacted a bloody role in the 
tragedy at Fort Dearborn and took part in most of the 
hostilities against the Americans in which his tribe 



were engaged. He retained his hatred for the whites 
when all of the Pottawatomies were living among 
them in peace. His feeling may perhaps be accounted 
for by the fact that he never signed any treaties and 
consequently received no annuities. He was always 
suspected of evil designs. Hon. George Meacham is 
authority for the statement that during the Sauk war 
scare. Gen. Joseph Brown ordered Pokagon to " take 
care" of Shavehead, meaning that he should be 
watched or guarded so that he could not join the enemy 
should they penetrate the country. 

The old chief and his small band lived a part of the 
time on the prairie which bears his name, in Porter 
Township ; a part upon the St. Joseph River, in the 
extreme southeastern portion of the county ; and 
sometimes wintered east of Young's Prairie. He 
committed many petty depredations, and was very 
insolent when he dared to be. On one occasion, he 
presented himself suddenly before Mrs. Reuben Pegg, 
of Penn Township, while her husband was away, and 
impudently insisted that she should give him some tal- 
low to grease his gun. Being refused very decidedly, 
he became violent, and threatened the lady's life. 
Soon after, Mr. Pegg returned home, and, being told 
of the occurrence, followed Shavehead with a stout 
ox-goad, and overtaking him, administered a terrible 
thrashing. Mrs. Lydia Rudd, who was some distance 
from this Indian defeat, remembers that she heard 
very distinctly the thud of the stalwart blows. 

One of Michigan's pioneers,* who has written 
much, and is regarded as a good authority upon mat- 
ters of early history, relates the following concerning 
Shavehead's residence on the St. Joseph River, op- 
posite Mottville, his custom of taking toll from those 
who crossed the stream, and a whipping he received 
at the hands of Asahel Savary, of Centerville : 

" The old Chicago road where it crossed the St. 
Joseph River at Mottville was called * * * 
Grand Traverse or Portage. This road was the great 
traveled route through the southern part of the terri- 
tory to Chicago. Here at Mottville, the old chief 
Shavehead had stationed himself as the Charon to 
ferry travelers across the stream. There being no 
grist-mills nearer than Pokagon, the settlers in this 
part of the country went by this route to get their 
grinding done. Standing with gun in hand, at this 
portage, Shavehead was accustomed to demand toll of 
every one who wished to cross the stream. One day, 
Asahel Savary, of Centerville, finding the old chief 
off his guard, crossed over the St. Joseph free. But 
on his return, there the old Charon stood, gun in 
hand, to demand his moiety. Savary stopped his 
team. Shavehead came up and looked into the 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



49 



wagon, when the farmer seizing him by the scalp- 
lock, drew him close to the wagon, and with his ox- 
whip gave him a sound flogging. Then seizing the 
old chief's gun, he fired it ofi" and drove on. Old 
Shavehead never took any more toll from a settler 
crossing the St. Joseph River at Mottville." 

Concerning the death of the troublesome old chief 
(if chief he was), there has always been some mys- 
tery. Two accounts of his demise, agreeing in essen- 
tials, are extant. Both belong in the shadowy border 
land of history where it emerges in the broad uncer- 
tain domain of tradition. The first, from the writer 
we have just quoted, is as follows : 

•'An old frontiersman, who lived not far from 
Shavehead Prairie, was very fond of the woods, of 
hunting and trapping. He and Shavehead were very 
great friends, and often spent days together on the 
hunt. Their friendship had continued so long that 
the settler had begun to be considered as a sort of 
Leatherstocking companion to the old Indian. One 
day a report reached his ears that Shavehead had said 
' Deer getting scarce ; white man ' (pointing toward 
the settler's home), ' kill too many ; Injun no get his 
part. Me stop white man shoot deer.' His old 
friend interpreted this ; he knew its meaning, but said 
nothing. He and the old chief had another hunt 
together after this. Time passed on, and one pleasant 
day in autumn, the two old friends went out on a 
hunt together, and at night the settler returned alone. 
The old Indian chief was never seen in that region 
afterward. It was generally believed that the reason 
Shavehead did not return, was because he had crossed 
the river to the happy hunting-grounds on the other 
side. And it was generally conceded that the settler 
thought he or Shavehead would have to cross the river 
that day, and that he, the settler, concluded not to 

go-" 

The second hypothesis of the death of Shavehead, 
by the Hon. George B. Turner, involves the eccen- 
tric Job Wright, the hermit of Diamond Lake Island, 
and intimates that he may have been responsible for 
the exit of the chief from this world. Mr. Turner 
does not vouch for the absolute truth of the story. 
We will say by way of preface that Job Wright is sup- 
posed (in the narrative) to have been one of the little 
band of soldiers attacked at Fort Dearborn by the 
Pottawatomies in 1812 ; that Shavehead took an 
active part in the massacre, and that in subsequent 
years he was suspected by Wright of burning down a 
cabin which he (Wright) had built on Diamond Lake 
Island. These statements should be borne in mind by 
him who would read understandingly what follows : 

" It was late in the afternoon of a beautiful Sep- 
tember day " [1840] * * * * " that 



we dragged our weary limbs into town [Cassopolis] 
from a long stroll in the woods with dog and gun ; and 
as we reached the public square we espied a con- 
siderable number of settlers from the country about, 
who had gathered in a compact circular body around 
some object in front of the village store that seemed 
to deeply interest them. 

" We were not long in reaching the spot ; there, in 
the center of the group stood Shavehead, the re- 
nowned Pottawatomie chief His habitual reserve 
and caution had left him, for he was gesticulating 
wildly as he told of his feats of bravery in more than 
one border conflict. It was plain to see that his 
peculiar weakness had taken possession of him ; in 
other words, that corn whisky, of which he was very 
fond, had overcome him. The men listened silent 
and sullen as he told of the scalps he had taken ; of 
the battles in which he had been engaged. Some re- 
garded his talk as the bravado of a drunken Indian, 
while a few old hunters, who hung about the outer 
circle, thought and felt otherwise. At last Shave- 
head closed his harangue by referring to the massacre 
near Chicago, at the same time exhibiting an English 
medal, in token of his bloody deeds of that eventful 
day. 

" As he closed and the crowd opened to let him 
pass, many were the curses hurled at him, many the 
threats we heard pronounced against him. Now for 
the first time we noticed the tall, gaunt form of the 
old recluse leaning upon his rifle apart from the main 
body of listeners, but near enough to hear all that was 
said. As the drunken chief stalked away. Job mut- 
tered audibly to himself, ' Yes, it is him, we fought 
by the wagons; he burned my cabin, curse him.' 
Suddenly shouldering his rifle, he disappeared from 
the village, evidently taking the route home. After 
sunset a settler who came in, reported seeing Job on 
the track of something, and moving rapidly in a 
southeasterly direction. Knowing glances were ex: 
changed among the little knot of villagers, to whom 
this story was told, they evidently believing that Job 
had gone to pay his old friend a visit. How far wrong 
they were in their conjectures, we do not pretend to 
say. One thing however, is certain ; after that day, 
Shavehead was never known to brag of the number of 
white scalps he had taken. We do not pretend to say 
that he was shot by any of the settlers — for those 
were peaceful times ; law and order prevailed all over 
the land ; the animosities engendered by the war of 
1812 had nearly all passed away. But this we do 
say, if Job Wright, the scout, the recluse, went on the 
trail of Shavehead, in all probability he found him ; 
moreov£r, if he did go, something more than an or- 
dinary business transaction was uppermost in his 



50 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



mind; and lastly, if he ever did draw a bead upon 
him across his rifle, a moment after there was one 
Pottawatomie chieftain less in Michigan." 

As a rule the Indians in Cass County were very 
respectful to the whites and seldom made any trouble. 
Among themselves they had many difliculties and sev- 
eral murders were committed. The white settlers 
paid little or no attention to these crimes, and the 
Indians themselves allowed them to pass unpunished. 
Shortly before the Pottawatomies were removed to 
the West, a murder occurred in Pokagon Township (on 
Section 19), Schotaria, a "medicine man," killing 
his squaw. The body of the dead woman was taken 
on a pony to Berti-and, on the St. Joseph River, and 
there interred in the Catholic burying-ground. About 
the same time a murder was committed in Howard 
Township, on the road that led from Summerville to 
Niles. An Indian, named Wassatto, slew his brother- 
in-law, Mashkuk, in a peculiarly brutal manner. The 
only cause known for either of these murders was the 
drunkenness of their perpetrators. 

The Indians came very near murdering a white 
man soon after the first settlement of the county. 
John Baldwin, who lived in what is now Porter 
Township, and after whom Baldwin's Prairie was 
named, was assaulted in his cabin b}' a party of 
Indians who claimed to have been cheated by him in 
a bargain. They came to his cabin in the night, 
gave him a terrible pounding with clubs, jumped 
upon him, and when there was no longer any indica- 
tion of life in his bruised and motionless body, left, 
uttering the most exultant yells. A son of Baldwin's, 
a young man, mounting a horse, galloped to White 
Pigeon and summoned a doctor, having first found 
that his father's life was not quite extinct, and with 
careful medical treatment Baldwin was restored. He 
subsequently recovered from the Indian agent nearly 
$3,000 damages, which was deducted from the 
annuities of the ofi"enders. It was asserted that 
the cause of the Indians' grievance was that they 
had received in payment for some oxen they had sold 
Baldwin a quantity of whisky which was so diluted 
with water as to render it entirely useless for the pur- 
pose of producing the intoxication they had fondly 
anticipated. 

REMOVAL OF THE IXDIANS. 

By the Chicago treaty of 1821, the Pottawatomies 
had ceded to the United States their right and claim to 
all of the territory lying west and north of the St. 
Joseph River. Still further cessions were made by 
the treaty of 1828, all of the possessions of the tribe 
within the Territory of Michigan being at that time 
transferred to the Government, with the exception of 
a reservation of forty-nine square miles in Berrien 



County, west of the St. Joseph, and bordered by it. 
On this tribal reservation were the chief villages of 
the Pottawatomies, and the larger part of their popu- 
lation. Their last foothold was destined soon to be 
taken from them. On September 2H, 1833, at Chi- 
cago, they ceded this reservation, and at the same 
time agreed to remove from the lands they occupied. 
The articles of the treaty were signed by George B. 
Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen and William Weatherford, 
Commissioners for the United States, and by Topina- 
be,* Pokagon, Weesaw, and forty-five other chiefs 
and head men of the Pottawatomies. The ceded land 
is described in the treaty as " the tract of land on the 
St. Joseph River, opposite the town of Niles, and 
extending to the line of the State of Indiana, on 
which the villages of To-pe-ne-bee and Pokagon are 
situated, supposed to contain about forty-nine sec- 
tions." 

The clause stipulating the removal of the Indi- 
ans was the third supplementary article which read as 
follows : "All the Indians residing on the said reserva- 
tions (there were some other than the tract above 
described, smaller and farther east, but none of them 
in Cass County), shall remove therefrom within three 
years from this date, during which time they shall not 
be disturbed in their possession, nor in hunting upon 
the lands as heretofore. In the meantime, no inter- 
ruption shall be offered to the survey and sale of the 
same by the United States. In case, however, the 
said Indians shall sooner remove, the Government 
may take immediate possession thereof." 

Pokagon and some of the members of his band who 
were present at the treaty, refused to sign the instru- 
ment until they had received guarantees that they 
should be exempted from the obligation to remove. 

The Pottawatomies had no right to occupy the lands 
now included in Cass County after 1821. In 1833, 
as we have seen, they were nominally restricted to the 
reservation west of the St. Joseph, but until their de- 
parture from the region, they roamed freely over the 
adjacent country, and, indeed had a scattered popula- 
tion in the territory now within this county. They 
evinced considerable of an attachment for certain 
localities, and visited them from year to year, or in 
small bands held them continuously, until absolutely 
crowded out, not by the provisions of treaties, but by 
the actual settlement of the superior race. 

The time when the reservation was to be relinquished, 
September, 1836, arrived and passed, and the Potta- 
watomies still clung tenaciously to the little fraction 
of their ancient domain. A considerable number had 
scattered through the surrounding country — through 



HISTORY OF I'ASS COUNTY. MK'HKiAN. 



51 



all the counties of Southwestern Michigan — and were ! 
living in a state of serai-civilization, upon tracts of , 
land not entered or occupied by the white settlers. , 
Pokagon, in pursuance of his plan of remaining in the j 
country, began to enter land as early as 1835, taking 
up a small tract in Silver Creek Township. In 1830, 
he bought still more, and in 1837 added to his I 
possessions enough to make the total nearly a thou- \ 
sand acres. 

No definite action tending toward the removal of 
the Indians was taken until two years after the e.xpira- j 
tion of their privilege, and then, in the autumn of ' 
1838, Government took steps for carrying out the 
provisions of the treaty of 1833. The preliminary to 
this removal, or more properly expulsion, was a 1 
gathering of the Indians near Niles for a " talk." | 
Long before the period had expired, during which 
they had been permitted to remain, the Indians had 
repented their acquiescence to the treaty, and now at 
the meeting many of them pleaded most earnestly 
and touchingly that they might be suifered to remain 
in the land of their fathers. But the great father to 
whom they addressed their prayers was inexorable. In 
other words, the Government agents, Messrs. Godfrey 
and Kercheval, were not to be moved, and peremp- 
torily insisted that they must be ready upon a certain 
day to begin their westward journey. The agents 
endeavored to bring together the scattered bands, but 
were not entirely successful. Many were determined 
not to leave the country, and fled to localities remote 
from the surveillance of the Government's representa- 
tives; some took refuge with the Ottawas in the Grand 
River region, and not a few hid in the forest near 
their homes. Some were assisted in secreting them- 
selves by the white settlers, who felt sympathy for 
them. Upon the day appointed for the exodus, it is 
probable that about two-thirds of the St. Joseph Pot- 
tawatoraies rendezvoused at Niles, and under the escort 
of two companies of United States troops, detailed for 
the purpose by Gen. Brady, moved out on the Chicago 
road, destined for the land beyond the Father of 
Waters. It was a sorrowful and dejected body of 
human beings, this remnant of the once powerful tribe, 
which slowly and wearily wended its way from Michi- 
gan to Kansas, and their departure was no doubt 
witnessed with sincere regret by many who reflected 
upon their situation, and realized what their feelings 
must be. During the journey some escaped, and 
returned to the St. Joseph country, and in 1839 
these, with most of those who had avoided removal in 
the preceding year, were collected by Alexis Coquil- 
lard, and under his charge taken to their brethren in 
Kansas. The old trader, Bertrand, accompanied those 
who were removed in 1838, 



After the departure of the other Indians, Pokagon 
and his little band of Roman Catholics moved into the 
lands they had bought in Sdver Creek Township. 
The old chief was thus near one of his old dwelling 
places — the prairie named after him. Although the 
lands in Silver Creek, amounting to about a thousand 
acres, were entered in Pokagon's name, most of the 
other Indians in his band had contributed funds for 
the purchase, and the chief made deeds to each for 
tracts proportionate in size to the amount of individual 
investment. Pokagon exerted a benign influence over 
his fellows, setting them a good example in temper- 
ance and morality. He was a zealous Catholic, and 
in 1839-40 built the first church in Silver Creek — a 
substantial log structure, which John G. A. Barney 
and other white settlers helped him to raise. The 
good old chief was sadly victimized by the priest in 
charge of this church, when approaching his death. 
The holy father induced Pokagon when he was very 
sick, in the autunm of 1839, to give him a deed for 
forty acres of land as the price for receiving absolu- 
tion. The deed proved to be for six hundred and 
seventy-four acres instead of forty. It was received 
tor record by Joseph Harper at 6 o'clock A. M., 
upon the 10th of August, 1840, the day being Mon- 
day. The priest came to Cassopolis in great haste 
on Sunday and urged that the document be immedi- 
ately filed, but the Register compelled him to wait 
until the next day. Pokagon had died upon the 
Saturday succeeding, and the news of his demise was 
first brought to the county seat by the priest. The 
deed transferred two tracts of land; one consisting of 
four hundred and seventy-four acres, and the other of 
two hundred, from Leopold Pokagon and his wife, 
Ketesse, to Stanislaus A. Bernier, providing for a 
small reservation upon which Ketesse Pokagon and 
her four children should be allowed to live. Very 
soon after the deed was recorded, Bernier deeded the 
property to Celestine Guynemir de la Hislander, from 
whom it was subsequently recovered by the rightful 
heirs through a verdict of the Court of Chancery 
which sat at Kalamazoo, it being proved that the 
original deed w;is procured through fraud. 

The descendants of Pokagon and the other Potta- 
watomies of his band nearly all live in Silver Creek 
and number not more than seventy-five persons. The 
whole number of the tribe in Michigan does not ex- 
ceed two hundred and fifty. They are distributed in 
the Counties of Cass, Calhoun, St. Joseph, Berrien 
and Van Buren, and until his death in February, 
1882, their chief was Augustine Topash, who lived 
in Silver Creek, near the suburbs of Dowagiac. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



UHAPTEE Ynr. 

THE CARET MISSION. 

Its Establishment uear the Site of Nlles in 1R22— Its Effect on the Set- 
tlement of t'ass and Berrien Counties— The Rev. Isaac McCoy- 
Trials of the Missionaries— Scarcity of Food— Success! ulness of the 
School— How Regarded by the Pottawatomies— Necessity for Re- 
moval—Crowded Out by the Whtte.s— Improvements at Carey Ap- 
praised, in 18:iO, at over .?5,OU0. 

A N interesting book might be written on religious 
-i^^ zeal as a factor in the development of new 
countries. We have had occasion, in this volume, 
to remark upon the holy aspirations and ambitions 
which led the French Roman Catholics to penetrate 
the Western wilderness two centuries ago, and now we 
call the attention of the reader to the history of the 
Baptist Mission among the Pottawatomies, founded 
just west of the site of Nilesin 1822, which very mate- 
rially affected the settlement of Southwestern Mich- 
igan. It was, indeed, the Mecca toward which jour- 
neyed nearly all the pioneers who located in the 
western portion of Cass and the eastern portion of 
Berrien County. No sooner had the fact become 
generally known that Isaac McCoy had pushed for- 
ward into the Indian country and there established a 
religious mission and a school than many adventurous 
spirits in Ohio and Indiana prepared to follow in his 
footsteps, and the surrounding country was speedily 
settled. 

The man* who, underthe auspices of the Baptist Mis- 
sionary Association, of Washington, founded the Carey 
Mission(so-called after a celebrated pioneer missionary 
in Hindostan), was in many respects a remarkable man, 
and his services in the cause of Baptist missions 
among the Indians, extending through a long period, 
were very valuable. His labors were not confined to 
the propagation of Christianity among the Indians, 
but he materially advanced the temporal condition of 
several tribes, and assisted in bringing about some of 
the most salutary measures of national legislation 
upon the Indian question that were ever enacted. 

Mr. McCoy's first mission school among the Indi- 
ans was established in 1804, near Vincennes, Ind. In 
1820, he removed to Fort Wayne, and from there to 
the St. Joseph River. It was in May, 1822, that the 
missionary made his first visit to the scene of his fut- 
ure labors. "On the Kith," he writes, 'we reached 
the French trading-house (Bertrand's) at Parc-aux- 
Vaches (the cow pasture), by traveling through the 
rain. I was sorry to hear that many of the chiefs, 
whom I wished to see in reference to our settlement in 
that country, had gone to Lake Michigan to engage 
in a drunken frolic, a trader having arrived in that 

*ThoKe». laaic McUoy wai liora Juno 1:!, 1788, near Oniont.iwn, P«in.; 
removed, with his parents, to J-fferson Connrv, Ky , in 1794 ; wa8 married to 
<;liristiana Polke in October, 1803, and licensed to preach In March, 1804, when 
he Immediately began his serricea among the Indians. He died at Louisville, 
Ky., in 1S46. 



locality with a quantity of whisky." The effect of this 
discouraging circumstance, however, wa.s in a iarge 
measure counteracted by the utterances of those mem- 
bers of the tribe whom McCoy did see, and who, he 
says " appeared delighted with the prospect of our 
settling near them, and by many rude expressions of 
friendship, welcomed me to their country." 

On the 9th of October, Mr. McCoy, with Mr. Jack- 
son and hi.s family, four hired men and a number of 
Indian boys, old enough to make themselves useful — 
in all twenty persons — set off from Fort Wayne for 
the purpose of erecting buildings at the site chosen 
for the new mission. On arriving there after a jour- 
ney full of privation, they immediately began cutting 
down trees, chopping out logs and preparing them to 
be laid up in house walls, Mr. McCoy himself taking 
an active part in the work, although he was still suf- 
fering from the effects of a serious fever. About the 
middle of November, leaving his men to finish the 
work, he set out for Fort Wayne and arrived there 
after a three days' ride, wet, cold, almost ftimished 
with hunger, weary and sick. There were many 
preparations to be made before the final removal to 
Carey could be accomplished, and the little company 
was not in readiness for the journey until the 9th of 
December, 1822, on the morning of which day they 
started from Fort Wayne into the woods destined 
for their new home. Mr. McCoy says in his History 
of Baptist Indian Missions:* "Our company con- 
sisted of thirty-two persons, viz., Seven of ray own 
family, Mr. Dusenberry (a teacher), six work hands 
and eighteen of the Indian part of our family. The 
health of many was by no means firm. One ■of our 
children was still unwell with its late sickness. We 
had three wagons drawn by oxen and one by horses, 
fifty hogs and five cows. On account of the ice, we 
found much difficulty in crossing the St. Mary's 
River, and were able to make only about three miles 
of our journey the first day. The. snow was about 
three inches deep, which we raked away with hoes, 
until we found earth to make our beds upon, and 
where we could kindle a fire. On the 10th, traveling 
was extremely difficult on account of snow and ice 
and many deep quagmires, in a flat, wet country. I 
lent my horse to enable some hands to go back after 
cattle that had escaped on the preceding night, and 
being compelled now to go on foot, became greatly 
fatigued and not a little indisposed. I took a hand 
and went ahead, and had a fire burning by the time 
the company came up at dark." Slowly and tediously 
the missionaries and their company made their way 
through the woods, fording streams, crossing swamps 
and encamping at night after the wearisome march 

* Published in 1840; now very rare. 



mSTOKY OF CA88 COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



of the day in the most sheltered spots they could find. 
Various circumstances conspired to delay their pro- 
gress. Their cattle strayed away and they had to 
sear'ch for them many hours at a time ; their wagons 
broke down and it was necessary to mend them before 
the company could proceed. The weather was dis- 
agreeable and dreary; the journey full of vexation 
and discomfort and peril. On the 12th, they passed 
an encampment of Miamis who resided in the Potta- 
watomie country and with whom Mr. McCoy says he 
"had previously little acquaintance." Mr. McCoy 
had by exposure contracted a serious cold, and on the 
13th he was so ill that he could not ride on horse- 
back and was compelled to get into a wagon. On the 
14th, the company, after traveling all day through 
the fiilling snow, reached the bank of the Elkhart 
River, where they encamped and butchered a hog, 
•nvhich furnished them with supper and breakfast. On 
the following day, great difficulty was experienced 
in crossing the river, the ice having to be first cut 
away. On the morning of the 16th, McCoy left the 
camp early and wont on before the rest of the company 
to the St. Joseph River, ten miles, to examine a 
crossing. On returning, he found that the company 
had not left camp on account of fifteen oxen having 
gone astray. By night they were recovered.. On 
the morning of the 17th, McCoy, though quite sick, 
took two men with him ahead of the. company and 
made a large fire on each side of the St. Joseph, by 
which the men might warm themselves occasionally 
while the work of getting their wagons and stock 
across the icy stream was going on. All got 
through safely but with much discomfort. " On the 
morning of the 18th," says the missionary, " our 
oxen were almost worn down and the company all ex- 
ceedingly anxious to terminate thejourney. We there- 
fore made a vigorous effort to reach Bertrand's trading- 
house, which we accomplished at dark. Here we 
found a shelter from the cold and freezing rain which 
had been falling on us half the day." On the follow- 
ing day, which was the eleventh of their journey, they 
reached the mission, which was six miles from Bert- 
rand's. They forded the river, says the late Judge 
Bacon, where is now the foot of Main street in Niles, 
" crossing it diagonally, and handing near the rear of the 
garden of Mr. Colby. , In an hour thereafter, they 
reached their home in the woods."* They found 
their cabins unfinished, but they afforded a shelter so 
much superior to what they had experienced on the 
road that, in the language of the patient pioneer of 
Christianity, they " were not inclined to complain." 
Mr. McCoy notes in his book that upon the 1st of 



January, they invited Topinabe and Chebass, " prin- 
cipal chiefs and some others, to partake of a frugal 
meal with us, some attention having generally been 
paid to the 25th of December and the 1st of January, 
by white men among them, most of whom have been 
French Catholics, from whom the natives derived a 
knowledge of these holidays." The Indians fully 
appreciated the treatment they received from the mis- 
sionaries, upon this and other occasions, and one of 
them said privately to the interpreter, that " they 
could not think there were any more such good people 
among the whites." 

The experience of the people at Carey, during the 
first winter they spent there, was very severe. The 
earth was covered with snow from the time they 
reached the station until the 20th of March, and it 
was generally from ten to fifteen inches deep. The 
weather continued cold, and the houses being unfin- 
ished, were very uncomfortable. For the comfort of 
fifty people, there were but four fires, and one of them 
a kitchen fire. " Out of doors, business went on slowly, 
on account of the severity of the weather," says the 
historian, and he adds, '" our religious services ap- 
peared to be attended with cold hearts as well as cold 
feet." 

Added to their other troubles during the winter of 
1822-23, was the scarcity of food. The teams which 
they had dispatched to Ohio for a supply of Hour 
soon after they arrived at Carey, and which they sup- 
posed would return within a month, were delayed, and 
from the middle of January until the 13th of February, 
when they finally did arrive, there was actual suffering 
for want of sufficient provisions. A few extracts from 
the mission journals show with painful plainness the 
situation of these isolated pioneers : 

"February 1st. — Having eaten up our corn, and 
having only flour enough for one meal, we sent five 
of our stoutest Indian boys five miles to an Indian 
trader, and borrowed a barrel of flour and a bushel of 
corn. Our teams were absent and the boys carried it 
home on their backs. The flour was damaged ; 
nevertheless it was very acceptable to us." 

" February 7. — Ate our last meal of bread for break- 
fast, which was so scarce that we had to divide it 
carefully, that every one might have a little. We 
had saved a few pounds of Hour for the small children, 
whose necessities were increased by-the want of the 
valuable article of milk. Sent out an Indian to en- 
deavor to buy corn, who returned with about six 
quarts, which was all he could get. We sent an In- 
dian and a white man to Fort Wayne to see what was 
detaining our wagons ; and should they not meet the 
teams on this si'le, they are directed to hire horses and 
fetch flour to us." 



54 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



" February 8. — Breakfasted upon the corn we hail 
procured the preceding day. Blessed be God, we 
have not yet suflfered for want of food, because corn 
is an excellent substitute for bread. But having now 
eaten our last corn, we cannot avoid feeling some un- 
easiness about the next meal." 

Regardless of the deep snow, and of his poor health, ■ 
McCoy now set forth attended by an Indian, in quest 
of corn. His thought was to procure some from the | 
Indians in the neighboring villages, who had small 
quantities buried in caches, but scarcely as much as 
they would themselves need. The missionary says : 
" My own anxieties were very great. I could not 
contemplate the destitute condition of so many persons, 
among whom were my wife and my children, when 
the probabilities of extreme suffering, not to say I 
perishing, were thickening around us, without feelings ; 
which can better be imagined than described." 

He was slowly working his way through the track- ; 
less waste of snow when he met Bertrand, the trader, i 
The old Frenchman told McCoy that it was extremely 
improbable that the Indians were at their villages, 
and that in their absence it would be impossible on 
account of the snow to discover the caches, but, said 
he generously, '■ I got some corn, some flour; I give 
you half Suppose you die, I die too." McCoy 
returned with his horse heavily loaded with corn and 
flour, anticipating as he laboriously made his way 
homeward, the joy that his success would cause at the 
mission. Arriving there, he was not a little astonished 
to find his people regaling themselves with a substan- 
tial meal of sweet corn. He had scarcely ridden out 
of sight of the mission in the morning when an aged 
Pottawatomie woman, a widow, their nearest neighbor, 
who herself had nothing on which to live except a 
limited supply of corn and beans, appeared at the 
house with a sufficient supply of sweet corn to make a 
liberal meal for the entire "family." "Thus," says 
the pious missionary, in chronicling an account of the 
day, "thus we had scarcely eaten our last meal, when 
God sent us another." On the same day, four other 
Pottawatomie women, whom the kind widow had told 
of the condition of want at the mission, came in, bear- 
ing upon their backs about three bushels of potatoes. 
On the 10th of February, two Indians brought a 
bushel of corn each, and two traders, who had received 
news of the scarcity, came into the mission a distance of 
fifteen miles, bringing " lialf of a pittance of flour 
they had." These instances of the kindness of human 
nature would bear chronicling in letters of gold. 

But now that one immediate peril was escaped, 
another arose. McCoy, whose system had been 
severely worn by labor and exposure, privation and 
9.nxiety, became very siok with a fever, suff"ered oiuob 



physical pain, and for a time lay in delerium. His 
life was despaired of, but, after a number of days of 
extreme illness, he began to improve upon the 20th 
of February. * 

The wagons with supplies which had been long ex- 
pected from Ohio, arrived on the 13th. Mr. John- 
ston Lykins, a valued assistant of Mr. McCoy's, ^yho 
had been long absent, arrived on the 21st. The re- 
turn of this useful member of the family, the arrival 
of food and other supplies and the approach of spring, 
all combined to work an improvement at the mission, 
and the hearts of the people, which had been very 
sorrowful and full of foreboding during the winter, 
grew lighter. Mr. McCoy's convalescence was slow, 
but quite regular and assuring, and the future looked 
promising and bright. Encouraging news was also 
received about this time from an agent who had been 
employed to solicit aid for the Mission, and word came, 
from various sources that benevolent people in Ohio 
and the East had increased their liberality to the 
cause and were taking a deep interest in the labors of 
Mr. McCoy and his companions among the Pottawat- 
omies. 

The school had by this time thirty-six scholars. It 
had been opened on the 27th of January, 1823, in a 
building erected for the purpose, and finished at that 
time, with the important exceptions of laying a floor, 
building a chimney and hanging a door in the open- 
ing intended for one. It was used for some time be- 
fore these elements, which would now be considered as 
necessities, were added, and teachers and pupils sat 
about a fire, built on the ground in the middle of the 
room, suffering greatly from the cold and smoke. All 
was prosperous with the Carey Mission in the spring 
and summer of 1823, and Mr. McCoy was successful 
in establishing another mission, which was known as 
Thomas, upon the Grand River, among the Ottawas. 

In June, 1828, Carey was visited by Maj. S. H. 
Long and his party, who were on their way to the 
headwaters of the Mississippi. William H. Keating, 
who was one of the company, gave a very interesting 
description of the mission in the first volume of Maj. 
Long's report of the expedition. Passing from Fort 
Wayne to Chicago, he says : " There is in this neigh- 
borhood an establishment which, by the philanthropic 
views which have led to its establishment, and by the 
boundless charity with which it is administered, com- 
pensates, in a measure, for the insult offered to the 
laws of God and man by the traders. * * * 
The Carey Mission House, so designated in honor of 
the late Mr. Carey, the indefatigable apostle of India, 
is situated within half a mile of the River St. Joseph. 
* * '■ The spot was covered with a very 

dense forest seven months before the time we visited 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



55 



it; but by the great activity of the superintendent he 
has succeeded in the course of this short time in build- 
ing six good log houses, four of which afford com- 
fortable residence to the inmates of the establishment ; 
a fifth is used as a school-room, and the sixth forms a 
commodious blacksmith shop. In addition to this, 
they have cleared about fifty acres of land, which are 
nearly all inclosed by a substantial fence. Forty 
acres have already been plowed and planted with 
maize, and every step has been taken to place the 
establishment upon an independent footing. The 
school consists of from forty to sixty children. The 
plan adopted appears to be a very judicious one. 
The plan adopted in the school purposes to unite a 
practical with an intellectual education. The boys 
are instructed in the English language, in reading, 
writing and arithmetic ; they are made to attend the 
usual avocations of a farm, and to perform every 
operation connected with it, such as plowing, planting, 
harrowing, etc., and in these pursuits they seem to 
take great delight. The system being well regulated, 
they find time for everything ; not only for study and 
labor, but also for innocent recreation, in which they 
are encouraged to indulge ; and the hours allotted to 
recreation may, perhaps, be viewed as productive of 
results fully as important as those accruing from more 
serious pursuits. The females receive in the school 
the same instruction which is given to the boys, and 
are in addition to this taught spinning, weaving and 
sewing, both plain and ornamental. They were just 
beginning to embroider ; an occupation which may, by 
some, be considered as unsuitable to the situation 
which they are destined to hold in life, but which ap- 
pears to us very judiciously used as a reward and a 
stimulus. They are likewise made to attend to the 
pursuits of the dairy, such as milking of cows, etc. 
All appear to be very happy and to make as rapid 
progress as white children of the same age would 
make. Their principal excellence rests in works of 
imitation. They write astonishingly well, and many 
display great natural talent for drawing. The insti- 
tution receives the countenance of the most rtspecta- 
ble among the Indians. There are in the school two 
of the grandchildren of Topinabe, the great heredi- 
tary chief of the Pottowatomies. The Indians visit 
the establishment occasionally and appear pleased with 
it. The (mission) family have a flock of one hundred 
sheep, collected in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, 
and are daily expecting two hundred head of cattle 
from the same States. These contributions, together 
with the produce of their farm, will, it is thought, 
prevent them from being exposed to suffer as much 
from scarcity of provisions as they have already 
done." * * ***** 



During a portion of this summer, the mission people 
were again on very short allowance. One day in June, 
they sent out two men to purchase corn, if any could 
be found, as they had not enough to last through the 
day. A small quantity was obtained from an Indian 
and a little damaged flour from a trader. "The In- 
dian," says McCoy, "had not the corn to spare with- 
out risking his own comfort, and refused to sell it, but 
said: ' It is too hard to be hungry. I will give my 
father that sackful. I believe I will lose nothing by 
it. I think he will give me an equal quantity when 
he shall get corn.' " 

Two day days after that occurrence, a herd of 121 
cattle arrived, a portion of the 200 which Mr. Keat- 
ing, in his report, said were expected. Some had been 
left at Fort Wayne. 

Mr. McCoy had contracted with the captain of a 
vessel on the lakes to bring them a loaS of flour to 
the mouth of the St. Joseph River. It was to be de- 
livered by the middle of June,, but did not come to 
hand, and the missionaries learned that the captain 
had violated his agreement, finding that he could dis- 
pose of his cargo at a better price than had been con- 
tracted. This was a great disappointment and sub- 
jected the people to inconvenience and loss. Their 
chief reliance for breadstuffs, until they could pro- 
duce them at the mission, was to transport them, by 
wagons, 200 miles. This was very expensive, but 
necessity induced the immediate sending off of teams 
for the purpose. 

During the summer, Mr. McCoy was busied, a large 
portion of his time, in agitating a scheme for coloniz- 
ing the Indians in the West, and carried on an exten- 
sive correspondence with Lewis Cass, Governor of the 
Territory of Michigan, and several members of Con- 
gress, as well as influential citizens of Ohio and Indi- 
ana. He also brought the matter to the attention of 
the Missionary Board. 

Although the season had been one of general pros- 
perity, there was a scarcity of breadstuffs at the mis- 
sion ; 900 bushels of corn were gathered in the fall 
and a large quantity of vegetables, but no wheat had 
thus far been grown, and all the flour used was trans- 
ported overland from Ohio. The mission was in debt 
several hundred dollars. To make matters worse, a com- 
munication was received from the agent of the Board 
of Missions, saying that its funds were exhausted and 
that no more drafts could be drawn on the Treasurer. 

The mission had grown and its expenses had in- 
creased in proporti'on. Miss Fanny Goodridge, of 
Lexington, Ky., had entered the mission as a teacher 
in November, and a Miss Wright and a Miss Purchase, 
of Ohio, and Mr. and Mrs. Polke, of Indiana, had 
either arrived or were soon expected. 



56 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Toward the close of the year (1823), McCoy, urged 
by the growing needs of the mission and the decreas 
ing flow of aid toward it, set out upon a journey East 
in order to solicit contributions from the charitably 
disposed. He visited Washington, Philadelphia, Bos 
ton and New York and other places, making repre 
sentations of the conditions and wants of the mission 
and everywhere received liberal donations of clothing 
food supplies, books and over $2,000 in money. 

On the 25th of May, 1824, he embarked at Buffalo 
upon a schooner, which he had chartered for the pur- 
pose of taking his goods directly to the mouth of the 
St. Joseph. He left the vessel at Detroit, and crossed 
the Peninsula on horseback, arriving at Carey June 
11. There were at this time no inhabitants at the 
mouth of the St. Joseph, and McCoy sent two young 
Indians there, instructing them to keep a great fire 
burning day Snd night to attract the attention of the 
sailors upon the schooner to the point where the cargo 
should be landed. The arrival of the vessel was 
looked forward to with very pleasant anticipations 
and with considerable impatience. There was no 
flour at Carey, and the Indians who were sent down 
to the shore of Lake Michigan were told to open the 
first barrel landed from the schooner, and hasten back 
with as much as they could carry. Mr. McCoy says : 
" All except myself were in good spirits in regard to 
food, hourly expecting the arrival of the vessel. I 
feared that contrary winds or other hindrance might 
cause us to sufi'er, but I concealed my anxiety. On 
the 18th (of June) we had only corn enough for one 
day, but our merciful God was still near us. * * * 
On the evening of the 18th, to our great joy, and 
mine in particular, one of the young men arrived with 
a mule packed with flour." Their ship had come in. 

The goods unloaded at the mouth of the river were 
conveyed to Carey in pirogues (large canoes), Mr. 
Polke superintending the labor, which occupied a con- 
siderable time, the articles to be transported, includ- 
ing a hundred barrels of flour, twenty-four barrels of 
salt and thirty bushels of wheat for seed, and many 
boxes of miscellaneous supplies, clothing and books. 
" From this time forward the mission did not sufi'er 
for want of bread, nor did the pecuniary wants ever 
again become so great as they had been." It is fur- 
ther stated that " from this time until, by an arrange- 
ment with the Government in 1830, the affairs of the 
mission were wound up, the people at Carey never 
had occasion to draw on the Board of Missions." 

During the next two years, Mr. McCoy and his as- 
sociates had much to be grateful for. The Superin- 
tendent notes in his book, in the summer of 1824, 
"that it was discovered that the prejudices of the 
Pottawatomies, with which they had to contend at 



first, had almost wholly vanished from among those 
who were near us. We had never before seen a time 
when our Indian neighbors manifested so much inter- 
est in the mission. Applications to us to take their 
children into our family were frequent, and their at- 
tention to religious instruction appeared to increase." 

One or two of the neighboring Indian villages were 
visited every Sunday. The number of pupils in the 
school was considerably augmented. Materially, as 
well as religiously, the affairs of the mission were 
prosperous. More than two hundred acres of land 
was inclosed with fence, and over three hundred bush- 
els of wheat were harvested in each of the years 1824 
and 1825. A horse-power flouring-mill was also 
erected — the first in Michigan west of Ann Arbor or 
Tecumseh. 

John L. Leib, Esq., of Detroit, a Government 
Commissioner appointed to examine the condition of 
affairs at the mission, spent three days there in 1824 
— the last day of October and the first two of No- 
vember. His report to Gov. Cass was very compli- 
mentary to the missionaries. One sentence from this 
paper will convey an idea of the whole. He says : 
"I beheld a colony firmly settled, numerous, uivilized 
and happy, with every attendant blessing, flowing 
from a well regulated, industrious and religious com- 
munity." 

Mr. Leib made a second visit, in the latter part of 
August, 1826. We make liberal extracts from his 
report* to the Governor, describing the mission : 

"On the 15th of August, I proceeded to the Carey 
establishment, on the St. Joseph's, where I ar- 
rived on the 21st, and was much gratified with its im- 
provement in all departments. It is a world in min- 
iature, and presents the most cheerful and consoling 
appearance. It has become a familiar resort of the 
natives, and from the benefits which they derive from 
it in various shapes, they begin to feel a dependence 
on and a resource in it at all times, and especially in 
difiicult and trying occasions. There is not a day — I 
might almost say an hour — in which new faces were 
not to ♦e seen. The smithey afi'ords them almost 
incalculable facilities, and is constantly filled with ap- 
plicants for some essential service. It is a touching 
spectacle to see them, at the time of prayers, fall in 
with the members of the institution, which they do 
spontaneously and cheerfully, and, with a certain 
animation depicted on their countenances exhibiting 
their internal satisfaction. 

" The missionaries permanently connected with this 
institution, beside the superintendent and his wife, 
are Robert Simmerwell and wife, Jonathan Meeker 
and Johnston Lykins, who is now constituted the 

* The documeat is published in Mr. McCoy's history. 




GAMALIEL TOJ^NfSEfslD. 



GAMALIEL TOWNSEND. 

The subject of this sketch was born January 20,1802, 
in Canada, and was the son of Abraham Townsend, the 
pioneer of La Grange Township. He removed with his 
parents to Huron Co., Ohio, in 1815, where he married 
in February, 1825, his first wife, Malinda Brown. In 
1826, he emigrated to Michigan from Perrysburg, 
Ohio. He was in company with Israel Markham and 
others who had two yoke of oxen. Mr. Townsend's 
team consisted of a yoke of oxen with ahorse hitched 
ahead of them. The party left Perrysburg on June 
10, and arrived at Uzziel Putnam's, on Pokagon 
Prairie, upon July 4. It is probable that the anni- 
versary of national independence was first celebrated 
in Cass County upon that day in the enjoyable meeting 
of these pioneers. Mr. Townsend's journey, occupy, 
ing nearly a month's time, was not as disagreeable as 
that of the majority of early emigrants to Southwest- 
ern Michigan, for it was made in a pleasant season of 
the year and with good company. They had cows 
with them and therefore plenty of milk to use with 
their humble but substantia! fare. They made slow 
progress and encamped in the most favorable places 
at night. While they were winding their way through 



the heavy woods between Monroe and Tecumseh, 
Israel Markham's wagon broke down and the whole 
company was delayed three days awaiting its repair. 
The subject of our sketch worked during his first 
summer in Michigan for the Carey Mission people, 
cutting with Abraham Loux forty tons of wild hay, 
near Barren Lake. The second season they cut in 
the same vicinity about eighty tons. In 1829, Mr. 
Townsend moved to La Grange Township, settling 
where he now lives. He kept the first post office in 
the township, in 1830, at his father's house. In 1832, 
when the Sauk or Black Hawk war broke out, he 
served as a Lieutenant in the militia. His first wife 
dying in 1838, Mr. Townsend married in November, 
1841, Charlotte Hunter, whose family became settlers 
in the vicinity in 1831. The children are Statta and 
Abraham (deceased); Gamaliel, a resident of the towii- 
sliip; John H., who died in California ; Otis, Clau- 
dius, Agnes, Lewis, Candice and George. For the 
past ten years, Mr. Townsend has sufi'ered the affliction 
of almost total blindness, but otherwise has enjoyed 
good health, considering his advanced age, and has been 
the deserving recipient of very many of the blessings 
of life. 





LiZZIEL F\JT\4AfA. 




orleaN PiirNy^jvi 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



superintendent of a missionary station called Thomas, 
on Grand River, a ramification from the St. Joseph's. 

" There are at present seventy scholars, forty-two 
males and twenty-eight females, in various stages of 
improvement. * * * Eight of the alumni of 
this institution, who have completed the first rudi- 
ments of education, have been transferred to acade- 
mies in New Jersey and New York. Two of the 
boys at Carey are learning the trades of blacksmith 
and shoemaker ; the remainder, of sufficient size, 
are employed occasionally on the farm. The girls 
are engaged in spinning, knitting and weaving, and 
the loom has produced 185 yards of cloth this year. 
Two hundred and three acres are now inclosed, of 
which fifteen are in wheat, fifty in Indian corn, 
eight in potatoes, pumpkins and other vegetable pro- 
ducts. The residue is appropriated for pasture. 

" There have been added to the buildings since my 
last visit a house and a most excellent grist-mill, 
worked by horses. The usefulness of this mill can 
scarcely be appreciated, as there is no other within 
100 miles at least, of the establishment ; and here, as 
benevolence is the predominating principle, all the 
surrounding population is benefitted. 

"Numerous Ifldian families have since my last 
visit settled themselves around, and have, from the 
encouragement, countenance and assistance of the 
missionary family, made considerable progress in 
agriculture. Indeed, a whole village has been formed 
within six miles of it, under its benevolent auspices 
and fostering care. I visited them to witness myself 
the change in their condition. To good fences, with 
which many of their grounds are inclosed, succeed 
domestic animals. You now see oxen, cows and 
swine grazing around their dwellings, without the 
danger of destroying their crops. These are the 
strongest evidences of their improvement, and not 
the least of the benefits arising from the neighbor- 
hood of this blessed abode of the virtuous inmates of 
Carey. 

"It is not in the immediate neighborhood alone 
that the efforts of missionary exertion are felt. In 
distant places, near the moutH of the St. Joseph, and 
on the Grand River, the most surprising changes 
have taken place. Strong and effective inclosures 
are made and making, and stock acquired, and at the 
latter place the missionary family have erected several 
spacious buildings, including a schoolhouse, and 
improved some lands." 

In September, 1827, the missionaries had the pleas- 
ure of entertaining a distinguished visitor, Gov. Cass, 
who had been from the first a warm friend of the 
establishment. The Governor was one of three com- 
missioners appointed by the United States to negotiate 



a treaty with the St. Joseph Pottawatomies. While 
negotiations were pending, Gov. Cass and the mem- 
bers of his party carefully investigated the management 
of the mission, and spoke of it in terms of approbation 
and admiration. 

Carey Mission had now been in existence about five 
years. Although many of the hopes entertained by 
Mr. McCoy and his helpers had been realized in the 
institution, and notwithstanding the fact that it had 
been in a general way successful, it was foreseen that 
its usefulness could not long continue. It was known 
from the beginning that when the Indian title to the 
land had been extended, and the country occupied by 
white settlers, the native people, and the religious in- 
stitution planted in their midst, must inevitably be 
crowded out. Hence, for some time prior to 1827, 
Mr. McCoy had been devoting much attention to the 
projoct of removal. The stream of immigration over- 
whelmed the mission even sooner than its people had 
expected. One of the potent evils arising from the 
proximity of the whites was the wholesale furnishing 
of liquor to the Indians, and their terrible debauchery 
through its use. The traders could not be restrained 
from the traffic in whisky, and the missionaries felt 
that their strongest efforts were powerless to advance 
the condition of the Indian while they had to contend 
with it. 

The mission was not entirely suspended until 1830. 
In September of that year, Charles Noble, Esq., of 
Michigan, and Mr. Simonson, of Indiana, made a 
valuation of the Carey property, appraising the im- 
provements at $5,080, and the growing crop at 
$641.50. The total of these amounts was paid to 
the Board of Missions by Government, and was after- 
wards applied in establishing a mission in the West. 
The school was discontinued at this time, with the 
exception of a half dozen pupils, who remained a few 
months in charge of two of the missionaries — Mr. and 
Mrs. Simmerwell — who remained in the country, 
and subsequently located at a spot not far from 
Carey. 

The establishment of Carey Mission, as we have 
said at the outset of this chapter, was an important 
event in the history of Southwestern Michigan. It 
was the chief nucleus of early settlement. The con- 
dition of many of the pioneers was ameliorated in a 
large measure by their close proximity to this station. 
Some of them earned money there, and made their 
start in life with the proceeds of labor performed for 
McCoy. Many of the early settlers of Cass County 
found the mission a convenient place from which to 
procure seed for planting and various necessary sup- 
plies. The mill at Carey supplied them with flour and 
meal, and obviated the necessity of making long and 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



tedious trips to remote settlements, or the alternative 
of grinding by hand. In a score of ways the mission 
was advantageous to the people who located in the 
region surrounding it. 



CHAPTEE IX. 

ADVENT OF THE WHITE MAN AS A SETTLER. 

Indian Traders— Zacclieus Wooden, the Trapper— His Visit to Cass 
Countyin 1814-15— Tlie White Man as a Permanent Settler— First 
Settlement in the Interior of the State— Earliest Settlement in Ber- 
rien County— The Pioneers Enter Pokagon— Dates of Early Settle- 
ments throughout Cass County— Causes Operating to Ketard Immi- 
gration—The Sauk or Black Hawk War Scare— The .lune Frost of 
IS.'K. 

THE earliest white men in Southwestern Michigan 
were the adventurous characters who traded with 
the Indians. At Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Bert- 
rand and St. Joseph, in Michigan, and South Bend 
and Elkhart, in Indiana, were important trading sta- 
tions, some of which were maintained for long terms 
of years. So far as is known, there was no station 
within the present limits of Cass County. This region 
was tributary to the traders at St. Joseph, and upon 
the site of Bertrand ; and the Indians took the pel- 
tries which they gathered in its woods and upon its 
prairies, and upon the margins of its lakes, to one or 
the other of those localities. 

A Frenchman named Le Clere was the first trader 
located at Bertrand, and it is probable that he estab- 
lished himself there as early as 1775. He was suc- 
ceeded by John Kinzie, and he by Joseph Bertrand, 
after whom the place was named, in 1814. In the 
meantime, Abraham Burnett had settled at the mouth 
of the river. Both Bertrand and Burnett made im- 
provements, which indicated their intention to remain 
as permanent settlers. 

The first well-authenticated visit of a white man to 
the region now known as Cass County was made by 
Zaccheus Wooden. He was a native of Saratoga 
County, N. Y., and, in 1813, when nineteen years of 
age, he went to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In the fol- 
lowing spring, being of an adventurous turn of mind, 
in company with eleven others, he engaged to go on a 
trapping expedition for that king of fur-traders, 
John Jacob Astor. The party proceeded through the 
woods from Cleveland to Monroe, Mich., where 
there was a small settlement, and there divided into 
pairs and penetrated the forest in various directions. 
Wooden and his companion went up the River Raisin, 
and thence to Elkhart. Making this place a rendez- 
vous, they followed the various water-courses, and vis- 
ited the lakes in the surrounding country, setting 
their traps where the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat and 
other fur-bearinp' animals did most abound. 



The only white man Wooden saw after leaving 
Monroe was a Frenchman named John Kabeau, who 
lived with an Indian wife in a little hut on the bank 
of Pleasant Lake, near the site of Edwardsburg. He 
was a trapper, and undoubtedly in the employ of 
Bertrand. Upon a little piece of poorly-cultivated 
ground near his cabin, he raised sufficient c&rn to sup- 
ply the needs of himself and dusky partner, and he 
even had a little to spare, which his visitor was glad 
to buy on several occasions. During most of the time 
that Wooden was engaged in trapping in Cass 
County, he was alone. He visited Diamond Lake and 
Stone Lake, spending two weeks upon the banks of the 
latter. Near Diamond Lake there was a beaver dam, 
and he there secured quite a large number of skins. 
His food consisted of corn-meal cake, salt, and such 
game as he chanced to secure. Beaver livers, pre- 
pared by a peculiar process and dried, were consid- 
ered a great delicacy. The trapping was carried on 
in Cass County from November to April in the years 
1814-15, and, in subsequent seasons Mr. Wooden's 
avocation led him to other parts of the country. 

There is something quite engaging in the contem- 
plation of the rude, free life of the trapper, and the 
joys that must have been his in traversing so beautiful 
a region while it was still in a state of nature. 

But it is the advent of the white man as a perma- 
nent settler which must most interest all of those per- 
sons who now enjoy, or in the future shall enjoy, 
those blessings which the pioneers of Cass County, 
having laboriously earned, left to them as a free but 
priceless legacy. 

The first permanent settlement in the interior of 
Michigan was made in Oakland County in the spring 
of 1817. 

In the preceding chapter a full history has been 
given of that guiding star of the pioneer, the Carey 
Mission, founded by the zealous McCoy in 1822. The 
effect of that missionary station in the wilderness 
has been fully described. It was the center of settle- 
ment for Cass and Berrien Counties. 

The first actual settler in Berrien County was 
S([uire Thompson, who located at Niles, in 1823, and 
brought his family there in the following year. 

In 1825, upon the 22d of November, Uzziel Put- 
nam made the primal settlement in Cass County, 
moving onto Pokagon Prairie, where he lived until his 
death, in the summer of 1881, witnessing that won- 
derful work of development which in a half century 
converted the surrounding country from an uninhabited 
and trackless expanse of woods and prairies into one of 
the best improved and most beautiful farming regions 
of the West. Baldwin Jenkins was the second settler, 
and arrived in less than a week from the time that Put- 



lllsroKY OF ("A? 



•OI'.NTY, MICIIhJAN. 



nam came into the country. In the spring of 18"27, 

Squire Thompson removed from Niles to Pokagon. 

The settlement was further increased by the arrival of 

Ira Putnam and Lewis Edwards. 

In the meantime the southern part of the county 

became the scene of pioneer beginnings, Ezra 

Beardsley making his home, in 182 •, upon the prairie 

in Ontwa, which bears his name. 

In the following year, the Pokagon settlement re- 
received accessions to its population in the persons of 

William Garwood and Israel Markhara with his several 
sons, and Beardsley was cheered by the arrival of sev- 
eral neighbors, among whom were George and Sylves- 
ter Meacham, George Crawford and Chester Sage. 

Very naturally the earliest locations were made 
upon the prairies, and the heavy timbered land from 
which farms could only be hewn out by almost hercu- 
lean toil were as a rule the last chosen by immigrants. 
Many of the pioneers had already experienced a battle 
with the forest in Ohio or Indiana, and for such the 
prairies possessed beauties which were hidden from 
other eyes. 

La Grange Prairie was the scene of the next settle- 
ment, and Abraham Townsend was the first man who 
built a cabin there. His son, Gamaliel, and himself, 
with other members of the family, airived upon the 
1st of March. Soon after, came Lawrence and James 
Cavanaugh and Abraham Loux, and in October Thomas 
McKenney and James Dickson settled on the prairie 
which bears the name of the former. In the same 
month, the family of William R. Wright located on 
La Grange Prairie. 

Penn Township was permanently settled soon after 
La Grange and had some S(juatter residents at a prior 
date. Joseph Frakes, who arrived in 1827, was the 
first of these. In 1828, after a short visit to Ohio, 
he returned, with his bride, and subsequently removed 
to Kalamazoo County. He made the positive state- 
ment to the writer of his biography in the history of 
that county that he was the first settler in Penn. In 
1828. settlements were also made by Rodney Hinkley, 
Daniel Shaffer, John Reed and some others, all of 
whom, however, sold out their claims the following 
season, except Shaffer. John Reed conveyed his im- 
provement to Daniel Mcintosh. Other settlers of 
1829 were George Jones and his sons, John Price, 
John Rinehart and sons, Stephen Bogue, William 
McCleary and Martin Shields. 

Jefferson Township was settled in October, 1828, 
by Nathan Norton, Abner Tharp, Moses and Will- 
iam Reames, all of whom made permanent locations 
except Tharp. He removed to Calvin in the spring j 
of 1829, and in 1830 returned to Jefferson. He 
soon after went to one of the Western States, but sub- 



sequently returned and settled in Brownsville. John 
Reed moved into the township from Penn, in the fall 
of 1829, and was the second settler there. 

In Porter, John Baldwin was the pioneer, locating 
on the prairie which bears his name, in 1828. Will- 
iam Tibbetts and Daniel Shellhammer settled in the 
south part of the township in 1829, and John White 
in the north part the same year. 

Volinia was settled in 1829. Samuel and Dolphin 
Morris arrived upon the 27th of March, and three 
days later Jonathan Gard settled on Gard's Prairie, 
and Elijah Goble and Samuel Rich, on the western 
side of Little Prairie Ronde. Both parties were 
guided to their locations by Squire Thompson, of 
Pokagon. In the same season, Jacob Morland and 
Jacob Charles arrived, and in the following year 
Josephus Gard, William Tietsort, John Curry and 
Samuel and Alexander Fulton. 

Elara Beardsley was the first settler in Mason in 
1830, and Denis Beardsley was the second settler, 
coming into the township in 1832. 

Howard was settled some time prior to Mason, but 
the exact date is not known. The pioneer of this 
township was William Kirk. 

Milton Township was settled about the same time 
as Mason, but it is not absolutely known who was the 
first settler. The honor belongs either to John Hudson 
or J. Mellville. The latter purchased land Septem- 
ber 24, 1829. 

In Newberg the first settlement was made by John. 
Bair, in 1831. He located in the southern part of 
the township. Daniel Driskell and George Poe ar- 
rived in 1833. The township was settled slowly until 
after 1837. 

Wayne Township was settled in 1833, and Jacob 
Zimmerman was probably the pioneer. 

In Silver Creek the pioneer was James McDaniel, 
who located there in 1834. Jacob A. Suits became a 
settler in 1836, and there were but three other men 
in the township when he arrived, viz., McDaniel, 
John Barney and Jacob Van Horn. 

Marcellus was the last township in the county to be 
settled. Joseph Haight, who arrived in 1836, was 
the earliest resident.* 

These whom we have named, their cotemporaries and 
those who followed closely after them were among the 
pioneers of one of the grandest armies earth ever knew 
— an army which came not to conquer with fire, antl 
force and carnage, but to hew away the forest, to till 
the prairie's pregnant soil, to make the wilderness 
blossom as the ro.se — the array of peace and civiliza- 
tion. The pioneers were the valiant vanguard of such 

*The Bflbject iif settlomoiit in vi-ry briefly In'atfd hcrt", iia it ri>riuii Otc iiirRer 
portion uf oiicU and ovcry chuptcr iil townsblp history. 



60 



HTSTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



an army as this — an array which, after the passing of 
half a century, has not fully occupied the country 
which it has conquered, but whose hosts are still fast 
and irresistibly pressing onward. 

The settlement of Cass County did not proceed 
uniformly or unbrokenly. Several disturbing in- 
fluences had an effect upon the current of emigra- 
tion. 

The first of these was the scare which the far-away 
Sauk or Black Hawk war created in 1832. The 
scene of actual hostilities was in Western Illinois and 
Wisconsin ; but the inhabitants of the less remote West 
were, and not without some reason, very much 
alarmed. There was no telegraph then as now to 
convey the news, and it came in the form of vague 
rumors, and imagination picture! a hundred horrors 
for every one related. There were two grounds of fear ; 
first that the terrible Sauks would invade the country, 
and second that the Pottawatomies. scattered through 
Southwestern Michigan, would become inflamed by 
news of the hostilities and either join the force of 
Black Hawk or wage war independently. When the 
dread tidings of the Sauk uprising were received at 
Chicago, the Government agent there sent an express 
to Michigan asking for the aid of the militia of the 
Territory in defending that point. Gen. Joseph W. 
Brown commanded his brigade to take the field, ap- 
pointing Niles as the place of rendezvous. Those 
who arrived there by the 24th of May were mustered 
and marched out toward Chicago. Cass County 
furnished as many men as her small population would 
allow. The news was brought to Cassopolis by Col. 
A. Houston and communicated to Abram Tietsort, 
Jr., whose duty it was, as Sergeant of the company, to 
notify members of the order issued by their com- 
mander. Isaac Shurte was Captain, and Gamaliel 
Townsend, one of the Lieutenants. There was great 
agitation in the scattered prairie settlements of the 
county as the order to turn out was carried from 
house to house, and still greater when the men started 
away from their homes for what their wives and chil- 
dren supposed was to be mortal combat with the fero- 
cious Sauks and Foxes. 

The terror of those left unprotected Vas very real 
and very intense, although when the actual condition 
of affairs was learned, when it was found that there 
had been no hostile Indians within two or three hun- 
dred miles of Michigan, some of the occurrences dur- 
ing the season of supposed danger appeared rather 
ridiculous. The few settlers in the central part of 
the county seriously considered the project of taking 
refuge upon the island in Diamond Lake and for- 
tifying it against the enemy, and would undoujjtedly 
have done so had their suspense not been ended just 



when it was. The plan was certainly a feasible one, 
and it is altogether probable that in past ages the 
island has served exactly the same purpose to which 
the alarmed inhabitants proposed to put it in 1832. 
It is an admirable natural stronghold. 

In the Volinia settlement — upon the farm of Elijah 
Goble or possibly that of Jacob Charles, the women 
began to erect a fortification, but had not made much 
progress with their work when Samuel Morris and 
the Rev. Mr. Pettit arrived with information which 
allayed their fears. 

During the absence of the militiamen from the 
settlements, it was a common thing for the few males 
who remained at home, and the women and children, 
to abandon their cabins at night and sleep in such 
hiding-places as they could find. They were in con- 
stant fear that the war-whoop of the Indian would 
assail their ears, and that their cabins would be fired 
to light the scenes of butchery that would follow. 

One squad of the militia returning home in the 
evening, when near Cassopolis, greatly alarmed a 
family by the name of Parker, by firing off their 
guns. The firing was intended to serve as the signal 
of joyful home-coming, but Parker mistook it f)r the 
noise of battle and fled precipitately to the bank of 
Stone Lake, and throwing himself into his canoe, 
paddled in great haste to the center of the little sheet 
of water, where he remained until morning. 

One individual in La Grange Township, who was 
prejudiced against labor, remonstrated against the 
planting of corn during the season of supposed danger. 
" Why," said he, " what is the use ; by harvest time 
there won't one of us have a scalp on our heads." 

Many of the militiamen did not go farther from 
home than Niles, but they each received a full month's 
pay and a land warrant. But whatever of benefit ac- 
crued to individuals was more than counterbalanced 
by the effect upon the country at large. Immigration 
was almost completely checked. Rumors of the 
scare found their way East, and many who contem- 
plated coming into the country either abandoned their 
plans altogether and sought locations in Ohio, or de- 
layed their settlement in Michigan for a year or so. 
Interviews with the pioneers of Cass County reveal 
the fact that very few of them arrived in 1832. 

Another cause which affected immigration to South- 
western Michigan was nothing more or less than a 
heavy frost which occurred in June, 1835. It created 
great damage to the growing crops, and the impres- 
sion went abroad that a land in which such a catas- 
trophe could come to the husbandman was not a 
desirable one to emigrate to. The reputation of the 
climate received a blow from which it did not fully 
recover for a number of years. Of course the frost 




LEWIS EDWAF^DS. 



M^S. LEWIS EDWAI^DS. 



LEWIS EDWARDS. 

Lewis Edwards, or, 'Squire Edwards, as he was fa- 
miliarly known during his lifetime, was perhaps more 
prominently connected with the initial events in the 
history of Cass County than any one else. 

He witnessed its transition from a wilderness to a 
highly productive and fertile country, from a sparsely 
settled region to a busy and prosperous community, 
and in his own person so typified the agencies that 
wrought these changes that no history of Cass County 
would be complete without an extended and elaborate 
sketch of his life and that of his worthy wife, who, per- 
haps, is entitled to almost as much prominence as he, 



as she bore with him the trials, hardships and depri- 
vations of the early days. 

He left an enviable name and an unspotted repu- 
tation, and so long as anything is known of the history 
of the county of which he was one of the founders, 
the name of Lewis Edwards will be held in grateful 
remembrance by those who will be reaping the 
benefits of his self-sacrificing toil, and the many 
things he did to advance the interests of the county. 

To his son, Lewis, the patrons of this volume are 
indebted for the portraits of this eminent couple, and 
to his nephew, Joseph 11. Edwards, of Cassopolis, for 
the ably written sketch of his life, which will be found 
on another page in this history. 



HISTORY OF TASS COUNTY. MI("I1IC.AX. 



61 



in June was a phenomenal occurrence. It has never 
been paralleled in Cass or the adjoining counties. 
Farmers who were living in the county at the time 
suffered quite severe losses. Very little other than 
prairie land was in cultivation at that time, and hence 
the loss was general. Corn and all other growing 
crops were cut to the ground. The wheat crop was 
an almost total failure. Many of the settlers did not 
have enough for seed, and had to go long distances to 
procure sufficient quantities for sowing ; and it often 
happened, such was the scarcity of money in those 
days, that they were obliged to pay for it in labor. 
There is some dispute among old residents as to the 
exact date of the occurrence of this frost of 1835 ; but 
good authority places it in the night of the 19-20th 
of June. 

Notwithstanding the effect of the frost in retarding 
immigration, the records show that the land sales of 
18-36 were larger than those of any former or subse- 
quent year. Just how much they would have ex- 
ceeded the amount actually reached, had not the frost 
occurred, cannot of course be determined. That in 
Cass County at least, the entries would have been 
far more numerous is beyond dispute. It is probable, 
however, that the report concerning climatic severity 
did not reach the full measure of its effect unMl 1837. 



CHAPTER X. 

PIONEER LIFE. 
Beauty of the Country in aState of Nature— Cabin Buildins Described- 
Furniture and Houseliold Utensils— Food— First Mill— Occupations 
of the Pioneers-" Breaking "-Women Spinning and Weaving- 
Social Amenities— First (teneral Pioneer Gathering at Eli,|ah 
Goble's in 1837— Character of the Pioneers— Two Classes— .Tob 
Wright, of Diamond Lake Island, as a Type of the Eccentric Class. 

THE pioneers who penetrated Southwestern Michi- 
gan found a land as fertile and as fair to look 
upon as heart could wish. In the spring the woods 
were odorous with the spicy exhalations of bursting 
buds, and the prairies were jeweled with strange and 
brilliant flowers? — " the stars that in earth's firmament 
do shine " — while the luxuriant growth of tall, wav- 
ing grass gave evidence of the strength of the virgin 
soil which it clothed. One early settler (George Red- 
field, of Ontwa, whose eyes for the last ten years have 
been closed to the beauties of nature which he so well 
loved) gives an enthusiastic description of the loveli- 
ness of the scene which met his gaze when he first 
visited Cass County. The profusion and the variety 
of the wild flowers was remarkable. They gleamed 
through the cool, green grass in countless millions. 
Mr. Redfield owns seven or eight hundred acres of 
Beardsley's Prairie, which has been for years in a su- 
perb condition of cultivation and inclosed with miles 



of living fence, but he says that the land has never 
appeared so beautiful to his eyes as it did when in a 
state of nature. 

The long aisles of the forest led away into mazes of 
vernal green and twilight shadow, where the swift 
deer bounded by or paused to hear the rolling echoes 
of the woodman's ax. The underbrush nearly every- 
where had been annually burned away by the Indians, 
and where the ground was level the vistas stretched 
far away, there being nothing to obstruct the vision 

I but the brown boles of the trees which appeared like 
innumerable pillars supporting the fretted ceiling of a 
vast temple. 

The placid and pellucid waters of the little lakes 
mirrored the overhanging boughs of the great trees 
which lined their banks and lent brightness and 
variety to the view. 

All about were displayed the lavish bounties of 

' nature. Animate life abounded in forest and in lake. 
Game was plenty. The waters teemed with fish. 
Water fowl — swans, geese and ducks — were in their 
season present in great flocks. 

But the pioneers came not to enjoy a life of lotus- 
eating ease. They could admire the pristine beauty 
of the scenes around them ; they could enjoy the 
vernal green of the great forest and the loveliness of 
all the works of nature; they could look forward with 

[ happy anticipation to the life they were to lead in the 
midst of all this beauty and to the rich reward that 

i would be theirs for the cultivation of the mellow, fer- 

I tile soil, but they had first to work. 

The pioneers arriving at their places of destination 

j after long and tedious journeying over Indian trails 

I or roads rudely improved by the whites, as a rule 
brought very little with them with which to begin the 

I battle of life. They had brave hearts and strong 

I arms, however, and possessed invincible determina- 
tion. Sometimes the men came on without their 

! families to make a beginning, but more often all came 

! together. The first thing done after a rude, tempo- 
rary shelter had been provided, was to prepare a little 
spot of ground for the growth of some kind of a crop. 
If the location was in the woods, this was done by 
girdling the trees, clearing away the under-brush (if 
there chanced to be any), and sweeping the surface 
with fire. Ten, fifteen, twenty, or even thirty acres 

I of land might thus be prepared and planted the first 
season. In the autumn, the crop would be carefully 
gathered and garnered with the least possible waste ; 
for it was the chief food supply of the pioneer and his 
family, and life itself might possibly depend upon its 
safe preservation. 

While the first crop was growing, the pioneer 
busied himself with the building of his cabin, which 



62 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



must answer as a shelter from the storms of the com- 
ing winter, and perhaps serve as a protection from the 
ravages of wild beasts. The pioneer who was com- 
pletely isolated from his fellow-men, occupied an 
unenviable situation ; for, without assistance, he could ' 
construct only a poor habitation. In such cases, the ! 
cabin was generally made of light logs or poles, and 
was laid up roughly only to answer the purpose of 
temporary shelter, until other settlers should come 
Into the vicinity, by whose help a more solid structure ! 
could be built. Usually a number of families came 
into the country together, and located within such 
distance of each other that they were enabled to per- 
form many friendly and neighborly offices. After 
the first year or two had elapsed from the first settle- 
ment of the county, there was no difficulty experienced 
in cabin- building. Assistance was always readily 
given a pioneer by all of the scattered residents of the 
country within a radius of several miles. The com- i 
monly-followed plan of erecting a log cabin was 
through a union of labor. The site of the cabin 
home was generally selected with reference to a good 
water supply. It was often by a never-failing spring 
of pure water, or if such could not be found in a 
location otherwise desirable, it was not uncommon to 
first dig a well. If water was reached, preparations : 
were made for building near the well. When the 
cabin was to be built, the few men in the neighbor- 
hood gathered at the site and first cut down within as 
close proximity as possible the requisite number of 
trees, as nearly of a size as could be found, but rang- 
ing from a foot to fifteen inches in diameter. Logs i 
were chopped from these and rolled to the common j 
center where they were to be used. Often this pre- 
liminary part of the work was performed by the 
prospective occupant of the cabin. If not, it would 
consume the greater part of the day. The entire 
labor of erecting the cabin would commonly occupy \ 
two or three days. The logs were raised to their | 
position by the use of hand-spikes and "skid-poles," 
and men standing at the corners with axes notched 
them as fast as they were laid in position. The place 
of " corner-man " was one of honor. 

When the cabin was built a few logs high, the work 
became more difficult. The gables were formed by 
beveling the logs and making them shorter and 
shorter, as each additional one was laid in place. 
These logs in the gables were held in position by 
poles which extended across the cabin from end to 
end, and which served also as rafters upon which to 
lay the rived "clapboard" roof. The so-called 
"clapboards" were five or six feet in length, and 
were split from oak or ash logs, and made as smooth 
and flat as possible. They were laid side by side, | 



and other pieces of split stuff were laid over the cracks 
so as to effectually keep out the rain. Upon these 
were laid logs to hold them in place, and the logs 
were held by blocks of wood placed between them. 

An important part of the structure was the chim- 
ney. In rare cases it was made of stone, but most 
commonly of logs and sticks laid up in a manner 
similar to those which formed the cabin. It was in 
nearly all cases built outside of the cabin, and at its 
base a huge opening was cut through the wall for a 
fire-place. The sticks in the chimney were held in 
place and protected from fire by a plastering of mud. 
Flat stones were procured for the back and jambs of 
the fire-place. An opening was chopped or sawed 
in the logs on one side of the cabin for a doorway. 
Pieces of hewn timber, three or four inches thick, 
were fastened on each side by wooden pins to the 
ends of the logs, and the door (if there was one), was 
fastened to one of these by wooden or leathern hinges. 
The door itself was a clumsy piece of woodwork. It 
was made of boards rived from an oak log, and held 
together by heavy cross-pieces. There was a wooden 
latch upon the inside, raised from without by a string 
which passed through a gimlet hole. From this mode 
of construction arose the old and well-known hospita- 
ble sayijig, "You will find the latch-string always 
out." It was only pulled in at night, and the door 
was thus fastened. Some of the cabins of the pioneers 
had no door of the kind here described, but instead 
merely a blanket suspended at the opening. 
. The window was a small opening, often devoid of 
anything resembling a sash or glass. In lieu of the 
latter, greased paper was frequently used and some- 
times an old garment constituted a curtain, which was 
the only protection from sun or rain. 

The floor of the cabin was made of puncheons — 
pieees of timber split from trees about eighteen 
inches in diameter, and hewed smooth with a broad 
ax. They were usually half the length of the floor. 
Some of the cabins earliest erected in this part of the 
county had nothing but earth floors. Occasionally 
there was a cabin which had a cellar, that is a small 
excavation under the floor, to which access was had 
by removing a loose puncheon. Very commonly the 
cabins were provided with lofts. The loft was used 
for various purposes, and among others as the " guest 
chamber." It was reached by a ladder, the sides of 
which were split pieces of sapling. 

While the labor of building a rough log cabin 
would be concluded in two or three days, the occu- 
pant was often employed for months in finishing and 
furnishing it. The walls had to be " chinked and 
daubed," various conveniences provided and a few 
rude articles of furniture manufactured. 



IIISTOltV (»F CASS rOtlNTY. MICHIGAN. 



K3 



A forked stick set in the floor and supporting two 
poles, the other ends of which rested upon the logs 
at the end and side of the cabin, formed a bedstead. 
A common form of table was a split slab supported by 
four rustic legs set in auger holes. Three-legged 
stools were made in similar simple manner. Pegs 
driven in auger holes in the logs of the wall supported 
shelves, and upon others was displayed the limited 
wardrobe of the family. A few other pegs or perhaps 
a pair of deer horns formed a rack where hung the 
rifle and powder horn which no cabin was without. 

These and a few other simple articles formed the 
furniture and furnishings of the pioneer's cabin. In 
contrast with the rude furniture fashioned by the j 
pioneer with his poor tools there was occasionally to ', 
be seen a few souvenirs of the "old home." 

The utensils for cooking and the dishes for table 
use were few. The best of the latter were made of 
pewter, and the careful housewife of the olden time 
kept them shining as brightly as the most pretentious 
plate to be found in our later-day fine houses. Knives 
and forks were few, crockery scarce and tinware by 
no means abundant. 

Corn was frequently ground or pounded into 
coarse meal at home by the family of the pioneer. 
Going to mill was considerable of a task when a man 
had to journey ten or twenty miles over a bad road or 
a mere trail with his grist loaded upon a horse. The 
first mill to which the pioneers of Cass County went, 
was one built at Dowagiac Creek, near Niles, by Eli 
Ford, in the year 1827. In the following year was 
built the first grist-mill in Cass County. It was a 
very primitive affair indeed, but was a great conven- 
ience to the people. It was located near the site of 
the village of Vandalia, upon Christiana Creek, and 
was built and operated by a Mr. Carpenter. The 
buhrs and irons of this mill were brought from 
Ohio. \ 

Bread was commonly baked in a " reflector" — a 
huge tin receptacle which was placed before the fire — 
or in a bake kettle. Sometimes when these conven- 
iences were not at hand, corn-cake was baked in the 
ashes or upon a board or large chip. Wild fruits were 
made use of when they could be procured. If the 
pioneer was a hunter, as was usually the case, he kept 
the larder supplied with venison, wild turkeys, 
squirrels, and the many varieties of small game. Oc- 
casionally bear meat varied the bill of fare. Salt 
pork was a greater rarity and lu.xury however than 
the choicest game. The food of the pioneers was 
simply cooked and served, but it was almost always of 
the most substantial and wholesome kind. j 

The men were engaged constantly in the varied 
avocations of pioneer life — cutting away the forest, | 



burning the brush and debris, preparing the soil, 
planting, harvesting, and caring for the few animals 
they brought with them or soon procured. 

"Breaking" was a distinctive feature of tlie pio- 
neer's labor, and probably the most exhausting work 
that a man could perform. The turf on the prairies 
was very tough, and the ground in most places was 
filled with a network of the wire-like red-root. The 
most diflicult plowing, however, was in the openings 
and timber land, where, although the underbrush had 
been kept down by annual fires, the roots had grown 
to great size. These were called "stools." An 
ordibary plow-team would have been worthless among 
the stools and grubs, and a common plow would have 
been quickly demolished. The plow used was a 
massive construction of wood and iron, and was known 
as the "bull plow." The share and coulter were of 
iron, and made very heavy and strong. The beam 
was long and of huge proportions, to resist the enor- 
mous strain brought to bear upon it. Usually the 
weight of one of these ponderous bull plows was 
about three hundred pounds, and there was one in 
use in Cass County which weighed 500 pounds. To 
the bull plow were attached ordinarily six or seven 
yoke of oxen ; but instances have been known where 
twelve and even fourteen yoke have been used to 
advantage. With such a team, grubs as large around 
as a man's arm or leg were cut off as if they were so 
many straws. The breaking-team and the bull plow 
was managed by two men, one holding the plow and 
the other moving backward and forward along the 
line of the team, administering stimulative blows, and 
shouting the loud " gee, whoa, haw, to guide his oxen 
as they draw." 

" Breaking " was a regular business with some of 
the pioneers for several years, and was followed as 
threshing now is. The sum of $5 per acre was the 
customary price for breaking land. 

While the men were engaged in the heavy work of 
the field or forest, their helpmeets were busied with 
a multiplicity of household duties — providing for the 
day and for the year, cooking, making and mending 
clothes, spinning and weaving. ■ They were heroic in 
their endurance of hardship and privation and loneli- 
ness. They were, as a rule, admirably fitted by 
nature and experience to be the consorts of the brave, 
strong, industrious men who first came into the West- 
ern wilderness. Their cheerful industry was well 
directed and unceasing. Woman's work, like man's, 
in pioneer times, was performed under many disad- 
vantages, which have been removed by modern skill 
and science, and the growth of new conditions. The 
pioneer woman had not only to perform what are now- 
a-days known as common household duties, but many 



64 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



others. It was frequently the case that she had not 
only to make the clothing for the family, but the 
fabric for it. Money was scarce, and the markets in 
which satisfactory purchases might be made were far 
away. It was the policy of the pioneer (urged by 
necessity), to buy nothing which could be profitably 
produced by home industry ; and so it happened that 
in many of the cabins of the earliest settlers was heard 
the sound of the softly-whirring wheel and the 
rhythmic thud of the loom, and that women were there 
engaged in that old, old occupation of spinning and 
weaving — an occupation which has been associated 
with woman's name in all history, but one of which 
the modern world knows little except what it has 
heard from the lips of those who are grandmothers 
now — an occupation which seems surrounded with the 
glamour of romance as we look back upon it through 
tradition and poetry, and which conjures up thoughts 
of the graces and virtues of a generation of dames and 
damsels which is gone. The woman of pioneer times 
was like the woman described by Solomon : " She 
seeketh wool and fla.x, and worketh willingly with 
her hands; she layeth her hands to the spindle and 
her hands hold the distaff." 

The earliest pioneers of Cass County suffered much 
from apprehension of Indian hostilities. The alarm 
which was felt at the time of the Sauk war has been 
spoken of in the preceding chapter. There were 
many other occasions when the occupants of lonely 
log cabins, with their nearest neighbors miles away, 
were fearful that some roving band of savages might 
inflict atrocities upon them. The women especially 
were filled with a feeling of insecurity. Wild animals 
caused much annoyance and created great damage by 
their ravages. Wolves were very numerous for the 
first fifteen or twenty years, and it was only by exer- 
cise of the utmost care that the settlers were able to 
raise sheep. The Board of Supervisors at their Octo- 
ber meeting in 1834 resolved to give a bounty of $2 
for scalps of the large species of wolves, and $1.50 for 
the scalps of " pups and prairie wolves." In 1835, the 
bounty was raised to $5 and later to $10. The 
State also offered a bounty, and wolf-killing being 
made profitable the animals were finally exterminated. 
The great liability to sickness which always exists in. 
a new country was another source of dread. Still 
another trial which was endured by the men and 
women who first dwelt in the Western country, and 
one that was greater than is generally imagined, was 
the sense of loneliness which could not be dispelled. 
In the midst of all the loveliness of their surround- 
ings, and in spite of the active life they led, the early 
settlers experienced a deep-seated, constantly recur- j 
ring feeling of isolation, which made many stout hearts 



turn longingly back to the older settlements, the homes 
and friends, the companionship and the sociability 
they had abandoned co take up their new life in the 
wilderness. This feeling was perhaps in the majority 
of cases harder to bear than the privations and toil 
and hardship and rude living which were inseparable 
from pioneer life. 

As the settlements increased, the sense of loneliness 

[ and isolation was dispelled; the asperities of life were 
softened, its amenities multiplied. Social gatherings 
became more numerous and more enjoyable. Tlie log 
rolling, harvesting and husking bees for the men and 
the apple-butter making and quilting parties for the 

I women furnished frequent opportunities for social in- 
tercourse. A wedding was the event of most impor- 
tance in the sparsely settled new country, and when- 
ever one was celebrated the whole neighborhood turned 
out to make merry. The young people had every in- 
ducement to marry, and usually did so as soon as they 
were able to provide for themselves. 

The first social gathering in the county, which was 
distinctively a meeting of the pioneers and intended 
to be such, was held in the year 1837 at Elijah 

] Goble's, in the village of Charlestown, Volinia Town- 
ship. The occasion was the completion by Mr. 

j Goble of a tavern building. He resolved to have a 
house warming and so exten<led a general invitation 

I to his fellow-pioneers to be present upon a certain 
day with their wives and families. The day designated 
was a pleasant one and from seventy-five to one hun- 
dred people, mostly residents of the north part of the 
county, assembled and passed a most enjoyable season 
of social converse, related their experiences during the 
first years of settlement, sang old-time songs and par- 
took of a bountiful and substantial repast. A wandering 
fiddl-er, happening opportunely to make his appearance, 
was pressed into service, and the pioneer party ended 
with a merry dance. 

In the period between 1836 and 1840, immigration 
seemed to receive a new and powerful impetus and 
the country rapidly filled up with settlers. The era 
of prosperity was fairly begun ; progress was slowly 
but surely made ; the log houses became more numer- 
ous in the clearings ; the forest shrank away before 
the woodman's ax. Soon more commodious structures 
took the places of the old log cabins ; frame houses 
and barns appeared. The pioneers laid better plans 
for the future, enlarged their possessions, improved 
the means of cultivation, and resorted to new methods 
and new industries. Society had begun to form itself, 
the schoolhouse and the church had appeared and ad- 
vancement was noticeable in a score of ways. Still 
there remained a vast work to perform. The brunt 
of the struggle, however, was past, and a way made in 





ISAAC smJpje, 



f/,P,5. ISAAC SHUrTE. 



MR AND MRS. ISAAC SHURTE. 
There is on earth no spectacle more beautiful than 
that of two old people who have passed with honor 
through storm and contest and retain to the last the 
freshness of feeling which adorned their youth. Such 
is a true green old age, and such are a pleasure to 
know. There is a Southern winter in declining years 
when the sunlight warms although the heat is gone. 
There are still living in La Grange two of the town- 
ship's first settlers. For over a half century they 
have observed the momentous changes which have 
culminated in the present stage of advancement. 
When they came to Cass County they found a wilder- 
ness, with here and there a clearing. Detroit had 
hardly reached the distinction of a village, and Cassop- 
olis and Dowagiac had not an existence. Beneath 
their observation in a grand life panorama, Cass 
County has been organized and developed into one of 
the foremost agricultural regions in Michigan. It is 
in keeping with the self-abnegation of such people 
that they have retired to the background and quietly 
look on as the great and varied interests of which 
they iielped lay the foundation are seen to rise and 
extend in prominence and utility. The father of 
Isaac Shurte was of Dutch descent, and a soldier of 
the Revolution. He was a staid and industrious man, 
and reared a large family, Isaac being one of the 
younger members. At tiie time of Isaac's birth (July 
11, 1700). the family were living in New Jersey. 



When a young man, he emigrated to Butler County, 
Ohio, where he married Miss Mary Wright. She 
was born in New Jersey, about thirty miles from New 
York City, June 11, 1801 ; her father was a farmer 
and soldier in the war of 1812. From Ohio Mr. and 
Mrs. Shurte came to Cass County, where they have 
since resided. By reference to history of La Grange, 
it will be seen that Mr. Shurte took a conspicuous 
part in the early affairs of the county ; the first town 
meeting in La Grange was held at his house. When 
the little settlement had reason to believe their homes 
were to be despoiled and the lives of there families 
placed in jeopardy by the Indians, Mr. Shurte took 
command of a company of men and reported for duty. 
Mr. and Mrs. Shurte have had ten children — Sally M. 
Mary A., Elizabeth, Margaret, Francis M., Susan, 
William, Sarepta, Henry and Cynthia E. Of the 
above Sarepta (now Mrs. Fletcher), Margaret (Mrs. 
Hardenbrook), Francis M., William and Henry are 
now living, the latter on the old homestead. It is 
questioned what recourse is left to the aged when no 
longer able to pursue an accustomed round of labor. 
Mr. and Mrs. Shurte are qualified to reply. They 
have led a quite home life. They have marked out 
and pursued a line of action whose goal has proved a 
satisfaction. They have enjoyed the quiet of home 
and the retirement of the farm, and their long lives 
affords a marked contrast to the brief existence of 
the votaries of pleasure. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHICtAX. 



the wilderness by the pioneers for the army of occu- 
pation that was to come. 

The pioneers of Cass County and of all the West- 
ern country were of two classes. The greater class 
was made up of those earnest, strong, sturdy charac- 
acters who came into the wilderness with the settled 
and definite purpose of hewing out homes by dint of 
patient toil and of securing for their ftimilies the best 
possible condition in life. As a rule, they were a 
pious, God-fearing class of men. Their habits of in- 
dustry, frugality and sobriety, their patience, steadfast- 
ness and determination to succeed made them in time, 
however humble their beginnings might have been, 
substantial citizens. The memory of hundreds who 
were of this class is preserved in this volume. 

But there was another class of men among the early 
settlers well known in their day and generation, con- 
cerning whom little information is now obtainable, 
although some of their names have been made by 
legend and tradition almost as familiar as household 
words. We allude to those restless, migratory char- 
acters who formed what may be called the floating 
population of the frontier who were the human flot- 
sam and jetsam of the ocean of life, borne onward, 
and stranded here and there by the waves and surges 
of emigration. 

Among these wandering, transient pioneers there 
were many strange, interesting characters who im- 
pressed themselves strongly on the minds of the steadier 
and more solid denizens of the n&vf country. A 
marked type of this element was the eccentric Job 
Wright, who lived for a number of years upon Dia- 
mond Lake Island, and closed his strange existence in 
Cass County. 

As it would perhaps not be elsewhere presented, we 
make a place here for what little is definitely known 
about the apparently purposeless life of this erratic 
pioneer. 

From the history of Ross and Highland Counties, 
Ohio, we learn that Job Wright was the first settler 
at Greenfield, in the latter-named county, in the year 
1799. We quote from the work mentioned. " He 
was a native of North Carolina and had emigrated 
with his father's family to Ross County, and settled at 
the High Bank a few miles south of Chillicothe, but 
not liking that locality he removed to Greenfield, 
while as yet that town had no existence save on paper. 
He made the first improvement in the village, build- 
ing a log cabin where the Harper House now stands. 
He was a hair sieve-maker, and as wire sieves were 
then unknown * * * he derived quite 

an income from his trade. * * * Mak- 

ing hair sieves, however, did not monopolize Job's 
time or talent. His principal occupation was fishing, 



and he followed it with a perseverance and patience 
worthy of his Biblical protonym and with a degree of 
success of which even Isaak Walton might be proud. 
His little cabin * * * became too 

public a place to suit Job's fancy, after a few families 
had removed to the town plat and he built another 
in an isolated locality near his favorite fishing place 
in Paint Creek, which is known to this day as ' Job's 
Hole.' * * * It was not long before 
civilization crowded Job farther west." 

He probably left Greenfield before 1807 or 1803. 
He is known to have taken part in the war of 1812. 
Wandering from one place to another, but always 
going westward, keeping upon the outposts of civiliza- 
tion, he made his appearance in Cass County in 1829. 
Very naturally he selected as the place of his loca- 
tion the island in Diamond Lak e, that being the most 
secluded situation he could find. He built a small 
log cabin near the north end of the island, and for 
some time lived there as a "squatter," but finally 
entered the land, when there appeared to be danger 
that it might pass into the possession of some one 
else. 

At his island home, Job led, the greater part of the 
time, a hermit's life. During a portion of the years 
he spent upon his little domain, however, his mother, 
son and son's wife, whom he brought from Ohio, lived 
with him. Job Wright was tall and gaunt, but power- 
ful, red headed and long bearded. Upon one hand he 
had two thumbs, and claimed that this peculiar forma- 
tion was the badge and token of the gift of prophecy 
and other endowments of occult-power. His strange 
appearance and habits, secluded life, remarkable reti- 
cence, and, the mystery in which his past was shrouded 
all combined to produce the impression that he was 
possessed of abilities not bestowed on common mortals. 
By many persons he was said to have a knowledge 
of witchcraft, and some people tell impressively at 
this day how he could stop the flowing of blood by 
simply learning the name and age of the person whose 
life was endangered, and pronouncing a brief incanta- 
tion. Most of his time was spent in hunting and 
fishing, but he cultivated a small part of the island, 
raising a little corn and a few vegetables for his own 
use. 

As the country became more thickly settled, Job 
grew uneasy and sought the still farther west. After 
several years of wandering, he returned to Diamond 
Lake Island, which was probably the home of the 
recluse pioneer for a greater period than any other 
locality. His sturdy constitution had begun to fail 
under the weight of years, when he returned to tlie 
island and he died not very long after, at the home of 
his daughter, Mrs. Cornelius Huff". 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



A few friends and acquaintances among the settlers 
of the neighborhood, not more than a dozen in all, 
followed the remains of the old recluse to the Cas- 
sopolis burying-ground. George B. Turner, passing, 
and happening to notice the little knot of men gathered 
about an open grave, was led by curiosity to join 
them. There was no minister present. The prepara- 
tions were all made and the rude whitewood coffin 
was about to be lowered into the ground when one of 
the men, a rough spoten but tender-hearted and 
humane old farmer uttered a suggestion to the effect 
that some remarks ought to be made before the remains 
of a fellow-mortal were laid away to rest. He called 
upon Mr. Turner, who, after a moment's hesitation, 
stepping upon the little mound of fresh earth at the 
side of the grave, delivered Job Wright's funeral ser- 
mon. 

The secret of the cause which had driven the eccen- 
tric pioneer to his life of seclusion was buried with 
him. 



CHAPTER XI. 

ERECTION AND ORGANIZATION OF CASS COUNTY. 

The Earliest Counties Established— St. Joseph Township-Cass County 
Erected in 182;i— Berrien Attached under the name ol Niles Town- 
ship—Political Divisions— County Seat Contest— Early Meetings of 
the Supervisors— Valuations of the Townships and Taxes Levied— 
The Courts— Public Buildings— Koster of Civil Officers. 

THE first county erected within the territory now 
included in the boundaries of Michigan was the 
county of Wayne. It comprised a vast extent of ter- 
ritory — the whole of the Lower Peninsula and also 
portions of the present States of Ohio and Indiana. 
It was established in 1796, and named after Gen. 
Anthony Wayne. Detroit was the county seat. 
Other counties were erected as follows: Monroe, in 
1817; Mackinac, in 1818; Oakland, in 1820; Wash- 
tenaw, in 1826; Chippewa, in 1826; Lenawee (from 
Monroe), in 1826. On the 20th of November in the 
year last named, the Legislative Council of the Terri- 
tory of Michigan attached to Lenawee County all of 
the territory, the Indian title to which had been ex- 
tinguished by the treaty of Chicago in 1821. All of 
this territory, including from seven to eight thousand 
square miles of land, is now embraced in the counties 
of Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, Hillsdale, Calhoun, Kala- 
mazoo, Van Buren, Allegan, Barry and Eaton, and 
constitutes nearly all of Berrien and Ottawa, and parts 
of Ionia, Ingham, Jackson and Kent. 

Upon April 12, 1827, the whole of this territory 
was constituted and organized the township of St. 
Joseph, and the first town meeting was ordered to be 
held at the house of Timothy S. Smith, which stood 
very near the site of the village of Niles. On Sep- 



tember 22, 1828, the lands, of which the title was 
ceded by the Indians at the Carey Mission treaty of 
the same year, were attached to Lenawee County, and 
added to the enormous township of St. Joseph. It 
does not appear that Government had any other than 
a merely nominal existence in St. Joseph Township, 
and it is probable that no legal acts were performed 
in or by it. 

ERECTION AND ORCfANIZATION OF CASS COONTY. 

The county of Cass was constituted very nearly as 
it now exists by an act of the Legislative Council of 
the Territory of Michigan, approved October 29, 
1829. By the same act were erected the counties of 
Ingham, Eaton, Barry, Jackson, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, 
Van Buren, Hillsdale, Branch, Berrien and St. Jo- 
seph. The section defining the boundaries of Cass 
County provided " That so much of the country as lies 
west of the line between Ranges 12 and 13 west of 
the meridian and east of the line between Ranges 16 
and 17 west, and south of the line between Town- 
ships 4 and 5 south of the base line and north of the 
boundary line between this Territory and the State of 
Indiana, be, and the same is hereby set off into a 
separate county and the name thereof shall be Cass." 

The boundaries remained unchanged until March 
3, 1831, when that portion of the country lying east 
of the St. Josepli River (consisting of one whole .sec- 
tion and fractions of four others) was by act of the 
Legislative Council made a portion of St. Joseph 
County. Since that time no alteration whatever has 
been made in the territory of Cass County. 

Cass County "was organized under an act passed 
November -1, 1829, entitled "An act to organize the 
counties of Cass and St. Joseph, and for establishing 
courts therein." Of this act, we reproduce the por- 
tions having reference to Cass County. 

ACT OF ORGANIZATION. 

Be it enacted by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Mich- 
igan, That the counties of Cass and St. Joseph shall be organized 
from and after the taking effect of this act, and the inhabitants 
thereof entitled to all the rights and privileges to which by law 
the inhabitants of the other counties of this Territory are entitled. 

Sec. 2. That there shall be a County Court established in each 
of said counties; and (he County Court of the county of Cass 
shall be held on the last Tuesday of May and on the last Tuesday 
of November in each year. * * * 

Seo. 3. That all suits, prosecutions and other matters now 
depending before the County Court of Lenawee County, or before 
any .Justice of the I'eace of said county of Lenawee, shall be 
prosecuted to final judgment and execution ; and all taxes here- 
tofore levied and now due shall be collected in the same manner 
as though said counties of Cass and St. Joseph had not been or- 
ganized. 

Sec. 4. That the couties of Berrien and Van Buren, and all 
the country lying north of the game to Lake Michigan, shall be at- 
tached to and compose a part of the county of Cass. 



i\ 



HISTORiT OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Sec. 8. That there shall be Circuit Courts, to be held in the 
counties of Cass and St. Joseph, and that the several acts 
concerning the Supreme, Circuit and County Courts of the Ter- 
ritory of Michigan, defining their jurisdiction and powers, and 
directing the pleadings and practice therein in certain cases, 
be and the same are hereby made applicable to the Circuit Courts 
in said counties. 

Sbc. 9. That the said Circuit Court shall be held at the re- 
spective county seals in said counties, at the respective court 
houses or other usual places of holding courts therein ; provided, 
that the first term of said court in the county of Cass shall be 
holden at the schoolhouse near the house of Ezra Beardsley, in 
said county. * * * 

Sec. 10. That the county of Casa shall be one circuit, and the 
court for the same shall be held hereafter on the second Tuesday 
of August in each year. 

Sec. 11. * * * For the purposes of this act, it is hereby 
enacted and declared that the counties aforesaid shall be consid- 
ered to comprehend, respectively, all the counties not organized 
and districts of country attached thereto by any law or executive 
act. 

Sec. 12. That all acts now in force, and parts of acts contra- 
vening the provisions of this act, be and the same are hereby re- 
pealed.* 

Approved November 4, 1829. 

POLITICAL DIVISIONS. 

Originally the county was divitied into four town- 
ships — :Pokagon, Penn, La Grange and Oncwa. This 
political division was made by the Legislative Council 
of the Territory by an act passed November 5, 1829. 
Section 1 of this act provides that all that part of 
the county of Cass known and distinguished on 
the survey of the United States by Townships 5 
and 6, and the north half of Township 7 south, 
in Range 16 west (that is, the territory at pres- 
ent included in Silver Creek, Pokagon and the 
north half of Howard) be a township by the name of 
Pokagon ; that all that part of the county of Cass 
known as Townships 5 and 6, and the north half of 
Township 7 south, in Range 15 west (the present 
Wayne, La Grange and north half of Jefferson), be a 
township by the name of La Grange ; that all that 
part of Cass County known as Townships 5 and 6 
and the north half of Township 7 south, in Ranges 
13 and 14 west (the present townships of Volinia, 
Marcellus, Penn, Newberg and the north halves of 
Calvin and North Porter), be a township by the name 
of Penn ; that all that part of Cass County known as 
the south half of Township 7 ami Fractional Town- 
ship a south, in Ranges 13, 14, 1 "> and 16 west, be 
a township by the name of Ontwa. The township 
last named, a strip of territory six and one-half miles 
wide, extending across the county from east to west, 
and bounded on the south by the Indiana line, con- 
tained nearly one hundred and fifty-six square miles. 
The original Townships of Pokagon and La Grange 



Laws of llm Territory of 



each contained ninety square miles and the enormous 
township of Penn contained one hundred and eighty 
square miles. But this was not all. The county of 
Van Buren and other territory lying north of that 
county having been attached to Cass County, was 
made a part of Penn Township and so remained until 
1835. The county of Berrien, which had been at- 
tached to Cass, was organized as one township under 
the name of Niles. 

The act of November 5, 1829, named the places 
for holding the first town meetings in the several 
townships as follows: In Pokagon, at the house of 
Baldwin Jenkins ; in La Grange, at the house of 
Isaac Shurte; in Penn, at the house of Martin Shields; 
in Ontwa, at the house of Ezra Beardsley ; in Niles, 
at the house of William Justus. 

By act of the Legislative Council of the Territory 
of Michigan, passed March 29, 1833, the townships 
of Porter, Jefferson and Volinia were organized, and 
the size of the original townships of La Grange, 
Ontwa and Penn was considerably decreased. The 
act provided that all that part of Ontwa, situated in 
Ranges 13 and 14, west of the Principal Meridian, 
should compose a township by the name of Porter, 
and that the first township meeting therein should 
be held at the house of Othni Beardsley ; that all that 
part of the county of Cass, known and distinguished 
as Township 7, south of the base line, and in Range 
15 (the south part of La Grange), should compose a 
township by the name of Jefferson, and that the first 
election should be held at the house of Moses Reams ; 
that all that part of the county distinguished as Town- 
ship 5, in Ranges 13 and 14 (the present townships 
of Volinia and Marcellus), should compose a town- 
ship by the name of Volinia, and that the first elec- 
tion therein should be held at the house of Josephus 
Gard. The county of Van Buren, which had been 
attached to Penn, was now attached to Volinia, and 
so remained until March 26, 1835, when it was organ- 
ized under the name of Lafayette Township. The 
county was now divideil into seven townships. 

In the following year (1834), upon March 7, the 
township of Howard was ordered into existence by an 
act similar to those from which we have quoted. It 
was constituted as it now exists, being Township 7, 
of Range 16, and was composed from territory 
which had before this time been included in 
Ontwa and Pokagon. The first election was held at 
the house of George Fo.sdick. 

The townships of Calvin anil Wayne were erected 
with their present boundaries under the provisions of 
an act approved March 17, 1835 — the former from 
territory incluiled in Penn and Porter, and the latter 
from La Grange. The first township meeting in Cal- 



68 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



vin, it was provided, should be held at the dwelling 
of John Reed, Sr., and the first in Wayne at that 
of Joel C. Wright.' 

When the Territorial Government passed out of 
existence, Cass County consisted of ten townships. 
Under the authority of the State Legislature, ex- 
pressed from time to time in its acts, five other town- 
ships were established, viz.: Mason, Silver Creek, 
Newberg, Milton and Marcellus. Mason was estab- 
lished by an act passed March 23, 1836, and the first 
election was held at the house of Jotham Curtis. The 
organization of Silver Creek was ordered March 20, 
1837 ; Newburg, March 6, 1838 ; Milton, March 15, 
1838; and Marcellus, March 9, 1843. The first 
township election in Silver Creek was held at James 
M. McDaniel's ; in NewbeVg, at John Bair's ; in Mil- j 
ton, at Peter Tniitt's; and in Marcellus, at Daniel 
G. Rouse's. I 

LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT.* 

July 31, 1830, the Legislative Council of the Ter- I 
ritory approved " an act to provide for establishing 
seats of justice." By the provision of this enactment, j 
the Governor was authorized to appoint commissioners 
to locate the seats of justice in the several counties 
where they had not already been located ; it was spec- 
ified that the commissioners, on being appointed, 
should duly qualify for their ofiice by taking oath 
faithfully and impartially to discharge their trust ; ! 
that having located the seat of justice of any county, 
they should report their proceedings to the Governor, 
and if he approved of the same, he should issue a proc- 
lamation causing the establishment of a seat of justice 
agreeable to the report. It was further provided that 
the proclamation should be published in the several 
newspapers printed in the Territory. 

Gov. Porter, under the provisions of this act, ap- 
pointed Martin C. Whitman, Hart L. Stewart and J 
Col. Sibley as Commissioners to locate the seat of 
justice for Cass County, and they, after some delibera- 
tion, decided upon Geneva, a village laid out on the 
bank of Diamond Lake, by Dr. Henry H. Fowler, 
as the proper location. 

The decision produced much dissatisfaction. It 
was alleged, and truly, that Sibley and Stewart de- | 
layed the announcement of the location until they 
had been able to go to the land oflRce at White Pigeon 
and enter tracts of land adjoining Geneva. 

Those who were unfriendly to the location at Ge- 
neva signed remonstrances which they addressed to 
the Territorial Council. They were effective. 

March 4, 1831, the council passed an act to amend 
that of July 31, 1830, under which the seat of jus- | 
tice of Cass County had been located at Geneva. 

* 9ee also chapter on tbe history of CaaBopolii. 



Section 1 of this act provided that the Governor 
should, by and with the consent of the Council, ap- 
point three Commissioners to re-examine the proceed- 
ings which had taken place in relation to the estab- 
lishment of the seats of justice of the counties of 
Branch, St. Joseph and Cass, and to confirm the same 
or make new locations, as the public interest might in 
their opinion require. It was provided by Section 
2 that the Commissioners should meet in Cass County 
on the third Monday in May, 1831, to examine the 
county and determine where its seat of justice should 
be located. They were authorized to accept any do- 
nations of land, money, labor or material that might 
be tendered to them for the use of the county. Sec- 
tion 3 provided that the proceedings and decision of 
the Commissioners should be reported to the Governor 
within thirty days after the termination of their serv- 
ices, and that a proclamation should be issued by 
the Governor announcing the decision and establish- 
ing such seat of justice as had been agreed upon, and 
that after the 1st day of January next ensuing, the 
places selected in the respective counties should be- 
come seats of justice. This section contained the 
proviso that in case it was made to appear to the satis- 
faction of the Governor that the Commissioners were 
guilty of any improper conduct, tending to impair 
the fairness of their decision, it should be his duty to 
suspend any further proceedings. It was further pre- 
scribed that the Commissioners be allowed $3 per 
day for their services, to be paid out of the Ter- 
ritorial Treasury, with the proviso that the amount 
thus paid should be refunded to the treasury in equal 
proportion by the persons upon whose land the seats 
of justice might be located. Section 9 read as fol- 
lows: 

" That the decisions of the Commissioners heretofore appointed 
t3 locate the seats of justice in the counties of Branch, St. 
Joseph and Cass shall be and the same are hereby set aside. 

Thomas Rowland, Henry Disbrow and George A. 
O'Keefe, were appointed Commissioners under the 
provisions of this act to relocate the county seats of 
Branch, St. Joseph and Cass Counties. They located 
that of Cass County at a point- in the southeast quar- 
ter of Section 26, in La Grange Township, and their 
action was confirmed and made authoritative by the 
following proclamation of Acting Gov. Mason, issued 
December 19, 1831 : 



Whereas, In pursuance of an act of the Legislative Council, 
entitled " An act to amend an act entitled • .Vn act to provide for 
establishing seats of justice,' " Thomas Rowland, Henry Disbrow 
and George A. O'Keefe were appointed Commissioners to re-ex- 
amine the proceedings which had taken place in relation to the 
establishment of the seats of justice of the counties of Branch, 
St. .Joseph and Cass, and to confirm the same, and to make new 
locatioas, as the public's ioterest might in their opiaion require ; 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



And Whereas, The said Commissioners have proceeded to 
perform the said duty, and by a report signed by them, have 
located the seat of justice of the said county of Cass, at a point 
on the southeast quarter of Section 'J6, Town 6, Range 15 west, 
forty rods from the southeast corner of said section, on the line 
running west between Sections 26 and 36; 

Now TiiEREFOKE, By virtue of the authority in me vested by 
said act, and in conformity with said report, I do issue this 
proclamation, establishing the seat of justice of the said county 
of Cass at the said point described as aforesaid. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused 
the great seal of the Territory to be affixed, on this nineteenth 
day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and thirty one, and of the Independence of the United 
States the fifty-sixth. 

(Signed), Stevens T. .Mason, 

Secretary and at present Acting Governor of the Territory of 
Michigan. 

EARLY TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOARD OF SUPER- 
VISORS. 

A majority of the Board of Supervisors of the 
county of Cass and Territory of Michigan met for 
the first time pursuant to law, at the house of Ezra 
Beardsley, in Edwardsburg, on October 4, 1831. 
Those present were John Agard, Othni Beardsley and 
James Cavanagh. John Agard. was chosen as Presi- 
dent and Alex H. Redfield was appointed Clerk of 
the Board. As two members were absent, the meet- 
ing was adjourned. On the 17th of October, the 
Supervisors again assembled at Edwardsburg. After 
examination of the assessment rolls of the several 
townships and making various alterations therein, the 
board reported the first valuation and tax assessment 
of Cass County as follows: 



Pokagon .... 

Niles 

La Grange.. 

Penn 

Ontwa 



Total $1.56960 2 



523364 00 
38087 00 
23321 00 
37643 00 
33634 27 



L. Kdwards... 

D. Wilson, .Ir 

E. P. Bonnell 
H. Langslon. 
N. C. Tibbits. 



Purpose*. 



$ 82 52 
23 28 
87 88 
89 68 
87 6-2 

$370 98 



»r Township 
Purposes. 



% 31 00 
1.5.5 61 
31 00 
92 60 
80 55 

$390 76 



At the time provided for the next meeting — Jan- 
uary 3, 1832 — there was no quorum present, nor yet 
upon the 5th of March, but upon the 31st of that 
month, the board met at the house of Ira B. Hender- 
son in Cassopolis. The Treasurer of the county was 
present and showed receipts of money as follows: 
From Lewis Edwards, Collector of Pokagon, $82.52; 
from E. P. Bonnell, Collector of La Grange, p7.88; 
from Hardy Langston, Collector of Penn, $89.68 ; 
and from Nathan C. Tibbits, Collector of Ontwa, $87.- 
62. It was shown that there was due from David 
Wilson, Jr., of Niles, the sum of $23.28, for which 
sum a warrant "was issued against the goods and 
chattels, lands and tenements of the aforesaid David 
Wilson, and delivered to George Meacham, Sheriff of 



the county, on the 20th day of February, 1832." 
Further entry shows that the business was satisfac- 
torily adjusted. 

The following table shows the tax a.ssessmeut of 
the county for 1832: 



ASSESSMENT OF THB CollecMi-s 
SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS.! 


Tax Laid 

for County 

Purposes. 


Tax Laid 
for Township 
Purposes. 


Penn 


$47304 00;S. Hunter 

34260 00!e. p. Bonnell. 
29194 00;L. Edwards... 
40509 00. 1. Butler 


$ 70 80 
51 39 
43 79 
60 76 


$ 70 80 


La Grange 

Pokagon .... 


85 65 
102 37 




81 11 






Total 


$151167 00 


$226 74 


$339 93 









The rate of tix for township purposes was : In 1 
upon the dollar; in Pokagon, 3J ; in Ontwa, 2. 

The tax laid in 1833 was as follows : 



Volinia 

Penn 

Jefferson .. 
Pokagon ... 

Porter 

Ontwa 

La Grange 



$21334 00 
44708 00 
12063 00 
33249 00 
26685 00 



Tax Laid Tax Laid 
Collectors. foj- Cou n tyjfor Township 
riKises. I Purposes. 



J. B. Gard.... 
Sam'l Hunter. 
L. D. Norton.. 
M. Robinson.. 



Beardsley.! 
55208 00 J. L. Jacks... 
P. Bonnell. I 



$ 53 33 I $ 53 33 

111 72 : 135 00 

31 11 6 03 

83 12 ; 63 12 

66 51 jNo tax Claimed. 

138 02 82 80 

HI 39 I 66 75 

$595 20 I $397 03 



The rate of tax this year for township purposes was : In Penn, 
3.! mills on the dollar; in Pokagon, 1] ; in Volinia, 2J ; in Ontwa, 
4; in La Grange, \\, and, in Jefferson, \ mill. 

The valuation of the townships, with amount of taxes 
levied by the Supervisors for county and township pur- 
poses for the years 1834 to 1840 inclusive, is here 



YEAU.S 

1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 



Valuation. 
$ 293958 

342.585 
820978 



1092893 
1086234 
1145620 



$ 881 87i 
1027 (Jo 
4105 02 
5442 94 i 
4098 34i 
4344 95' 
6870 64 



$ 468 38 
511 54^ 
985 32 
1323 U 
1349 70 
1732 40 
2132 67 



COURTS. 

The courts of record which now exercise jurisdiction 
in Cass County are the Supreme Court of the United 
States, the United States District Court, the United 
States Cii'cuit Court, the Supreme Court of Michigan, 
the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit of 
Michigan and the Probate Court. The County Court 
had jurisdiction prior to April, 1833, and during the 
period between 1846 and 1851. The Court of Chan- 
cery had existence from 1836 to 1847. Cass County 
was within the jurisdiction of the Kalamazoo Circuit. 

The fii"st court established in the Territory of 
Michigan was the Supreme Court, consisting of one 
Supreme Judge and two Associates, appointed by Presi- 
dent Jefferson and confirmed by the United States 
Senate. The Judges originally appointed in 1805 
were Augustus Brevoort Woodard, Samuel Hunting- 
ton and Frederick Bates. The oflSce was declined by 



70 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Huntington and his place was filled in 1806 by John 
GriflBn.* 

The court was organized by Gov. Hull and 
Judges Brevoort and Bates on the 24th of July, 1805. 

On the 25th of July, 1805, the same authority 
created the District Courts. They had only a brief 
existence, being abolished in September, 1810. 

The next courts established (after the County Courts 
in 1815) were the Circuit Courts, which were created 
in the counties of the Territory by the Legislative 
Council in August, 1824, and re-affirmed in April, 
1825, the act to take effect in September. 

Upon the 27th of April, 1827, the Council re-en- 
acted former laws pertaining to the courts and re-es- 
tablished the Probate Courts. Cass County was 
then attached to Lenawee for judicial purposes. The 
act which erected it as a separate county contained 
clauses establishing within it the Circuit County and 
Probate Courts (see ante) and prescribing that the 
first term of the Circuit Court "should be held at 
the schoolhouse, near the house of Ezra Beardsley." 

This was the first court of any kind held in Cass 
County, of which there is record. 

The first term of the Circuit Court opened upon the 
9th of August, 1831, at the house of Ezra Beardsley 
(instead of the schoolhouse) in Edwardsburg,t the 
Hon. William Woodbridge and the Hon. Solomon 
Sibley presiding. 

The records show, that " the court being opened by 
the Sheriff (George Meacham), and organized accord- 
ing to law," and the venire having been previously 
served, there appeared the following grand jury, to 
wit: Adam Miller, Moses Finch, Reuben N. Harri- 
son, Jacob L. Kinzey, William Barlow, T. A. H. 
Edwards, Isaac Williams, James Girt, Mulford Hulse, 
Nathan Tharp, Abner Tharp, Maxwell Zane, Abra- 
ham V. Tietsort, Garrett Waldron, Isaac Shurte, 
Eli P. Bonnell, Dennis Wright, Michael I. McKen- 
ney, Wilson Blackmore. John Bogart and Sylvester 
Meacham. Adam Miller was appointed by the court 
as foreman of the jury. Eli P. Bonnell was excused 
from duty as a juror, and assigned to attend the court 
as Constable. The jury being sworn, received their 
charge, and retired for consultation. 

William H. Welch and Columbia Lancaster made 
application to be admitted as counselors and attorneys 
at law. The court appointed E. B. Sherman, Neal 
McGaffey, and J. Stetson, Esqs., a committee to 
examine the applicants, and they reported favorably 
upon their admission. 

Two suits were brought before the court upon the 

*CumpbeIl'8 "Outlines of the Political History of Michigan." 
tin H. S. Rodger's history of Cass County, it is slated that "the first 
court was held in the fall of 1832, under an oak tree just south of tne puMic 



first day of the session, viz. : Adam Salladay vs. G. 
Shurte, and John Agard vs. Sterling Adams. 

The jury returned into court, and "presented one 
presentment and one indictment, indorsed true bills." 
The District Attorney having no further cause for 
their detention, they were discharged by the court. 
It appears from the fragment of the record of this 
court that one of the presentments " was relative to 
the laws of the Territory," and upon motion of E. B. 
Sherman, it was ordered that it " be copied by the 
Clerk and sent to the Governor of the Territory, and 
that one copy be sent by said Clerk to the editor of 
some newspaper, published within the Territory, for 
publication." 

The term of court lasted but two days, being ad- 
journed upon the 10th of August. 

The County Courts were established by the Terri- 
torial Governor and Judges on the 24th of Octo- 
ber, 1815. The first term of the County Court in 
Cass County was like that of the Circuit Court Reld 
at Edwardsburg, and in the house of Ezra Beardsley. 
The date was November 29, 1831. After the open- 
ing of the court by the Sheriff, the commission of 
the Hon. Joseph S. Barnard as Chief Justice was 
read, and also the commissions of Hon. John Agard 
and Hon. William Burke, Associate Justices. The 
men summoned to appear as jurors at this court were : 
John Kinzey, William Kirk, Calvin Sullivan, John 
Ray, Henry Denny, Joseph McPherson, Samuel 
Springer, John Donnel, Hiram Jewell, James H. C. 
Smith, Dennis G. Wright, Thomas Smith, Moses 
Reames, Joel C. Wright, Micajah McKenney, Arm- 
strong Davidson. William Tibbitts, John Smith, Jacob 
Virgil, William Morris, George Shultz, Ebenezer 
Thomas, Jacob Rinehart, and Nathan Norton. Of 
I these, McPherson, Donnel, Kirk and Reames did not 
i appear, and a capias was issued, summoning them to 
' appear before the next term of court, and " show rea- 
j son why they should not be dealt with as the law 
' directs." Those jurors who were present were dis- 
charged, there being no business before the court 
demanding their presence. Only one case was upon 
[ the docket — a criminal action for assault and battery 
— in which the defendant was discharged. 

The second term of the County Court was held at 

Cassopolis, opening November 27, 1832. The County 

Court consisted of a Chief Justice or Judge, and two 

Associate Justices. Various acts were passed by the 

1 Legislative Council, restricting the jurisdiction of the 

( County Courts, and transferring their powers to the 

I Circuit Courts, and finally, in April, 1833, they were 

abolished altogether in all of the organized counties 

of the Territory. 

I In 1846 a revision of the judicial system of Michi- 



IllSTOKV OF CASS COITNTi'. MU'HIOAN. 



gan being made, the Countj Courts were again estab- 
lished. A County Judge was elected for a term of 
four years, and at the same time a "second " Judge 
was chosen for a similar period. The County Court, 
as re-constituted, "'had original and exclusive juris- 
diction of civil actions in the county, in which the 
demand did not exceed $500, excepting actions of 
ejectment, probate proceedings, and cases within a 
Justice's jurisdiction. It also had appellate jurisdic- 
tion over Justices. Cases were removable from the 
County Court to the Circuit Court on certiorari 
only." 

The first term of the County Court of the second 
period, held in Cass County, opened in Cassopolis 
March 1, 1847, the Hon. Joseph N. Chipman on the 
bench. "There appearing to be no business, the 
court adjourned sine die." 

By the Constitution of 1850, the judicial power 
was restricted to the Supreme, Circuit and Probate 
Courts, courts of Justices of the Peace, and such Muni- 
cipal Courts as might be established by the Legisla- 
ture in cities. The County Court passed finally and 
forever out of existence in 1851. 

The last term held in Cass County commenced 
August 5, 1851, Judge Cyrus Bacon upon the bench. 

The earliest record of the Probate Court of Cass 
County, which can be found, appears upon the last 
page of an early volume of the record of Mortgages in 
the Register's office, and the beginning reads as fol- 
lows : "The Probate Court met agreeable to adjourn- 
ment on Saturday, April 14, 1832, at Edwardsburg, 
E. B. Sherman, Judge presiding." 

"John Lybrook appeared and made application for 
letters of administration on the goods, chattels and 
credit of John Ritter, deceased, died in the township 
of La Grange on the 31st day of August, 1829." 

Thomas McKenney, after whom McKenney's Prai- 
rie was named, was the first Judge of Probate appointed, 
but it is probable that he transacted no official 
business, and in fact it is not known that he quali- 
fied. Elias B. Sherman was undoubtedly che first 
Judge who filled the office. He was appointed March 
4, 1831, and succeeded by H. B. Dunning in 1838. 

The early mention of the Probate Court, which has 
been given, is a mere fi'agment and irregularly record- 
ed. In the present Probate Jutlge's office is a very 
small volume, labeled "Liber A," which contains a 
record of the court from 1835 to 1839. The first 
entry is under date of April 18, 1835. It appears 
that Judge Sherman at that time held a court at Cas- 
sopolis. One of the items of business was the proving 
and recording of the last will and testament of Jona- 
than Hussey, of Howard Township. 

While Mr. Sherman was Judge, the court was usu- 



ally held in Cassopolis, and during Mr. Dunning's 
term, which extended to 1839, the court nearly always 
sat in Ontwa or the village of Edwardsburg. 

The regular terms of the Probate Court are now 
held upon the first Monday of every month, but the 
court is in readiness to discharge the duties imposed 
upon it upon all other days, when business may be 
legally transacted. 

The Court of Chancery, which has been spoken of 
as having jurisdiction in Cass County for a term of 
years, was established by the Legislature in 1836, 
immediately after the admission of Michigan to the 
Union. Its powers were exercised by a Chancellor, 
appointed by the Governor and holding office for seven 
years. The jurisdiction of the court was substan- 
tially the same as that of the English Court of Chan- 
cery. There were three circuits of the Chancery 
Court, and terms were held at Detroit, Ann Arbor 
and Kalamazoo. Under this system, a Master of 
Chancery was appointed by the Governor, in each 
county. When the judicial system of the State was 
revised in 1846, the Chancery Court was abolished 
and its powers transferred to the Circuit Court. The 
Constitution of 1850 prohibited the office of Masters 
of Chancery and provided for the election of Circuit 
Court Commissioners, who were given a jurisdiction 
in chancery matters. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

The first public building erected was a jail. At the 
meeting of the Supervisors, held upon the 31st of 
March, 1832, it was resolved "that a gaol be built at 
Cassopolis, the county seat, to be completed on or be- 
fore the 1st day of December next, and to cost at the 
extent but $350, to be paid for out of the money sub- 
scribed for the county seat." Alexander H. Redfield, 
Esq., was appointed to make and let the contract for 
the building of the "gaol" and to collect the subscrip- 
tion moneys. It was prescribed that the jail should be 
made of hewn logs, one foot square, of hard timber, and 
that the building should be thirty feet long by fifteen 
in width and one story high. The contract was awar'l- 
ed to Eber Root and John Flewwelling. Nathan 
Baker and Andrew Woods were appointed as inspect- 
ors of the work. The jail was finished according to 
specifications, but not within the time originally speci- 
fied, because of Mr. Root's ill health. In fact the 
building was not ready for use until the early part of 
1834. In January, Henry H. Fowler (of Geneva) 
Sheriff of the county, presented a protest against the 
acceptance of the jail, alleging that it was an unsafe 
place for the "confinement of criminals and debtors." 
The building however was accepted. In March, 1834, 
the Supervisors recommended that it should be floored 



72 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



and lined with plank. This was subsequently done, 
and the logs under the plank were driven full of nails 
and bound with strap iron to make it still more diflS- 
cult for transgressors of the law to make their exit. 
The lock upon this log jail is one of the relics, which 
has lodgement in the museum of the Cass County Pio- 
neer Society. It is a massive and curious piece of 
mechanism. Its maker was George Fosdick, of Bar- 
ren Lake, who had a great reputation in early days 
for the construction of jail locks, and furnished many 
that were used in Southwestern Michigan and North 
ern Indiana. The old jail stood until very recent 
years in its original location, just south of the Lind- 
say planing-mill. It was used until a larger struct- 
ure was built in 1853. 

Steps were taken toward the building of a court 
house in the fall of 183.5. The first definite action 
was the passage of the following resolution on the 23d 
of October by the Board of Supervisors. 

" Resolved, That a wooden building be erected on Lot 4, in 
Bloclc 2 north, Range 1 west, in Cassopolis, .34 feet long by 24 feet 
wide, and to be for a court house, cost not to exceed $4-50, and 
to contain desks for the Judges and bar." 

The lot designated in this resolution is the one on 
the west side of Broadway, where John Boyd now 
resides. The contract for building was awarded to 
Joseph Harper, and he had the building in readiness 
for occupancy by May 1, 1835. It was used as a 
placefor holding courts and for various county purposes 
until 1841, when the present court house was com- 
pleted. 

The structure now and for the past forty years in 
use was built by a number of men who associated 
themselves together under the name of "the Court 
House Company." Upon the 7th of August, 1839, 
David Hopkins, Heni-y Jones and James W. GriflSn, 
County Commissioners, who had succeeded to the 
rights and powers of the Supervisors, entered into a 
contract with Darius Shaw, Joseph Harper, Jacob Sil- 
ver, Asa Kingsbury and A. H. Redfield (" the Court 
House Company") to build according to specifications 
a court house. The terms were §6,000, of which sum 
one-third was to be paid in cash and the remaindsr in 
village lots, which had been donated to the county by 
the proprietors of the village in consideration of the 
location of the seat of justice at Cassopolis. The pub- 
lic square was also included in the consideration, the 
Commissioners only reserving that portion (the north- 
east quarter) on which it was proposed to build the 
court house. The Commissioners made a deed of 
bargain and sale to Messrs. Shaw, Hs^rper and their 
associates, and the grantees simultaneously gave to 
the Commissioners their bond in the sum of 812,000 
for the proper performance of their undertaking. 



Following is the full text of the instrument, which 
contains the specifications upon which the present 
court house was built : 

Know all men by these presents, that we, Alexander H. 
Redfield, Darius Shaw, Joseph Harper, Jacob Silver and Asa 
Kingsbury, all of Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan, are held and 
firmly bound unto David Hopkins, Henry Jones and James W. 
Gritfin, Commissioners of said county of Cass, and to their sue- 
•essors in office, in the penal sum of $12,000, which sum well and 
truly be paid we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and admin- 
istrators, firmly by these presents. In witness whereof we have 
hereto set our hands and seals this 7th day of August, A. D. 
eighteen hundred and thirty-nine. 

The condition of the above bond is as follows : Whereas, 
certain village lots in said village of Cassopolis, and certain 
sums of money were formerly given to said county of Cass by the 
original proprietors of said village and by others for the purpose 
of erecting public buildings in said village for the use of the 
county ; and whereas, the said Commissioners have this day 
given to us a warranty deed for a certain part of said village lots 
and property, and also one order upon the treasury of said 
county for the sum of §2,000. Now, if we, the said Darius Shaw, 
Asa Kingsbury. Jacob Silver, Joseph Harper and .ilexaader H. 
Redfield shall erect or cause to be erected in said village within 
two years from the date hereof, on such ground as the said 
Commissioners shall select, a court house fifty-four feet in length 
and forty-six feet in width and twenty-four feet high from sills to 
the eaves ; of the following general description, to wit : It shall be 
a wood building, the frame shall be good and strong, made of 
timber of good size and quality, the building shall be placed on 
good and sufficient stone wall foundations, sufficiently sunk into 
the earth not to be afifected by the frost. Said building shall 
have built in it a brick safe sixteen (16 1 by seventeen i ITj feet, 
with two apartments therein : the walls of said safe shall be 
eighteen inches in thickness : it shall be completely arched over 
with brick, one arch over each apartment : the partition wall shall 
be a brick ; the said safe shall have two iron doors, and two 
windows with iron shutters on the inside and a brick floor, and 
shall be furnished with cases and shelving for the public books and 
papers ; thi- said house shall be inclosed with good pine siding 
neatly dressed, and covered with a good roof of pine shingles, 
with a suitable and proper cornice, principally of pine ; the 
whole house shall be well and neatly painted on the outside 
white, and lighted with at least six hundred and twenty- 
four lights of 10 by 12 glass ; there shall be two good 
entrance doors ; there shall be a hall lengthwise of the building 
12 feet wide ; all the floors in the basement and second story 
shall be neatly dressed and matched and laid down ; there shall 
be five rooms partitioned off' and lathed and plastered and 
furnished with doors on basement story. In the second story, the 
court room shall be lathed and plastered, and there nhall also be 
two small rooms cut off, and also lathed and plastered for jury 
rooms. The aforesaid safe shall be plastered ; the whole work 
shall be done in a good and workmanlike manner, and of suitable 
and proper materials. Then this obligation to be void, otherwise 
to be and remain in full force and virtue. 

Signed, sealed and delivered the day and year first above 
written, in presence of H. C. Lybrook and J. Barnum. 

A. H. Reiifieli>. [l. s.] 
DxRtrs Shaw. [l. s.] 

Joseph Harpkb. [l. s.] 
Asa KiNosBrBY. [l. s.] 
Jacob Silver. [l. s.] 

The building erected in accordance with the speci- 
fications included in the above document, was finished 



t 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and used in 1841, but not formally accepted until the 
following year. 

In 1851, th» Board of Supervisors took steps to- 
ward the building of the second jail, and appointed 
James Taylor as Commissioner for carrying out their 
plans. The jail was built by him and finished in the 
fall of 1852. It stood upon ground just north of 
the present court house until the present jail was 
built, when it was removed. 

The county officers' building was erected in 1860, by 
Joseph Smith. It was designed to be and is a fire- 
proof structure. 

In 1852, the matter of making systematic and ade- 
quate provision for the poor was first effectually agi- 
tated. Up to this time there had been upon the 
county poor farm in Jefferson Township, bought of 
Asa Kingsbury, only a small log house. Upon the 
12th of October, 18.Jo, the Board of Supervisors re- 
solved " to build a good, sufficient and convenient 
house on the poor farm owned by the county, the ex- 
pense of which should not exceed $1,200." The 
resolution was afterward amended to read §2,000 in 
place of $1,200. Pleasant Norton was appointed 
agent to cause the erection of the building. Upon 
the 7th of January, 1854, the contract for building a 
brick structure was awarded to Lewis Clisbee & Son, 
at $1,795. The work was completed by them in No- 
vember of the same year, under the direction and to 
the satisfaction of W. G. Beckwith and Joshua Lof- 
land, who were appointed as a building committee. 
In 1868, the committee of the Board of Supervisors, 
appointed to examine public buildings, reported that 
the poor house was entirely inadequate for the purpose 
designed, and " an utterly unfit habitation for the 
paupers of the county," and the board recommended 
the raising of $15,000 in three equal annual assess- 
ments for the building of a new house. The matter 
being put to vote before the people, it was found that 
there was an overwhelming popular majority against 
the levying of the special tax. The need of a new 
house, however, was urgent, an<l the Board being ad- 
vised that they had the right to appropriate the sum 
of $1,000 for improvements, resorted to that course 
for securing the desired end. This was the begin- 
ning of the measures which resulted in tiie erection 
of the present fine home of the poor. The house 
was built in 1869 and 1870, by P. W. Silver, of 
Goshen, Ind., who took the contract for $6,300. He 
was subsequently allowed between $1,100 and $1,200 
e.xtra remuneration, and even then lost money upon 
the job. The work was performed under the direc- 
tion of D. M. Howell, James Boyd amd Gideon Gibbs, 
Superintendents of the Poor, who were constituted 
by the Supervisors as a building committee, and they 



deserve great credit for the thorough provisions they 
have made for the unfortunate. In 1871, an additional 
building was erected for the insane. This is called 
the asylum. It is two stories in height, and well 
adapted for the purpose intended. The brick work 
was done by D. W. Smith, of Niles, and almost all of 
the other work by or under the direction of Daniel B. 
Smith, of Cassopolis. Gideon Gibbs was the Super- 
intendant of construction. The asylum, with the other 
improvements and the addition made to the farm, cost 
as much, or perhaps a little more, than the poor house 
built in 1870. The whole outlay, within a period of 
about four years, was not less than $15,000. The 
county has now, upon a good farm of 280 acres, as 
fine accommodations for its pauper and insane popu- 
lation as can be found in any county of equal size 
and wealth in the West. There are but three or 
four finer or more convenient county houses in Michi- 
gan, and those are in counties of much greater popu- 
lation than Cass possesses. 

In 1878-79 was erected the present jail and Sheriffs 
residence, the newest, costliest and best of the public 
buildings in Cass County. The old jail had been 
found an unsafe place for the confinement of criminals 
several years previous to 1877. One report of an ex- 
amining committee stated that " the back door was 
shrunk and could be opened from the outside with a 
shingle." In 1877, the Supervisors spent much time 
in planning the erection of a new building. Upon 
December 14, they appointed William P. Bennett, Jo- 
seph Smith and Charles L. Morton as a committee, and 
authorized them to advertise for bids for building a 
jail in accordance with the plans of T. J. Tolan & 
Son, of Fort Wayne, Ind., which had been accepted. 
On January, 1878, the bids were opened, and that of 
W. H. Myers, of Fort Wayne, for $17,770, was ac- 
cepted. Mr. Myers entered into contract for the per- 
formance of the work and furnishing of materials. 
The erection of the jail was begun in the early spring 
and completed in February, 1879. The building com- 
mittee consisted of C. G. Banks, Charles L. Morton and 
Joseph Smith. Daniel B. Smith was local superin- 
tendent. When completed, the jail was formally 
accepted by the building committee, acting in con- 
junction with H. 11. Bement, J. H. East and R. II. 
Wiley, of the Board of Supervisors. The structure 
is one of the strongest and most substantial to be 
found in the State. 

CIVIL ROSTIOR OF CA.-'S COUNTY. 

Following is a list of the civil officials of Cass County, 
and of men from the county holding at different periods 
State offices: 

State ,?t'»ators— 1846, Alexander 11. Redfield ; 



74 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1852, Jessee G. Beeson; 1854, Jamea Sullivan; 185*^, 
Alonzo Garwood ; 1858, George Meacham ; 1860, Gil- 
man C. Jones ; 1862, Emmons Buell ; 1864, Levi Al- 
drich; 1866, Charles W. Clisbee; 1868, Amos Smith ; 
1870, Uzziel Putnam, Jr.; 1874, Matthew T. Garvey; 
1878, James M. Shepard. 

Representatives — James O'Dell, Joseph Smith; 
1836-38, James O'Dell, William Burk; 1839-40, 
James Newton, Henry Coleman ; 1840-41, Myron 
Strong, George Redfield ; 1841-42, S. F. Anderson ; 
1842-43, S. F. Anderson; 1843-44, James W. 
GrifiBn; 1844—45, James Shaw; 1845-46, James L. 
Glenn ; 1846-47, James L. Glenn, James Shaw ; 
1847-49, George B. Turner, Milo Powell; 1849-50, 
Cyrus Bacon, George B. Turner; 1850-52, George 
Sherwood, William L. Clyborne; 1852-54, E. J. 
Bonine, Pleasant Norton ; 1854-56, Franklin Brow- 
nell, Uriel Enos ; 1856-58, B. W. Schermerhorn, Ed- 
win Sutton; 1858-60, George Newton, E. W. Rey- 
nolds ; 1860-62, Edward H. Jones, Edward Shanahan; 
1862-64, H. B. Denman, Levi Aldrich ; 1864-66, 
Lucius Keeler, Alexander B. Copley; 1866-68, Henry 
B. Wells, Leander D. Osboni; 1868-70, Uzziel Put- 
nam, Jr., James Ashley; 1870-72, Alexander B.Cop- 
ley, John F. Coulter; 1872-74, Alexander Robertson, 
Thomas O'Dell; 1874-76, John Struble, John B. 
Sweetland; 1878, Samuel Johnson, Hiram S. Chap- 
man; 1880, James H. Hitchcox. 

Members of Constitutional Convention — Detroit, 
May 11, 1835, James Newton, James O'Dell, Bald- 
win Jenkins; First Convention of Assent, Ann 
Arbor, September 26, 1836, James Newton, James 
O'Dell ; Second Convention of Assent, Ann Ar- 
bor, December 14, 1836, Edwin N. Bridge, Jacob 
Silver, Joseph Smith, Abiel Silver; Lansing, June 
3, 1850, George Redfield, Mitchell Robinson, James 
Sullivan ; Lansing, May 15, 1867, Levi Aldrich, 
Jacob J. Van Riper. 

Attorney General — 1875-77, Andrew J. Smith. 

State Treasurer — 1845-46, George Redfield. 

Commissioner of State Land Office — February, 
1846-50, Abiel Silver. 

County Court Judges — 1831, Joseph S. Barnard, 
Chief Justice ; William Burke and John Agard, As- 
sociate Justices; 1834, William A. Fletcher, Chief 
Justice ; Abiel Silver and William Burke, Associate 
Justices ; 1846, Joseph N. Chipman, first ; Mitchell 
Robinson, second ; 1849, Ezekiel S. Smith, vice Chip- 
man, resigned ; 1850, Cyrus Bacon, first ; Ezekiel S. 
Smith, second. 

Circuit Court Judges — 1837, Epaphroditus Ran- 
som, Presiding Judge ; James Cavanaugh and Richard 
V. V. Crane, Associate Judges; 1839, Myron Strong, 
vice James Cavanaugh, resigned ; 1841, Epaphroditus 



Ransom, Presiding Judge ; John Barney and Thomas 
T. Glenn, Associate Judges; 1845, Epaphroditus 
Ransom, Chief Justice ; Samuel F. 'Anderson and 
William H. Bacon, Associate Justices ; 1848, Charles 
W. W'^hipple, Circuit Judge ; 1856, Nathaniel Bacon, 
Circuit Judge ; 1864, Perrin W. Smith, Circuit 
Judge; 1866, Nathaniel Bacon, Circuit Judge ; 1870, 
Daniel Blackman, Circuit Judge; 1875, Henry H. 
Coolidge, Circuit Judge ; 1878, Charles W. Clisbee, 
Circuit Judge, vice H. H. Coolidge. resigned ; 1878, 
Andrew J. Smith, present incumbent. 

Judges of Probate — 1831, Elias B. Sherman ; 
1837-40, Horace B. Dunning; 1841-64, Clifford 
Shannahan; 1864-68, Matthew T. Garvey; 1868- 
83, William P. Bennett. 

County Clerks — 1830 (appointed by Governor), 
Joseph L. Jacks ; 1833, Martin C. Whitman ; 1835- 
40, Henley C. Lybrook ; 1840-41, H. B. Dunning; 
1842-43, H. C."^ Lybrook; 1844-49, George Sher- 
wood; 1850-51, William Sears; 1852-55, E. B. 
Warner; 1856-57, Benj. F. Rutter ; 1858-61, 
Charles G. Lewis; 1862-65, Ira Brownell; 1866- 
77, Charles L. Morton ; 1878-82, Joseph R. Edwards. 

Circuit Court Commissioners — 1852, Elias B. Sher- 
man ; 1854, Henry H. Coolidge; 1856, James M. 
Spencer; 1858-60. Charles W. Clisbee; 1862-64, 
Uzziel Putnam, Jr. ; 1866, George Miller ; 1868, 
•Joseph B. Clarke ; 1870, John R. Carr and N. B. 
Hollister; 1872, Joseph B. Clarke and George L. 
Linder ; 1874-78, George Ketcham and Joseph B. 
Clarke ; 1880, George Ketcham and John F. Tryon. 

Prosecuting Attorneys — 1831, Elias B. Sherman; 
1840-42, Ezekiel S. Smith ; 1842-52, James Sulli- 
van ; 1852-54, H. H. Coolidge ; 1854-61, Andrew 
J. Smith ; 1862-64, Charles W. Clisbee ; 1864-68, 
Andrew J. Smith ; 1868-70, George Miller ; 1870- 
72, William G. Howard ; 1872-74, Spafford Tryon ; 
1874-76, Marshall L. Howell: 1876-80, Harsen 
D. Smith ; 1880-82, Joseph B. Clarke. 

Sheriffs— im^-Z'l, George Meacham; 1832-34, 
Henry Fowler ; 1835-36, Eber Root ; 1836-40, M. 
V. Hunter ; 1840-42, Walter G. Beckwith ; 1842- 
44, James L. Glenn ; 1844-46, Walter G. Beckwith ; 
1846-49, Barak Mead; 1850-52, Andrew Wood; 
1852-54, Walter G. Beckwith ; 1854-56, Joseph 
Harper ; 1856-1860, Joseph N. Marshall ; 1860-62, 
B. W. Schermerhorn ; 1862-66, William K. Palmer ; 
1866-70, Zacheus Aldrich ; 1870-72, Levi J. Rey- 
j nolds ; 1872-74, William J. Merwin ; 1874-76, J. 
' Boyd Thomas ; 1877-80, James H. Stamp ; 1881, 
John A. Jones (present incumbent). 

County Commissioners — 1838, David Hopkins, 
Henry Jones, James W. Griffin ; 1840, William Burk, 
James O'Dell ; 1841, William H. Bacon. 



HISTORY OF CASS COTTNTY, MICHIGAN. 



75 



County Treasurers — 1831, Andrew Grubb (appoint- 
ed) ; 1833, Jacob Silver (appointed); 1836, Eber 
Root; 1837, Joseph Harper; 1838, Isaac Sears; 
1839, Joseph Harper; 1840-43, Amos Fuller ; 1843- 
45, Asa Kingsbury ; 1846-49, Joshua Lofland ; 1850 
-51, Henry R. Close; 1852-53, Henry Tietsort; 
1854-57, Jefferson Osborn ; 1858-59, William W. 
Peck ; 1860-61, Ira Brownell ; 1862-65, J. K. Ritter ; 
1866-6l\ Isaac Z. Edwards; 1870-73, Anson L. 
Dunn ; 1874-77, Hiram S. Hadsell ; 1878-82, R. L. 
Vanness. 

Register of Deeds— ism, H. H.Edwards; 1835, 
Alex H. Redfield; 1836-37, William Arrison ; 1838 
-42, Joseph Harper ; 1842-54, David M. Howell ; 
1854-64, Ariel E. Peck ; 1864-67, William L. Jak- 
ways.- 1868-71, Joel Cowgill ; 1872-76, Henry L. 
Barney ; 1876-82, Stephen L. George. 

County Surveyors — 1831, E. B. Sherman ; 1834, 
John Woolman ; 1838, J. C. Saxton ; 1840, Henry 
Walton ; 1842-48, David P. Ward ; 1848-50, Charles 
G. Banks; 1850-54, David P. Ward; 1854-56, 
Amos Smith; 1856-60, Amos Smith; 1860-62, 
H. 0. Banks ; 1862-64, Amos Smith : 1864-70, H. 
0. Banks; 1870-74, John C. Bradt ; 1874-76, Aus- 
tin A. Bramer; 1876-82, Amos Smith. 

County Superintendents of Schools — April 1867, 
Chauncey L. Whitney (elected). He resigned in Oc- 
tober, of the same year, and the vacancy was filled by 
the appointment of Albert H. Gaston, who held the 
office during 1868 ; 1869-70, Irvin Clendenen ; 
1871-72, Lewis R. Rinehart; 1873-74, Samuel 
Johnson. 

County School Examiners — 1881, E. M. Stephen- 
son, Michael Pemberton, Daniel B. Ferris (elected for 
terms of one, two and three years respectively). 



CHAPTEE Vn. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 

Indian Trails— The Chicago Road— The Territorial Legislative Council 
—Fostering Intenial Improvements— Roads Ordered to be Opened 
—Stage Routes— The Old Stage Coach— A Canal or Railroad Pro- 
ject—Railroads. 

EARLY ROADS. 

THE earliest roads in the territory to which this work 
has especial reference were the Indian trails, and 
the chief of these was the Chicago trail, from that 
point to Detroit. It was over this path that for time 
immemorial the tribes of the Northwest had passed 
eastward and returned to their homes. The Sauks, 
the Outagamies and the Winnebagoes coming down 
the western shore of Lake Michigan and rounding its 
head, had for ages traveled this great path. After 
1815, they passed over it annually upon their way to 



Maiden, Canada, where they received their annuities 
from the British. 

Another Indian trail led from the Ottawa villages 
in the region of Little Traverse Bay, southward to 
the place where the city of Grand Rapids now is, and 
thence to the center of the Pottawatomie settlements 
of the St. Joseph. Still another connected these vil- 
lages with the Shiawassee and Saginaw Rivers. Lesser 
trails crossed the country in all directions. 

It was along the great Chicago trail that the Chi- 
cago road was laid out, the first important thorough- 
fare of the whites through Southern Michigan. The 
Indians seemed almost by instinct to select the most 
direct routes that were compatible with the topogra- 
phy of the county, and they always forded the streams 
at the best places of crossing. Hence it was natural 
that the whites when they opened roads should follow 
in their footsteps. 

When the Chicago treaty of 1821 was made, a 
clause was inserted especially stipulating that the 
United States should have the privilege of making 
and using a road through the Indian country from 
Detroit and Fort Wayne, respectively, to Chicago. 

The first of the Congressional acts which led toward 
the construction of the Chicago road was passed April 
30, 1824. It authorized the President of the United 
States " to cause the necessary surveys, plans and 
estimates to be made of the routes of such roads and 
canals as he may deem of national importance in a 
commercial or military point of view, or necessary for 
the transportation of the public mail." 

The sum of $30,000 was appropriated for the 
surveys and the President was authorized to appoint 
two competent engineers. 

The route from Detroit to Chicago was one of those 
which the Executive " deemed of national impor- 
tance," and the sura of $10,000 was set apart from the 
appropriation for the survey. 

In 1825, work was commenced at the eastern end 
of the road. The surveyor began on the plan of run- 
ning on nearly straight lines, but had progressed only 
a few miles when he came to the conclusion that if he 
carried out his original intention, the money apor- 
tioned for the work would be exhausted long before 
he could reach the western terminus. He then re- 
solved to follow the old path of the Sauks and Foxes, 
and in fact did so to the end. The road was never 
straightened, and the thousands of white men who 
have traveled over it have turned at every angle 
and bend of the ancient trail. The flagmen were 
sent in advance as far as they could be seen, the bear- 
ings taken by the compass and the distance chained and 
marked. The trees were blazed fifty feet on each sideof 
the trails, the requirement being that the road should 



76 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



measure one hundred feet in width. It was surveyed 
through Cass County in 1832, by Daniel G. Garnsey. 
The road was not worked through St. Joseph, Cass 
and Berrien Counties by the Government until after 
the Sauk or Black Hawk war. Immigrants made 
such improvements as they found necessary, and the 
stage companies worked the road sufBciently to get 
their coaches through, and built some bridges. In 
1833, the Government made thorough work of build- 
ing the road through Branch County, and in 1834, 
through St. Joseph and Cass Counties. It was 
grubbed out and leveled for a width of thirty feet, 
and the timber was cut away on each side. The 
first bridge over the St. Joseph was built in 1834, at 
Mottville, which crossing was designated as " the 
Grand Traverse." 

The Chicago road enters Cass County opposite 
Mottville, follows a generally southwesterly course 
through South Porter, and nearly reaches the Indiana 
line in Mason Township. It thence follows a north- 
westerly direction through Adamsville to Edwards- 
burg, and from the latter point passes southwesterly 
to the county line, and thence to Bertrand. Five 
and a half miles west of the second crossing of the St. 
Joseph River it crosses the State line into Indiana. 

This road was the great thoroughfare from East to 
West until about 1850, when its usefulness was super- 
seded by the railroads. It still remains as originally 
laid, but is only used for local travel. 

From the year 1829 (when Cass County was 
erected) until Michigan became a State, the Territorial 
Legislative Council seduously fostered internal im- 
provements. Acts authorizing the laying-out of roads 
and appointing Commissioners to superintend the 
work were passed at every session, and sometimes 
this business equaled in importance as well as bulk 
all other legislation. 

By act approved July 30, 1830, authority was 
granted for the laying-out of a road " commencing 
where the township road laid out by the Commis- 
sioners of Ontwa Township, Cass County, from Pleas- 
ant Lake, in a direction to Pulaski, in Indiana, inter- 
sects the southern boundary line between the Terri- 
tory of Michigan and the State of Indiana ; thence 
on the road laid out as aforesaid until it intersects the 
Chicago road a few rods west of the post office, near 
the house of Ezra Beardsley, running thence on the 
most eligible and practicable route to the entrance of 
the St. Joseph River into Lake Michigan." George 
Meacham, John Bogart and Squire Thompson were 
the Commissioners appointed to lay out and establish 
this road. 

By act of the Council in June, 1832, another Ter- 
ritorial road was authorized which was to pass through 



Cass County, viz., a road " commencing at the 
county seat of Branch County, running westerly on 
the most direct and eligible route through the seats of 
justice of St. Joseph and Cass Counties to the mouth 
of the St. Joseph River." The Commissioners ap- 
pointed to lay out the road were Squire Thompson, 
C. K. Green and Alexander H. Redfield, Esq. 

During the same season, an act was passed author- 
izing the establishment of a road from White Pigeon 
by Prairie Ronde and Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, 
and E. B. Sherman, Isaac N. Hurd and John S. Barry 
(afterward Governor of the State), were appointed as 
Commissioners to lay it out. 

During the season of 1833, in March and April, 
the Council passed a large number of acts directing 
the making of roads. Among those authorized we 
find the following wholly or part in Cass County : 

" A road from Adamsville, on the most direct and 
eligible route, to the Paw Paw River, at or near the 
center of Van Buren County." Sterling Adams, 
Charles Jones and Lyman J. Daniels were appointed 
Commissioners. 

George Meacham, Elijah Lacey and Fowler Preston 
were appointed Commissioners to lay out a road from 
Edwardsburg, through the village of Niles, to the 
mouth of the. St. Joseph River, in Berrien County. 

An act passed March 7, 1834, appointed Henry 
H. Fowler, John Woolman and Hart L. Stewart as 
Commissioners to lay out a road from Mottville 
through Cass and Berrien Counties to the mouth of 
the St. Joseph River. 

Authority was given by an act passed January 30, 
1835, for the laying out of a road from Jacksonburg 
through Cassopolis to the mouth of the St. Joseph, 
James Cowen, Michael Beedle and D. McCauley 
being appointed Commissioners. The same act ap- 
pointed James Newton, Henry Jones and Elijah 
Lacey to lay out a road from Cassopolis to Galien 
River. The work of improvement (by act), went on 
under the authority of the State very much as it had 
under the Territory. The first Legislature author- 
ized the establishment of a very large number of roads, 
among which the following were ordered to be laid 
out, wholly or in part, in Cass County. 

"A State road from Edwardsburg, via Cassopolis, 
Volinia and Paw Paw Mills, to Allegan, in Allegan 
County," for which David Crane, Jacob Silver and 
John L. Sherer were appointed Commissioners. 

"A road from Schoolcraft, in Kalamazoo County, 
to the village of St. Joseph, in Berrien County. For 
this road Alexander Copley, Nathaniel M. Thomas 
and Albert E. Bull were appointed Commissioners. 

The following roads were authorized, by act ap- 
proved July 26, 1886 : 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MlCIIKiAN. 



A State road " from French's Tavern, on the Chi- 
cago road, at the crossing of Prairie River, to Con- 
stantino, in St. Joseph County ; thence to Cassopolis, 
crossing the river at Bucic's Tavern, and from thence 
to the mouth of the St. Joseph River." Thomas 
Langley, George Buck and E. B. Sherman, Com- 
missioners. 

A road "from Constantine, in St. Joseph County, 
through Berrien to New Buffalo Village." Wessel 
VVhittaker, R. E. Ward and Thomas Charlton, Com- 
missioners. 

A road from Constantine to Niles. William F. 
House, H. W. Griswold and Robert S. GriflSn, Com- 
missioners. 

A road " from Centerville, in St. Joseph County, 
through Cassopolis and through Berrien, to the 
entrance of Galien River into Lake Michigan." H. 
L. Stewart, John Withenmyer and E. P. Sanger, 
Commissioners. 

A road " from Constantine, in St. Joseph County, 
to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by the most 
direct and eligible route." William F. House, James 
Odell and Moody Emerson, Commissioners. 

By act of March 17, 1837, the following, among 
many other roads, were authorized : 

A State road from Whitmanville to the State 
road, at or near Bainbridge. Charles J. Martin, M. 
C. Whitman, John P. Davis and Jehiel Enos, Com- 
missioners. 

A State road from Whitmanville to St. Joseph, 
Eleazer Morton, John Wolver and E. H. Spaulding, 
Commissioners. 

A road from Cassopolis, through Berrien to New 
Buffalo. Abiel Silver, Isaac Sumner and Pitt Brown, 
Commissioners. 

On the 16th of February, 1838, an act was passed 
authorizing the laying out of a State road from Niles 
to Kalamazoo. This »oad passed through Wayne and 
Pokagon Townships of Cass County. 

April 1, 1840, an act was passed authorizing the 
establishment of " a road commencing at some point 
at or near the north bank of the River St. Joseph, in 
the vicinity of the village of St. Joseph, thence run- 
ning in an easterly direction, on the most eligible 
route, to the village of La Grange, formerly called 
Whitmanville, in Cass County." L. L. Johnson, 
Morgan Enos and Jacob Allen were appointed Com- 
missioners. An act appropriating 3,000 acres of the 
internal improvement lands of the State for the pur- 
pose of opening and improving this road was ap" 
proved by the Legislature March 28, 1848. Seven 
tliousand acres of the internal improvement lands of 
the State were appropriated by act of April 3, 184^ 
for opening and improving the State road from Con- 



stantine, in St. Joseph County, to Paw Paw, in Van 
Buren County. 

To "lay out and establish" a road, and to open 
and improve a road were two very different things. A 
number of those authorized by the Territorial and 
State Legislature were never made passable for 
vehicles, and some were never opened at all — other 
roads which better suited the convenience of the pub- 
lic being made in their stead. 

A mania for plank roads originated about 1848, 
and a very large number of companies were incor- 
porated in the State within the next few years. The 
only one in Cass County of which we have any 
knowledge was known as the Niles and Mottville 
Company. It was incorporated March 22, 1849, and 
empowered to construct a plank road between Niles 
and Mottville, by way of Edwardsburg, Adamsville 
or Cassopolis. The persons named to receive sub- 
scriptions were James L. Glenn, H. P. Mather, J. 
M. Finley, H. B. Hoffman, Nathaniel Bacon, George 
Meacham, Ezra Hatch, Moses Joy, Hiram HoUibard, 
Orrin E. Thompson, H. Follett and Norman Sage. 
The capital stock authorized was $100,000. The 
company built only about five miles of road between 
Niles and Edwardsburg, which was used until nearly 
worn out. 

STAGE ROUTES. 

Although the Chicago road did not pass through 
Niles, a branch was established from Edwardsburg to 
that place at a very early day, and much of the travel 
went that way. 

The first stage coaches in Cass County passed 
through in the year 1830 upon the Chicago road and 
the above mentioned branch. The line was established 
by Col. Alamanson Huston, and connected Niles with 
Detroit. Messrs. Jones & Savery, of White Pigeon, 
continued to operate it until 1832, when travel was 
suspended on account of the Sauk war. It took about 
seven days to make the journey from Niles to Detroit. 
At first, two stages went over the road each week, but 
trips were made tri-weekly before the cessation of the 
business in 1832. 

In 1833, Benjamin B. Kercheval, DeGarmo Jones 
andMaj. Robert Forsythe, of Detroit, and Joseph W. 
Brown,of Tecumseh, established a line of stages between 
Detroit and Chicago. The route was from Detroit via 
Ypsilanti. Jonesville, Coldwater River, White Pigeon, 
Edwardsburg and Niles. Teams were changed about 
every twelve miles. In 1834, Messrs. Saltmarsh, 
Overton and Boardman purchased an interest in the 
line, and the concern was known as " the Western 
Stage Company." It was soon afterward divided in- 
to sections, that extending from Jonesville to Chicago 
being placed under the superintendency of Maj. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAiN. 



William Graves, who located at Niles in June, 
1835. 

In the spring of this year, immigration having very 
largely increased and there being many land speculat- 
ors travelling through the country, it was found that 
daily stages were demanded. They were almost inva- 
riably crowded, and the company was compelled to put 
on a double line before the season was over. Even 
then the agents were sometimes obliged to hire extra 
teams and common wagons in which to convey pas- 
sengers. The most desirable seats in the stages were 
frequently sold at a heavy premium by speculators. 
The stage companies upon this direct through line to 
Chicago were very liberally patronized and grew rich. 
They flourished finely until the iron horse and the 
railroad coach surpassed the "Concord." 

In 1836, what was known as "the Territorial road," 
was surveyed through Van Buren County, a line 
of stages was put on it by John Allen, and the busi- 
ness was subsequently carried on by other parties. 

When the Michigan Central Railroad was pushed 
westward across the State, the stage business began to 
decline, but it was continued as long as there was a 
gap between the iron rail and Lake Michigan to be 
filled. When the road was built as far as Marshall, 
stages were run from there to Kalamazoo and thence 
to St. Joseph and New Buffalo. The line to the latter 
place passed through the northwest part of Cass Coun- 
ty. It was operated by D. Humphrey & Co., and one 
of the noted drivers was Ransom Dopp, of Wayne 
Township. 

The stage coach in use in Michigan during the pio- 
neer days and until a generation ago, was the "Con- 
cord," probably so named from Concord, N. H., where 
the pattern was originated. They cost from $200 to 

poo. 

A REMINISCENCE OF THE STAGE. 

The following reminiscence by an old settler con- 
veys a good idea of the stage coach and of stage travel 
in Michigan in the "olden time:" 

" The old stage coach was the fastest and best 
public conveyance by land forty-five years ago. Its 
route was along the main post roads ; and although a 
third of a century has elapsed since steam was har- 
nessed to the flying car, and the whistle of the loco- 
motive usurped the place of the echoing stage-horn 
that heralded the coming of ' tlie four-wheeled 
wonder,' bearing the mail with the traveling public 
and their baggage, yet along the byways and more 
secluded portions of our country, the old stage coach, 
the venerated relic of our past, is still the speediest 
mode of travel, and the stage-horn yet gives notice of 
its approach. Thus in this direction and in many 
others we carry the past with us. 



" As one makes a pilgrimage, in imagination, along 
the old stage-route, the spirit of the past seems to 
start into life and clothes every object he meets with 
an additional charm, bringing back the old associations 
' withdrawn afar' and mellowed by the light of other 
days. 

" Reader, you can fancy this ancient vehicle — a 
black painted and deck- roofed hulk — starting out 
from Detroit, with its load of passengers, swinging 
on its thorough-braces, attached to the fore and hind 
axles, and crowded to its fullest capacity. There was 
a boot, projecting three or four feet behind, for luggage ; 
an iron railing ran around the top of the coach where 
extra baggage or passengers were stowed as occasion 
required. The driver occupied a high seat in front ; 
under his feet was a place for his traps and the mail ; 
on each side of his seat was a lamp firmly fixed, to 
light his way by night ; inside of the coach were three 
seats which would accommodate nine passengers. You 
can imagine the stage-coach thus loaded, starting out 
at the "'get ape" of the driver, as he cracks his whip 
over the heads of the leaders, when all four horses 
spring to their work, and away goes the lumbering 
vehicle, soon lost to sight in the woods, struggling 
along the road, lurching from side to side into deep 
ruts and often into deeper mud holes. 

" For bringing people to a common level and mak- 
ing them acquainted with each other and tolerant of 
each other's opinions, give me the old stage-coach on 
the pioneer road. You can ride all day by the side 
of a man in a railway car and he will not deign to 
speak to you. But in the old coach, silence found a 
tongue and unsociability a voice ; common want 
made them companions and common hardships made 
them friends. 

" Probably this was the only place where the Demo- 
crat and Old-Line Whig ever were in quiet juxtaposition 
with that acrid, angular, intens^y earnest and cordially 
hated ms^naiWeA ah Abolitionist. Spurned and tabooed 
as an agitator, fanatic and disturber of the public 
peace by both the old parties, his presence was as 
much spurned and despised as were his political prin- 
ciples. But this man, thus hated, was found ' cheek 
by jowl,' with Democrat and Whig in the old stage. 
Who shall say that these old politicians, sitting face 
to face with a common enemy, and compelled to listen 
to 'Abolition doctrines,' were not benefited by it? 
Perhaps this was the leaven cast into the Democracy 
and Whiggery of the past, that finally leavened the 
whole lump. 

" When the roads were very bad, the ' mud- 
wagon,' on thorough-braces, drawn by two horses, 
was substituted for the regular coach. The verb trot 
was obsolete at such times, but the verb spatter was 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



conjugated in all its moods and tenses. The wagon, 
the horses, the driver and the passengers could testify 
to this, for they were often covered with 'free soil.' 
The driver sitting high up on the front, was monarch 
of the road. Everything that could must get out of 
his way. If there was any opposition he had only to 
slap his hand on the mail bag and say ' Uncle Sam 
don't want this little satchel detained.' And thus 
on they go. 

" The driver, as he nears a tavern, post office 
at the roadside, or village, whips out the tin horn 
from its sheath at his side, and sends forth a succes- 
sion of pealing notes, that wake the slumbering echoes, 
which reverberate and die away in the distant arcades 
of the forest. The tavern or village, catching the 
first note of the horn, is immediately awake. All are 
on the qui vine to witness the ' coming in' of the 
stage with its load of passengers, and to hear the news 
from the outer world, contained in the old pad-locked 
leathern mail-bag. The stage-coach of forty-five years 
ago was an important institution. Its coming was 
always an interesting event. It had all the enchant- 
ments about it that distance lends. The settlement 
or village hailed its advent as a ship returning from 
a long cruise bringing relatives, friends and news 
from a foreign land. It linked the woodland villages 
with each other, and kept them all in communication 
with the outside world." 

CANAL OR RAILROAD PROJECT. 

A meeting was held at Edwardsburg on February 
2, 1836. to consider the project of constructing a 
canal from Constantine to Niles. A majority of those 
present favored the idea of a railroad rather than a 
canal, and the result was that the friends of the 
enterprise secured the passage of an act by the 
Legislature (March 26, 1836), incorporating the Con- 
stantine and Niles Canal or Railroad Company 
with a capital stock fixed at $250;000. The com- 
pany was empowered to construct either a canal 
or railroad between the termini mentioned in its name 
and charter. The first Directors were William Meek, 
George W. Hoffman, Wells T. House, Watson Sum- 
ner, John G. Cathcart, Edward N. Bridge, J. C. 
Lanman, Jacob Beeson and Vincent L. Bradford. It 
is possible that a survey was made of the proposed 
line of the canal or railroad, but it is certain that no 
action was taken beyond that step, and the financial 
crash of 1837, with its following period of depression, 
put an end to the project. There were no further 
attempts to build railroads or to open canals in this 
part of the State for a number of years, but several 
other abortive efforts were made simultaneously with 
that above described. 



RAILROADS. 

And now the iron trail traverses the country where 
little more than a half century since there was naught 
but the Indian path, and where within the memory of 
men not old, the lumbering stage coach was the most 
rapid medium of transportation. 

A few brief notes upon the history of the three 
lines of railroad which cross Cass County will not, we 
think, be without interest in this chapter. 

The first railroad in Cass County or Southeastern 
Michigan was the Michigan Central. As early as 
1832, the Territorial Council took steps toward the 
building of a railroad in Michigan, and upon the 29th 
of June, passed an act incorporating the Detroit & 
St. Joseph Railroad Company. The company organ- 
ized under this the first official movement toward 
railroad construction was the ancestor of the present 
corporation, the Michigan Central Railroad Company. 
The company was authorized to build a single or 
double railroad from Detroit to St. Joseph by way of 
the village of Ypsilanti, and the county seats of Wash- 
tenaw, Jackson, Calhoun and Kalamazoo Counties, 
and to run cars on the same " by the force of steam, 
of animals, of any mechanical or other force, or of 
any combination of these forces;" was bound to 
begin work within two years from the passage of 
the act, to build thirty miles of track within six years, 
to complete half of the road within fifteen years, and 
to finish the whole of it within thirty years under 
penalty of the forfeiture of its franchises. 

The route was surveyed by Lieut. Berrien, of the 
regular army, and some work was done upon it near 
the eastern terminus to secure the franchise of the 
company. Before the six years had expired in which 
it was prescribed that thirty miles of road should be 
built, new and important official action was taken. 
Immediately after the admission of Michigan as one 
of the States of the Union, upon the 20th of March, 
1837, an act of the Legislature was approved by the 
Governor, providing for the construction of three rail- 
roads by the State government across the whole 
breadth of its territory, to be called the Northern, 
Central and Southern Railroads. The Central was 
to run from Detroit to the mouth of the St. Joseph. 
The act also provided for the purchase of the rights 
and property of companies already established, 
and especially tiiose of tlie Detroit & St. Joseph Com- 
pany. The sum of $.')50,000 was appropriated for 
the survey and making of the three roads, $400,000 
of which was set apart for the Central. By anotlier 
act passed March 21, 1837, the Legislature authorized 
a loan of $5,000,000. With the money obtained 
from this and other sources, the Commissioners of 
Internal Improvements proceeded with the construe- 



80 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tion of the Central and Southern Uailroads. Owing 
to the very slow method of carrying on the work in 
that pioneer era of railroads, the Central was not 
built to Kalamazoo until 1846. Upon March 28, 
1846, an act was passed by the Legislature which 
provided for an entire change of system in railroad 
building. A body corporate by the name of the 
Michigan Central Railroad Company was established. 
It was authorized to purchase and the State agreed to 
sell all of its interest in the Central Railroad for f 2,- 
000,000. The franchise of the company required it 
to follow substantially the route originally decided 
upon, but instead of specifying that the mouth of the 
St. Joseph should be the western terminus, allowed 
the company to build from Kalamazoo " to some point 
in the State of Michigan on or near Lake Michigan 
which shall be accessible to steamboats on said lake, 
and thence to some point on the southern boundary 
line of Michigan," the men who composed the com- 
pany insisting on the latter provision in order that 
they might have a choice of destination. As soon as 
the company had made its payment and taken posses- 
sion of the road it determined to take the nearest route 
by which communication with Chicago could be pro- 
cured, and began surveying a route to New Buffalo, 
running through the northwest part of Cass County. 
This route was adopted, laborers employed and the 
work pushed forward at a rate of speed which for the 
time was remarkable. It was finished to Niles Octo- 
ber 7, 1848, and to New Buffalo in the spring of the 
following year. In the winter of 1851-52, the road 
was opened to Michigan City, and in the spring of 
of 1852 completed to Chicago. Since that time the 
business of the Michigan Central has steadily increased, 
and it has long been recognized as one of the princi- 
pal lines in the West. 

The Michigan Southern was originally intended to 
pass through the southern part of the county, and the 
same act which provided for the construction of the 
Central authorized its building, but the route was 
subsequently so changed as to run through Northern 
Indiana. 

The Air Line Railroad was built to open to traffic 
a fertile region through the counties of Cass, St. 
Joseph, Calhoun and Jackson, and to form a more 
direct line from Jackson to Niles than the Central 
furnished. It was opened to travel to Homer in the 
summer of 181 0, to Three Rivers in the autumn of the 
same year, and to Niles in February, 1871. The 
iron was laid to Cassopolis November 28, 1870. The 
first regular passenger train commenced running on 
the road January 16, 1871. The Air Line was built 
chiefly by parties living along the route. The road 
is now leased and operated by the Michigan Central. 



The Grand Trunk Railroad was constructed through 
Cass County about the same time as the Air Line. 
The amount of subscriptions and donations of right of 
way in the county amounted to about $100,000. To 
S. T. Read, of Cassopolis, is doubtless due the credit 
of having brought the line through Cassopolis. He 
took an active interest in the building of the road, and 
contributed liberally to the enterprise in money and 
time. Iron was laid to Cassopolis February 9, 1871, 
and regular trains East were run for the first time in 
June of the same year. The road was completed to 
Valparaiso, Ind., in 1871. The origin of the Grand 
Trunk dates back to June 30, 1847, when the Port 
Huron k Lake Michigan Railroad Company was 
chartered to construct a railroad from Port Huron to 
some point on Lake Michigan, at or near the mouth 
of Grand River. 

In 1855, the Port Huron & Milwaukee Rail- 
road Company was chartered, and not long after 
amalgamated with the first-named organization. The 
Peninsular Railroad Company was chartered October 
3, 1865, for the construction of a railroad between 
Lansing and Battle Creek, and January 3, 1868, the 
Peninsular Railroad Extension Company was char- 
tered for the extension of the line from Battle Creek 
to the Indiana State line, and the two companies were 
consolidated into a corporation as the Peninsular 
Railway Company, February 17, 1868. After numer- 
ous other consolidations and changes, the present or- 
ganization was consummated in April, 1880, under 
the name of the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway 
Company. The length of the line froin Port Huron 
to Chicago is 330.40 miles. 



CHAPTER Xni. 

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL. 

Charicter ot T'ioneer Preachers— Karl y Olergymeii of Different De- 
nmniiiations in Cass County— Sketches ot Adam Miller, John 
Byrns, Elder Jacob I'rice, Justus Gage and Others— ISishop Phi- 
lander Chiise— Collins, " the Boy Preacher "—Educational Interests 
ot the County— School Laws— Inoorporatlou ot an Academy— Pres- 
ent Method ot School Supervision— County Superintendents- 
County School Examiners. 

FROM an interesting and valuable paper on the 
" Pioneer Clergy,"* by Hon. George B. Tur- 
ner, we extract the following paragraphs upon the 
character of those avant-couriers of Christianity, who 
were known to the early settlers of Southwestern 
Michigan : 

" It is to be regretted that in the history of the 
early settlement of Southern Michigan so few facts 

» 1\w article was publistied iu the Cassopolis Nalional Democrat February S. 
1874. Several selections fr.>in it are iiicorpiratod in this chapter— in fact, all of 
the matter which appears in quotation marks, the authorship of which is not 
otherwise indicated. 




F(EV:JAC0B PRICE. 




f^E'/.ADAj^ Ml LLEf^. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



81 



have been preserved in relation to the efforts of the 
clergy of that period. As a class, none contributed 
more toward opening up the far West, as Michigan 
was called so late as 1837 — none did more toward 
spreading civilization and knowledge — toward sowing 
the seed of practical religion and nursing the early 
plants as they sprang up under their ministrations, 
until churches were organized, Sunday schools 
started, theological institutions founded, and a better 
civilization had taken the place of what they found 
among the hardy backwoodsmen of this new country. 

" The pionear clergy, with a self-sacrificing spirit j 
worthy of the earlier days of Christianity, plunged 
into the wilderness, Bible and hymn-book in hand ; 
sometimes astride a horse with saddle bags containing 
but a single change of raiment — oftener on foot, with 
a bundle of clothes thrown over his shoulder on a 
stick, he made his way from one settlement to another 
along deer paths or Indian trails, to preach the word ' 
of life to the rough frontiersman and their fiimilies. ' 
Wherever the white man penetrated the wilds of an | 
American forest, not far behind him followed the dar- 
ing Methodist circuit rider, the pains-taking and in- 
defatigable Baptist, or the stately and dignified Pres- 
byterian. If pulpit oratory, in those days, had less 
of the polish of modern times in it, certainly it had, 
as a general thing, more of the spirit of the great 
Master in it. The early preacher may have lacked , 
somewhat of the book learning of the present day, 
but he more than made up for it by an earnest, per- 
sistent, undoubting faith in the divine Word, and in 
his own mission to preach that Word to dying men 
and women. He seldom failed to impress upon his j 
hearers that hearty, enthusiastic love for the Re- 
deemer, or that dread of His retributive justice, which 
he seemed to feel and speak and act in this new and 
wild theater of action. He may at times have ap- 
peared severely personal — sometimes intolerant and 
even coarse in the demonstration of the Word ; but, it 
must be remembered, he lived and preached at a time 
and under circumstances when a faithful, fearless 
denunciation of sin in all its forms was regarded as 
the highest possible qualification for a minister of the 
Gospel. 

" Most of the pioneer preachers were young men — 
some mere youths who had been sent into this new 
region to cultivate a ministerial talent, preparatory to 
engagement in other and more refined fields of labor. 
So far as the Methodist Church of Michigan is con- 
cerned, its ablest and best men have been through 
this backwoods probation. For example, many years 
ago, there came into the circuit two mere boys, El- 
dred and Collins. Both became eminent men. The ] 
latter, before his death, bid fair to reach the highest 



position in the church — the former now holds high 
rank in it. To write the history of Methodism in 
Michigan, with either of these names left out, would 
simply be to give to the world a broken and unsatis- 
factory view of the church in Michigan, its power 
and extent." 

The earliest minister of the Gospel in Cass County, 
concerning whom we have any authoritative informa- 
tion, was the Rev. Adam Miller, a Baptist, who 
settled in Ontwa Township in 1830. Several Method- 
ist circuit riders had preached in the county prior to 
this time. Adam Miller was born in Pennsylvania 
in the year 1781. At the age of twenty-three, he 
married Sarah Prior, and settled as a farmer in the 
neighborhood of his birthplace. About the same time, 
he began to preach, but with what success is not 
known. In 1815, he emigrated to Franklin County, 
Ohio, where he labored in his chosen fields, temporal 
and spiritual, until the year 1880, when he removed 
to Michigan. Many persons now living can remem- 
ber the emigrant wagon of fifty years ago — its heavy, 
unsightly, comfortless make-up, its roof of tent-cloth 
supported on hickory bows, its interior crow-ded with 
bundles of bedding, clothes, boxes of edibles, babies, 
boys and girls, pots, kettles, etc., etc. The wagon, 
with its heavy load, was drawn by one, two or three 
yoke of oxen. In one of these cumberous vehicles 
Elder Miller and his family made the journey from 
Ohio to Southwestern Michigan, crossing the great 
Black Swamp, and following a tortuous trail through 
the heavy forest. The passage through the swamp 
in the spring was anything but a pleasure trip. Many 
stories have been told of it which would not read well 
in the biography of a minister. After a wearisome 
journey of from three to four weeks' duration, Elder 
Miller and family reached the northwest part of 
Beardsley's Prairie, near Edwardsburg, where they 
found three cabins and a few settlers. The preacher 
bought eighty acres of land of a Mr. Coan, or Coon, 
which he immediately proceeded to plow and plant. 
Soon afterward, he entered quite a large tract of land, 
adjoining his original purchase, and lying partly in 
Michigan and partly in Indiana. Elder Miller's 
time was divided between farming and preaching. 
Laboring at agriculture through the week, he saddled 
his horse Saturday night, or early upon Sunday, and 
traveled often many miles to fill preaching appoint- 
ments, usually following Indian trails, .and occasionally 
the primitive roads cut through the woods by the 
white settlers. His first sermon in the vicinity of 
Brownsville. Calvin Township, was preached under a 
burr-oak tree. The congregation was not a large one, 
but it is safe to say that not many in the surrounding 
country, who had heard of the appointment, remained 



HIST()RY OF CASS COtNTY, MICHIGAN. 



away. Religious meetings were very frequently held 
in the open air, but the settlers proffered the use of 
their humble homes when the weather was such as to 
forbid out-door gatherings. The field of Elder Mil 
ler's labors included Cass and Berrien Counties, and 
the counties of St- Joseph and Elkhart in Indiana. 
His simple, zealous style of preaching, and his per- 
sonal persuasion, led many to embrace Christianity. 
Among his earliest converts was an Indian, whose 
name is not now remembered. He was a very earnest 
adherent of the faith, and died in its enjoyment. The 
pioneer preacher was present at his deathbed. The 
Indian arose, and, with his eyes and arras raised 
heavenward, exclaimed as if addressing a spiritual 
personage made visible to him, " Come, Jesus ; " then, 
sinking back upon the couch, peacefully expired. 

It is said Elder Miller organized, or assisted in 
organizing. Liberty Church, two and a half miles 
south of Cassopolis ; also the Baptist Churches at 
Edwardsburg, Niles, Mishawaka (Ind.), and a number 
of others. Elder Miller had an education of only the 
merest rudimentary character in his early days, and 
whatever of usefulness characterized his after life was 
the result of self-improvement, native ability and force 
of character, combined with goodness of heart, deep 
sense of duty, and untiring zeal. He was a fair type 
of the pioneer minister of the Gospel. He was a 
man of genial temperament, and was full of kindness 
and sympathy for all mankind. Notwithstanding the 
fact that he had a large family, several poor boys, at 
different periods, found homes under his roof, and his 
ienevolence was exhibited in various deeds. He sup- 
ported himself upon the proceeds of his farm ; never 
received a salary during his fifty years' service in 
the cause of religion, and very rarely accepted a 
donation. He perceived at an early day the impro- 
priety of a minister of the Gospel using intoxicating 
liquors as a beverage in his family. He said that he 
wanted none of his boys to become drunkards through 
his influence, and poured out his stock of whisky as 
a libation to the earth. His wife anticipated diflS- 
culty in getting the neighbors to assist in raising a 
barn the following week, if they learned that liquor 
was not to be served. They were notified on being 
invited to " the raising " that the usual custom would 
not be observed, but turned out notwithstanding, and 
the barn was raised in as good shape as if the jug of 
stimulating spirits had been present. Rev. Adam 
Miller was rather singularly the seventh son of a 
seventh son, and himself the father of seven sons. 
He was twice married. His sons were John P., 
Anthony, Samuel, David, Adam, Jacob and Henry. 
Three of them, Anthony, Samuel and David, are 
ordained ministers ; two or three others are occasional 



exhorters, and all church members. His daughters 
were, by his first wife, Sarah ; by his second, Mary, 
Margaret, Elizabeth and Eliza, three of whom — Sarah, 
Elizabeth and Eliza — are now living. A grand- 
daughter, Mrs. Sarah K. Owen, resides in Cassopo- 
lis. A few years before his death. Elder Miller re- 
moved from Cass County and settled a few miles from 
Mishawaka, Ind., where he died August 27, 1854. 

In 18.32, the county was visited by a pioneer of 
Episcopalianism who was no less a character than 
Bishop Philander Chase. He came out from Ohio 
with Bazaleel Wells, of Steubenville, who wished to 
make a visit to his sons in Kalamazoo County. The 
Bishop bought land in Branch County and made a 
temporary home there, to which, because of the pro- 
ductiveness of the land he gave the name of " Gilead." 
In his published "Reminiscences," Bishop Chase gives 
the following description of Southwestern Michigan 
as it was when he first saw it : " The whole region 
of the St. Joseph, embracing one hundred miles square 
and more, never till now had an Episcopal minister 
to ofiiciate in it. All was waste in regard to the 
primitive Protestant Church. Wherever the writer 
went, he invaded no man's diocese, parish or labors. 
In and throughout this country a circuit of duty was 
planned to be fulfilled in that and coming years. This 
embraced Niles. South Bend, Beardsley's Prairie or 
Edwardsburg, Cassopolis. White Pigeon, Mongoquinon, 
English Prairie and Coldwater, besides other places 
afterward erected — Constantineand Centerville. Some 
of these appertained to Michigan and some to 
Indiana." 

Bishop Chase married the first couple ever joined 
in the bonds of wedlock at the county seat of Cass, 
upon New Year's Day, 183-3, and performed the first 
religious services in the village afterward. 

An incident of some local interest is related as oc- 
curring in Cass County when the Bishop was on his 
way with his family to Illinois, in 1836 : " At 
Edwardsburg they were the guests of Abiel Silver. 
The Bishop's favorite horse, Cincinnatus, well along 
in years, got quite lame, and he resorted to the fol- 
lowing expedient to return him to his farm in 
" Gilead." He tied a small piece of board to his 
neck, upon which there was written, ' My name is 
Cincinnatus; I belong to P. Cha.«e, Gilead, now 
Bishop of Illinois; I am 18 years old and somewhat 
lame. Let me pass on to Gilead, where I shall be taken 
care of through the winter as a reward for my past 
services.' It is needless to say the old horse reached 
his destination and was well taken care of during the 
winter." Much of Bishop Chase's life was spent in 
the West, and he exerted a large influence in Chris- 
tianizing it. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



83 



Elder Jacob Price, one of the foremost pioneers of 
the Baptist faith, came to Cass County in 1833. 
Probably no minister who has lived in the county was 
more widely known or generally loved. He was 
brought to Michigan through the instrumentality of 
Martin C. Whitman, a merchant of Whitmanville [ 
(La Grange), who made his acquaintance in the city 
of New York in the summer of 1833. He arrived in 
Detroit on the 1st of September, and two Sundays 
later preached at Whitmanville, where he had taken 
up his residence. He next preached at Geneva (on 
the banks of Diamond Lake), and upon the 27th of ' 
September at South Bend. While returning from 
that place, his wife was taken sick with a form of fever I 
common to the new country, from which she died, 
October 19. Elder Price resided at Whitmanville 
about three years, preaching regularly there, at Ed- 
wardsburg, and at Bertrand (Berrien County), as well 
as filling occasional appointments in all parts of Cass 
County. In 1836, he came to Edwardsburg, where i 
ho lived until 1842, when he took up his residence at | 
Cassopolis, which place he made his home until his | 
death, which occurred August 8, 1871 — a period of ' 
twenty-nine years. He was, during the whole period ' 
of his residence in Cass County, zealously engaged in | 
propagating the seed of Christian faith, and probably 
delivered more sermons than any other minister of 
the Gospel who ever had a residence in the county. 
He officiated at a very large number of funerals and 
weddings during his ministry, being sent for from all 
parts of the region around his home. Rev. Jacob 
Price was of Welsh nativity, being born in South 
Wales March 28, 179Q, and was the son of a Deacon 
in the Baptist Church. He married his first wife. 
Miss Ann Price, an English lady, in 1830, and sailed 
from England to New York in 1831. Until he re- 
moved to Michigan, he was pastor of the Second Bap- 
tist Church of Brooklyn. His second wife, whom he 
married in 1836 and who still survives, was Miss 
Sarah Bennett. 

His children were: By his first wife, Anna, now 
Mrs. Carmichael, of Benton Harbor. By his second 
wife, Sarah and Ellen, residents in Cassopolis; Mary 
(Fletcher), now in Chautauqua County, N. Y.; Carrie 
(Mrs. Orson Rudd) recently removed to Dakota; 
Judson, in Kansas; and Alfred, at present a Professor 
in Central University, of Pella, Iowa. 

Mr. Turner says of Elder Price : •' Perhaps no 
clergyman who ever ministered to our people was 
more universally and thoroughly known to them at the 
time of his death or more generally beloved, than this 
truly good man. * * * He was not what would 
be called a great preacher; that is, one of those 
possessed of the marvelous power to stir up at will 



the emotional in men and women, and promote wide- 
spread revivals. But in one sense he was a great 
man. His humble life, his uniform goodness of heart, 
his unvarying piety, which, taught every day, as well 
by example as by precept, endeared him to our people, 
and stamped him as a Christian of extraordinary 
purity of character. In that sense, he was a great 
man — a profound preacher." 

A beautiful monument in the Cassopolis Cemetery, 
reared to the memory of Elder Price through the 
contributions of hundreds of citizens of the county, 
will bear testimony for centuries to the esteem in 
which he was held. 

Universalism was preached in Cassopolis in the 
year 1836, by the Rev. George R. Brown, and he was 
the first settled pastor of any denomination in the 
county seat. 

The Rev. Justus Gage who died in Dowagiac on the 
21st of January, 1875, was, however, the best known 
clergyman of the Universalis! faith in the county, 
and has been commonly regarded as its pioneer 
preacher. He settled in Wayne Township in 1837, 
coming from New York, in which State, the county 
of Madison and village of De Ruyter, he was born on 
tiie 13th of March, 1805. He became a Universal- 
ist in 1822, and was soon after licensed to preach. 
Until declining health forbade, he continued to exer- 
cise his high calling. He was the organizer of the 
Dowagiac Universalist Church, which enjoyed his 
ministry for many years, and has been a flourishing 
society. Mr. Gage was a man of much public spirit, 
and took a deep interest in educational matters and 
various secular subjects as well as religious. He was 
prominently identified in the organization and build- 
ing up of the County Agricultural Society, and for 
eight years was a member of the State Board of 
Agriculture. 

Another early preacher of Universalism in this 
county was the Rev. J. P. Averill. " He was re- 
garded as a young man of much promise, and during 
his short career in this vicinity made many warm 
friends. His early death deprived the church of a 
strong pillar and society of a genial, warm-hearted 
gentleman." 

Among the early Methodist ministers of note who 
resided for a long term of years in the county, 
were "Father" McCool and Rev. John Byrns, both 
of whom settled in Pokagon. Of the first named, Mr. 
Turner writes : "He was a man of large frame, of 
strong native ability, and possessed a fair amount of 
book-learning. As a preacher, he was not of the 
sympathetic order. He rather held up the pains and 
penalty of a violated law, and thundered anathemas 
upon the heads of obdurate sinners ; and among that 



84 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



class in which fear of a hereafter was the main in- j 
centive to religious life, he was unusually successful. | 
Combativeness was a strong element in his character. 
He never, so far as I knew, declined a discussion with 
one of another denomination. His meetings in the 
early days of his ministry were remarkably orderly. 
If bis intellectual forces were not sufficient to reduce 
the refractory young men to order, his physical forces { 
were, and when he did bring them into action, woe 
was it to the luckless sinner who felt his strong hand 
grasp him. Not long since (1874), this really good 
and useful man passed to his reward." i 

A man of quite different character in many essen- 
tials is the Rev. John Byrns, who settled in Pokagon 
in 1837. He is a native of Ireland ; was born in • 
1816, and came with his parents to America when he 
was six years of age. Prior to his emigration to 
Michigan, he resided in Syracuse, N. Y. In 
1840, he was converted, joined the Methodist Church, 
and it was not long thereafter that he was licensed to 
exhort. In 1841, he was licensed to preach. Since i 
that time, he has devoted himself unselfishly to the 
church, and been very active in its service. Few men 
have done more for the advancement of Methodism in 
Southwestern Michigan than Mr. Byrns. He never 
joined the Conference, but has been appointed to and ' 
has filled numerous circuits, and when not so em- j 
ployed has had charges nearer home. He has main- ' 
tained himself by industrious farming, and his labors > 
for the church have been performed through the most 
strenuous extra exertions. He has often been obliged 
to travel from fifty to seventy-five miles upon horse- 
back at the end of the week, besides doing his regular 
work upon the farm. 

Collins, " the Boy Preacher" (afterward in the front 
rank of Methodist divines) and the impression he pro- 
duced in Cassopolis, in the fall of 1839, are described 
by Mr. Turner, in his paper on "The Pioneer Clergy," 
very happily : 

"I naturally looked toward the speaker's stand. 
There, occupying his chair, sat a youth, who seemed 
to be eighteen or nineteen years of age, yet he was 
probably several years older than his looks indicated. 
He was of good size, well proportioned, with a full, 
fresh beardless face and flaxen hair. His garments, 
which were of some dark gray material, seemed, in 
every way, too small for him, and evidently made him 
feel uncomfortable, for I noticed him occasionally try j 
to lengthen out his pants by thrusting his thumbs just 
inside of the pockets and pushing down on them. 
Then he would pull at the bottom of his vest, so as to 
close up the open space between it and the waist-band 
of his pani,s. Now and then he would catch, with his 
fingers, the lower end of his coat sleeve and pull it | 



down, in order to cover much of the wrist left exposed 
by the extreme scantiness of the cloth. While sitting 
there, his eyes, the most of the time, were cast down 
to the floor, but occasionally he would raise them for 
a moment, and take a glance at the congregation, as 
if to take in its character and capacity, then let them 
fall again. 

" The time for service had come. He slowly raised 
to his feet, and, in a tremulous, indistinct manner, 
read a hymn, which having been sung, he knelt down 
and made a brief but certainly not a powerful, prayer. 
Then rising to his feet, he gave out his text, which 
may be found in the first epistle general of John — 
' God is love.' 

" Up to this time, he had not made a very favorable 
impression upon bis audience. Indeed, some of the 
old campaigners of the church began to hang their 
heads, feeling that Methodism would suffer in the 
hands of the ' Boy Preacher.' His manner, his read- 
ing, his prayer all fell short of what was expected of 
one sent to take charge of so large and important a 
field of labor as Cass Circuit." 

" My sympathies, however, were strongly enlisted 
in his favor from the first. He was young and inex- 
perienced. He must begin his career somewhere. The 
Conference, no doubt, regarded our circuit as a new 
field, comparatively, and eminently fit ground for a 
young theologian to practice in. Then, as now, the 
most matured talent of the church was thrown into 
the cities and larger villages. But, notwithstanding 
all the drawbacks that the ' boy ' had to contend with, 
I felt, if there was any truth in physiognomy, he had 
within him the germs of a noble manhood — the indices 
of a great mind. If he had disappointed his hearers 
in the preliminary exercises of the morning, his slow, 
hesitating words and awkward gestures at the opening 
of his discourse, bid fair to intensify that feeling be- 
fore its close. Yet, as he stumbled along, there was 
something in his honest face, something in his clear, 
blue eyes, that gradually attracted and fixed the at- 
tention of his audience. It was a kind of magnetic 
influence, such as some of our best public speakers 
possess and often wield to control the masses on great 
and important occasions. 

" By degrees the embarrassment under which he 
labored wore off; his language and gestures im- 
proved ; his Methodist friends began to look up 
again, and hope at least that he would not disgrace 
them. His slow, broken utterances gave way to a 
stronger, better-connected and clearer train of thought. 
His eyes, which had before sought the floor, now 
looked confidently up, and his countenance beamed 
with an intelligence so grandly good as to rivet the 
attention of every one who could see and hear him. 



IIISTOliV OK (WSS COUNTY. MICIIK! AN. 



85 



The transformation from the uncouth, inexperienced, 
stammering boy to the convincing, powerful minister 
of God's word was now complete." * * * * 

" Concluding his discourse by a brief exhortation, 
Brother Collins sat down, and for a time all was 
wonderfully still in the house. That he had made a 
decidedly favorable impression was clearly apparent. 
A satisfied and pleased expression lit up the faces of 
many, especially of church members. Others, un- 
usually sympathetic in their feelings, wept freely ; 
and not a few seemed thoughtful and solemn. * * 

" From that day we kept the young brother in 
view. With each succeeding year, he grew in impor- 
tance among the Methodists of Michigan and the 
public generally. His acknowledged ability placed 
him in the front rank of his denomination. He be- 
came a leader ; honors upon honors were showered 
upon him, and had his life been spared, the crowning 
one of them all in the church militant would have 
been his — a Bishopric." 

Presbyterian ism had among its leading early ex- 
ponents the Rev. Mr. Bryant, and the Rev. Mr. 
McClaren — " both eminent for piety, learning and 
ability. Perhaps none who preceeded them, and cer- 
tainly none who came after them, exercised so great 
an influence for good in the church as these pioneers. 
They were industrious and earnest in their advocacy 
of the cause they had espoused." 

Roman Catholicism was first preached in Cass 
County to the Pottawatomie Indians. The Chief, 
Pokagon, and his followers, built a small log church 
in Silver Creek Township, on the north bank of Long 
Lake, in 1838. The first priest who regularly visited 
them was the Rev. De Salle, who came from the Col- 
lege of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind.* 

EDUCATIONAL.f 

The ordinance of 1787 for the government of the 
Northwest Territory contained the declaration that 
" schools and the means of education shall forever be 
encouraged." An ordinance for the sale of Western 
lands, passed by Congress in 1785, provided that Sec- 
tion 16 in every township should be reserved for the 
use of schools, and that wise and beneficent measure 
has been re-enacted and enforced by subsequent legis- 
lation — the acts for the sale of lands in the Indiana 
Territory, for the organization of Michigan Territory, 
and the ordinance admitting the State of Michigan 
into the Union. The original and the present consti- 
tutions of the State required that the proceeds of 
these lands should remain a perpetual fund for the 

»The intercnting history of tho Silver Croek Catholic Church is given at 
UiiKth In the chapter devoti-il to the townnhlp. 

fli^iliicalionnl niiittera are here treated only in a eenernl way — as per* 
tjiining to tho county an a whole. Detailed hiatorieM of the principal achoola of 
tho connty appear in their appropriate placm In liila work. 



purpose originally designed. The measure was sub- 
sequently modified to the advantage of the State as 
a whole.* 

The success of the sciiool system of the State is 
very largely due to the foresight and wise manage- 
ment of its organizers. Educational interests have 
nowhere in the Union received more attention or been 
more enhanced by the people than in Michigan. School- 
houses everywhere dot the landscape. The cities and 
villages have vied with each other in erecting the best 
school edifices, and it is no rare thing to see in towns 
of one, two or three thousand population schoolhouses 
admirable in architecture and arrangement, which 
have cost ten, twenty or thirty thousand dollars. 

In 1827 was enacted the first Territorial school law. 
This law ordained that the citizens of any township 
having fifty householders should employ a school- 
master of good morals to teach the children to read 
and write, and that the citizens of any township hav- 
ing two hundred householders should secure the 
services of a schoolmaster competent to teach Latin, 
French and English. The townships which neglected 
to observe this law were liable to the payment of a 
fine of not less than $50 or more than $150. 

This law gave place to another in 1833, which re- 
enacted many of its leading provisions and placed the 
school lands which had formerly been under the super- 
vision of the Governor and Legislative Council, un- 
der the management of three Commissioners and 
ten Inspectors. The oflSce of Superintendent of Com- 
mon Schools was also created. 

In 1837, a primary school law was enacted by the 
State Legislature. This law, which was almost identical 
with that of New York, provided for the division of 
the State into districts, each containing a sufficient 
number of inhabitants to support a school with a 
single teacher. The districts were divided and sub- 
divided as the population increased. 

The union or graded schools followed by a natural 
process of growth, and these liave been constantly 
developed until at present they are the glory of the 
State. 

During the later years of the Territorial and the 
early years of the State government, there was a pop- 
ular rage for the establishment of academies. Charters 
were secured for their organization in almost every 
county in Southern Michigan. As a matter of course, 
many of them never progre.ssed beyond 'the stage of 
incorporation. 

An act of the Territorial Legislative Council, ap- 
proved April 19, 1833, incorporated the Cass County 
Academy. The corporators were Baldwin Jenkins, 
William Burke, Isaac Shurte, Jacob Silver, Martin 

* See (ante thin volume) chapter on landn. 



86 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Shields, Abiel Silver, Alexander H. Redfield, Demster 
Beatty and Elias B. Sherman. The charter granted 
to the corporators the privilege of building an acad- 
emy in Cassopolis, and stipulated that the amount 
of property owned by the incorporation should not 
exceed in value §20,000. No action was taken to- 
ward carrying out the objects for which this corpora- 
tion was made. 

As the common schools were developed, it was uni- 
versally recognized that they would supply very 
nearly the same kind of education which the acade- 
mies were designed to afford. There are now in the 
State about three hundred graded schools doing the 
work of academies. Each of these has a board of six 
Trustees, two of whom are elected annually for a term 
of three years. 

General supervision of the work of education in the 
State is exercised by the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction. 

Local supervision has, during most of the years of 
Michigan's history, been exercised by township or 
village officers chosen for the purpose. 

The schools first came under county management 
in 1867, through the operation of a law passed at the 
session of the Legislature for 1866-67. This was 
entitled "An act to provide for County Superintend- 
ents of Schools." It prescribed the election of a 
County Superintendent in every organized county of 
the State having more than ten school districts. It 
was provided that the Superintendent should be 
elected for a term of two years, and that the first elec- 
tion should be held on the first Monday of April, 1867. 
The compensation was to be decided by the Board of 
Supervisors. The duties of the County School Su- 
perintendent were explicitly defined. Among others 
were those of examining all persons ofi"ering them- 
selves as teachers, attendance in each township at 
least once a year, the issuance of certificates of three 
grades to those applicants passing examinations, and 
the visitation of every school in the county. He was 
also required to examine into the condition of school 
buildings, suggest plans for new or repairs on old ones, 
and to advance the interest in and efficiency of instruc- 
tion by the holding of institutes, delivery of lectures 
and other means in his power. 

The first County Superintendent of Schools elected 
in Cass County was Chauney L. Whitney, elected 
April 1, 1867. He resigned the position in the fall 
of the same year, and the Rev. Albert H. Gaston was, 
upon October 22, appointed by Orimel Hosford, State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, to fill the va- 
cancy. In 1869, Irvin Clendenen was elected, and 
in 1871 Lewis P. Rinehart. Samuel Johnson was 
chosen in 1873, and filled the office until 1875, when 



it was abolished. From 1875 to 1881, public instruc- 
tion was managed by township authorities. 

In 1881, the examination of teachers and other 
details of the supervision of educational interests was 
vested in a County Board, provided for in each county 
of the State by act of the Legislature. The board, 
it was specified, should be composed of three persons 
elected by the chairmen of the Township Boards of 
School Inspectors. In accordance with statutory pro- 
vision, a meeting was held at Cassopolis upon the 12th 
of August. At this meeting E. M. Stephenson was 
elected to serve for a term of one year, Michael Pem- 
berton for two years and Daniel B. Ferris for three 
years. Mr. Stephenson was subsequently chosen 
Secretary and Michael Pemberton Chairman of the 
Board. 



CHAPTER XIY. 

THE BAR OF CASS COUNTY. 

Alexander H. Kedfleld— Elias B. Shennaa— Old Time Non -Resident 
Lawyei-s Sketched by one who knew Them—" Black Chip " 
and " White Chip"— Biographical Sketch of James Sullivan— 
Ezekiel S. Smith— Henry H. Coolidge— Clifford Shanahan— Daniel 
Blacknian— George B. Turner— Andrew J. Smith— Younger At- 
torneys who have Practiced at the Cass County Bar. 

THE first lawyers in the county were Alexander 
H. Redfield and Elias B. Sherman. They were 
associated together in the proprietorship of Cassopolis? 
and it was principally through their influence that it 
was designated the county seat. 

Alexander H. Redfield was the seventh son of 
Peleg Redfield, and was born in Manchester, Ontario 
Co., N. Y., October 24. 1805. He studied three 
years at Hamilton College, Clinton, N. T., but 
graduated from Union College, Schenectady, in 1829. 
He studied law with James R. and Grove Lawrence and 
with Hon. Samuel Hammond, and was admitted to 
practice in the Supreme Court of New York in July, 
1831. In August of the same year, he came to Cass 
County. After assisting in laying out Cassopolis and 
securing the location of the seat of justice, he for 
many years made the village his home. He assisted 
in raising the first frame building in the town and 
was appointed the first Postmaster. In 1832. as a 
Colonel in the Michigan militia, during the Sauk or 
Black Hawk war, he went to Northern Illinois and 
for many days encamped on the site of Chicago. 
During his residence in Cassopolis, he not only prac- 
ticed law but carried on a very extensive miscella- 
neous business, of which, however, land speculation 
formed the greater part. His office was the brick 
building, still standing upon Broadway, in Cassopolis, 
next door to Capt. Joseph Harper's residence. Mr. 
Redfield was a man of very methodical business and 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



87 



professional habits. It is related by his friends that he 
could, in the darkest night, go to his oiSce and select 
any book or package of papers he desired with abso- 
lute certainty. He was noted for his love of order. 
A cotemporary says that his chief excellence as a 
lawyer consisted of his thorough knowledge of the 
routine of office business. He was an able and safe 
counselor, but did not possess remarkable oratorical ; 
talent. His social qualities marked him as a thor- 
ough gentleman and made him a most genial com- 
panion. There was much of quiet humor in his 
composition, and a uniformity of good nature, which, 
with his rare mental characteristics, made him very ' 
popular as man and friend. His integrity was un- 
questioned, and he therefore possessed the almostuni- 
versal respect of the people among whom he dwelt. | 
Those persons who entertained for him any other feel- 
ings than those of friendship, admiration and respect, 
were very few, and their coldness was, almost without 
exception, of the kind that must arise occasionally 
from political differences. Mr. Redfield's large land 
business withdrew his attention more and more, as 
time went by, from the law, and interfered materially 
with his professional success. He also entered the 
field of politics, which claimed and received much of 
his time and energy. In 1847, he was elected State 
Senator from the Fourteenth District, and not long 
afterward moved to Detroit. An able and useful 
man was thus lost to Cass County. In 1856, he was 
elected to the State Senate from Detroit. Prior to 
this time, he served several years as one of the Re- 
gents of the State University. In 1857, he received 
from the President a commission appointing him as an 
agent among the Indians of the Upper Missouri. In 
this capacity, Mr. Redfield's services were responsible, 
arduous, and, to the Government, very valuable. Dur- 
ing the several years that he held the position, he 
made a number of expeditions through the region oc- 
cupied by the tribes to whose charge he had been as- 
signed, which included the head-waters of the Yellow- 
stone and the Missouri, and held councils with thou- 
sands of the Indians, perfecting some beneficent meas- 
ures. In one journey he traveled 7,000 miles. On 
the expiration of his term of service as Indian Agent, 
he returned to Detroit and was soon afterward ap- 
pointed as Comptroller of the city, which office he 
held until failing health compelled him to resign it. 
He died November 24, 1869. It has been said that 
in every public trust imposed upon him, he gave en- 
lire satisfaction, and that of all the vast sums of pub- 
lic money disbursed by him, every penny was faith- 
fully accounted for. Mr. Redfield married, in 1842, 
Miss Phebe C. Dean. Their children, four in num- 
ber, were all born in Cassapolis. 



Eiias B. Sherman was born in Oneida County, N. 
Y., in 1803, removed with his parents to Cayuga 
County when four years of age, and there acquired his 
education. In 1825, he emigrated to Michigan, and 
after spending a season at Detroit went to Ann 
Arbor, where he was admitted to the bar in 1829. In 
September of that year, he first visited Cass County. 
In 1831, he took the leading part in the laying-out of 
the village of Cassopolis, and in securing the seat of 
justice, the story of which is told in the appropriate 
place in this volume. Messrs. Sherman and Red- 
field appeared in the first court held in the county. 
Mr. Sherman was appointed by Gov. Cass, November 
7, 1829, as the first Prosecuting Attorney of the 
county, and held the position until 1836, when he 

I was elected by the people. He was appointed Dis- 
trict Surveyor July 31, 1830, and held that office for 
six years. On March 4, 1831, he received appoint- 
ment to the office of Probate Judge, in which he 
remained until 1840. Mr. Sherman never had an 
extensive law practice. His time, during the earlier 
years of the history of the county, was devoted very 
largely to his official duties, and in later years he 
directed his attention entirely to farming. He has 
done much for the benefit of the village which he 
founded and for the county at large. Mr. Sherman 
was married to Sarah, daughter of Jacob Silver, on 
January 1, 1833, by Bishop Philander Chase, of the 
Episcopal Church, the ceremony being the first cele- 
brated in Cassopolis. 

What we may call strictly the Cass County bar, 
was very small during the first ten or twelve years 
after settlement and the organization of the courts. 
Several of the old attorneys of adjoining counties who 

I practiced in the Cass court?, owing to the small num- 
ber of the resident lawyers, have been very nicely 
sketched from memory by the Hon. George B. 
Turner : 

" First, there were the two Chipmans — familiarly 
called " White Chip " and " Black Chip." Our im- 
pression is they were in no way related. The former, 
a resident of this county, was, we believe, a native of 
New England ; tall and straight as an arrow ; to a 
stranger he st-emed rather pompous and distant in his 

1 demeanor, yet he was as companionable and good- 

I hearted as any attorney it was our lot to meet. 

" He was regarded as a fair lawyer and an honest 
one. At one time he was a member of the State 
Senate from our district, and was afterward elected 
County Judge for Cass County. So far as we can 
recollect, he gave general satisfaction in both posi- 
tions." 

["White Chip," Joseph N. Chipman above de- 
scribed, had only a short residence in Cass County, 



HISTORY OF (^ASS COUNTY, MICHK^AN. 



and lived most of the time in Niles. He was born in 
Vermont in 1803, and descended from a family in 
which were same of the most distinguished lawyers in 
that State. He settled in Niles in 1836, and died 
there in the year 1870.] 

" John S. Chipman (" Black Chip"), of Berrien 
County, was, we think, a native of the State of New 
York. Like his namesake, he was tall and com- 
manding in person, but unlike him had raven black 
hair and eyes to match, and a facial development gen- 
erally, which rendered him always a terror to weak- 
kneed and timid witnesses. Mr. Chipman was regarded 
by many as one of the ablest lawyers in this judicial 
district, though we never believed him to be as deeply 
learned in the law as some others. He was a bold, 
impulsive and at all times an eloquent speaker ; pos- 
sessing a rich, full voice over which he had perfect con- 
trol. More than once have we heard him use it with 
decided effect, either to build up or demolish the char- 
acter of witnesses or suitor. His eloquence after all 
partook more of the ' spread eagle' character than 
of that fascinating kind, which, while it electrifies, 
impresses one thoroughly with the speaker's deep and 
scholarly attainments. He was never a favorite with 
the younger members of the bar, in consequence of 
his brusque manner of dealing with them. Toward 
witnesses, he was at times abusive ; but take him all 
in all he was a good lawyer. Elected to Congress 
from this district, he made a speech soon after reach- 
ing Washington, and, to use his own language 
' planted himself on the ramparts of the Constitution' 
and doubtless would have remained there had not a 
wicked and mischievous Southern gentleman reached 
up and pulled all of the feathers out of his wings so 
that he came fluttering down to the level of his fellow- 
members. His morals were bad in several respects ; 
finally he went to California and, report says, died there 
an inebriate. With all his faults, John S. Chipman 
possessed many qualities, which his intimate personal 
friends might havo-eolitrolled to his great advantage 
— to his final redemption from the principal evils 
which beset him — had they chosen to exert their power 
over him in that direction." 

Charles Dana, who practiced much in this county 
during early years, was a resident of Berrien, and died 
at Niles many years ago. Mr. Turner has made the 
subjoined pen sketch of him : " He was a thin, dried 
up little man, with a remarkable feminine voice, but 
by all odds the best special pleader at the bar. Every- 
body liked Dana both for his goodness of heart and 
his unquestioned ability as a lawyer. In chancery 
practice, where plethoric bills or answers were to be 
drawn up or their framework dissected, he was per- 
fectly at home. As a speaker, he was dry and un- 



interesting to the masses, yet at the same time was a 
close, sharp, logical reasoner. He ranked among the 
first lawyers of the State." 

.Vincent L. Bradford was another practitioner well- 
known in Cass County. He settled in Niles in 1837, 
and did not remain very long in the West, but re- 
turned to Philadelphia from whence he had emigrated 
to Michigan. The rough and ready manners of the 
majority of the law practitioners of the new county 
and the social habits of the people were not tasteful to 
him. Mr. Turner considers him to have been one of 
the finest specimens of physical manhood he ever saw, 
and describes him as " always dressed with scrupulous 
neatness, each particular hair, pleat and rufile being in 
its proper place. Withal, he was refined, sociable, 
gentlemanly, to an eminent degree. As a lawyer, he 
was thoroughly posted ; as a speaker, rapid and easy; 
yet we cannot say he was always interesting ; on the 
contrary, somewhat tiresome ; his argument was 
usually spread over too much ground." 

" Charles E. Stuart," says the writer we have 
above quoted, "or 'Little Charley,' as his ardent 
country admirers used to call him, was a native of the 
Empire State, and in their estimation held the first 
position at the bar of Kalamazoo and its adjoining 
counties. As a jury lawyer, he was certainly very 
successful ; for nearly all of the elements which go to 
make an attorney invincible before such a body, he 
possessed to a rare degree. Cool and self-possessed, 
with language smooth and insinuating, accompanied 
with an air of sincerity, and with a certain dignified 
and polished manner, which well-trained rhetoricians 
know so well how to bring to bear upon their hearei'S, 
his speeches always pleased and interested ; exer- 
cising strong common sense, a pretty accurate knowl- 
edge of the law, as well as human nature, we have the 
key to Mr. Stuart's success as a lawyer." He repre- 
sented this district in Congress at one time, and 
later was United States Senator from Michigan. 

Samuel Clark, also of Kalamazoo County, a mem- 
ber of Congress from New York State before he set- 
tled in Michigan, " was regarded by many as the peer 
of Mr. Stuart at the bar, though differing from him 
in more respects than one. He was tall, rather slen- 
derly built, with black hair and eyes, always sustaining 
himself with a quiet, honest dignity of manner and 
speech, which won for him hosts of friends wherever 
he went. He was in truth a sound lawyer ; not really 
brilliant before a jury, but he possesseil the happy fac- 
ulty of convincing that body that he was honest in 
the advocacy of his client's cause, and had the law and 
the facts on his sidle to sustain him. We would not 
detract one iota from the solid or brilliant acquire- 
ments of any other member of the bar, when we say 




^^^^cz^^^^/^^^i 




HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



that Samuel Clark was our beau ideal of the gentle- 
man and lawyer combined." 

At a later day many other attorneys, not residents 
of the county, have practiced in its courts, among the 
earlier of whom were James Brown and Nathaniel 
Bacon, of Niles, and Henry H. Riley, of St. Joseph 
County. In later years, the principal practitioner at 
the Cass bar, not residing in the county, was Frank- 
lin Muzzy, of Niles, who was admitted to the bar in 
Berrien County in 1842. 

The name of James Sullivan recalls to the minds 
of those who knew him, a character in which was 
combined rare qualities of the mind and heart. In 
every sense of the word, except the chronological, he 
was unquestionably the first lawyer of the Cass 
County bar. James Sullivan, practitioner at this bar 
from 1838 to 1878, was born in Exeter, N. H , 
December 6, 1811. His ancestry was illustrious. 
Darcey McGee, in his history of the Irish settlers of 
North America, says : " In the year 1723, the Irish 
settlement of Belfast was established in Maine by a 
few families. Among them was a Limerick school- 
master by the name of Sullivan." His sons, John 
and James reached the height of civil and military 
authority. James was a Representative in Congress 
and Governor of Massachusetts ; John (the grand- 
father of our subject), was the noted Gen. Sullivan, 
of the Revolution, was a Representative in Congress 
from New Hampshire, and Governor of the State from 
1786 to 1789. His son, George, was for many years 
one of the most eminent members of the New Hamp- 
shire bar. Attorney General and successively member 
of the State Senate and of Congress. James Sulli- 
van had the fineness and the force of his fathers. It 
was not strange that with such an ancestry he should 
himself achieve eminence. He graduated from Dart- 
mouth College at the age of eighteen, ranking high 
in his class, and after practicing for a short time at 
Concord, N. H., he came in 1837 to Niles. He re- 
moved soon after to Edwardsburg, Cass County, and 
from there in less than a year to Cassopolis, where he 
achieved great success. 

In 18.53, he took up his residence in Dowagiac, 
where he resided until his death. His ability as a 
lawyer was of the highest order. He was a man of 
fine scholarship, of culture, and possessed a remark- 
ably clear and logical mind. He comprehended fully 
whatever subject he was considering, and seemed to 
recognize from the first the point upon which a case 
must ultimately turn. One of his brother members 
of the law says : " His statements were clear and his 
language accurate, and we can all say his logic was 
honest. He would not usurp or misrepresent the law, 
and he scorned the use of any trick or chicanery to 



achieve a temporary triumph, and despised any one 
who would stoop to it." Another says : "That mag- 
netic fire of eloquence which sways the minds and 
hearts and passions of men, despite their reason and in 
defiance of logic, Mr. Sullivan did not possess ; or, 
certainly if he did, disdained to employ it. His elo- 
quence was of the higher and purer type, and was 
addressed to the intellect alone. His was a close-knit, 
logical, skillful and vigorous statement, displayed in 
apt and nervous language." 

In moral character, Mr. Sullivan was all that the 
allusions to his professional honor would imply. He 
was unsuspecting, frank, his nature as guileless as that 
of a child. Some slight errors of conduct indeed ap- 
peared, but they could always be imputed to the nerv- 
ous impulses of his nature, rather than to any wrong 
intention. No man was ever more ready than he, 
when convinced of error, to make ample acknowl- 
edgement and reparation. He was eccentric and 
erratic, nervous and intense, and yet no man of gen- 
tler nature or kinder heart has been known to the old 
residents of Cass County. His nervousness was phe- 
nomenal, a source of much annoyance to himself, 
wonder to strangers and often of amusement to his 
friends. He seemed to have an instinctive dislike 
and distrust of all animals, and his morbid fear of 
riding behind a horse was often illustrated. The 
least irregularity in the gait of the animal, any slight 
and unusual motion of the head or ears, would 
throw him into a state of painful uneasiness, and 
sometimes a shying movement of the horse would 
cause him to leap from the carriage. An unfortunate 
deafness caused him also considerable trouble, and 
was a disadvantage which undoubtedly had a marked 
effect upon his life. It is probable that had it not 
been for this physical disability, the highest judicial 
honors in the State would have been his. His in- 
firmities did not disqualify him for the ordinary duties 
of his profession, but they contributed in no small 
degree to prevent his acceptance of positions which 
he could have well filled. 

Mr. Sullivan was for a long time Prosecuting At- 
torney of this county ; was a State Senator and 
a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850. 
While that body was in session he made a speech 
upon the Grand Jury system, which at the time was 
regarded as a master-piece of eloquence and logic, and 
gave evidence of the most profound study. He died 
in August, 1878. 

John T. Adams came to the county about 1835, 
and settled at Edwardsburg. He had a small practice 
during his brief residence in the county. In 1836, 
he was elected Probate Judge, but did not qualify for 
the oflSce. We have no biographical facts concerning 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Mr. Adams, and about the only thing which old resi- 
dents remember concerning him is that he was a 
remarkably fine looking man. 

Frederick Lord was a resident of the county for a 
short time prior to 1839. in which year he removed 
to Van Buren County, and settled at Paw Paw. 

In the year 1839, a young man named Masters, 
from Albany, N. Y., became a practitioner at the 
Cass bar, but he soon disappeared, moving probably 
to the farther West. 

Ezekiel S. Smith came to the county in 1840, with 
a commission from Gov. Woodbridge as Prosecuting 
Attorney. After his term was served out, he prac- 
ticed law more or less, until about 1852, when he 
removed to Chicago, where he died in 1880. While 
here he followed successively the occupations of 
editor and merchant, as well as that of the lawyer, 
and found time to " take a hand in politics." As a 
lawyer, he is described as having been energetic, almost 
without parallel, in getting evidence, but not so good 
in the management of his cases in court. He was 
bold and aggressive, but lacked ability as a logician. 
Mr. Smith was fertile in resources ; would take hold 
of almost any project, and was always well provided 
with great plans for the future. He is said to have 
been a man of very fine appearance. 

Judge Henry H. Coolidge, now of Niles, resided in 
Cass County for a term of about fifteen years, and 
has practiced at the Cass bar and presided over its 
court since his removal. He was born at Leominster, 
Mass., in August, 1811, and educated at Amherst 
College. He came to Michigan and settled at Ed- 
wardsburg in 1836. He was admitted to the bar in 
1844, elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1850, and 
removed to Niles in 1859. He was elected Prosecut- 
ing Attorney for Berrien County in 1862, and a 
delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1867. 
In 1872, he was appointed as Circuit Court Judge to 
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge 
Daniel Blackman. and in 1876 was elected to the 
same office, which he resigned about two years later. 
His son, Orville W., who was admitted to the bar in 
Cass County in 1865, now resides at Niles. 

George Brunt Turner, of Cassopolis, was one of 
the earliest resident practitioners at this bar. He 
was born in Franklin County, N. Y., March 1, 1822. 
and was the youngest son of Ralph and Mary 
(Thompson) Brunt, natives of the North of Ireland, 
who had emigrated to America a short time before his 
birth. When the subject of our sketch was three 
years old, both of his parents died of malarial fever, 
and he was adopted by Sterling A. Turner, a Virginian, 
taking the name of his benefactor. He was educated 
in the public schools of New York until thirteen 



years of age. In 1835, Sterling A. Turner emigrated 
to Michigan, and as he passed through Detroit he 
found a place for his adopted son in an auction and 
commission house. Mr. Turner settled in Niles, to 
which place George B. followed him, and, in July, 
1836, they removed to Cassopolis. In this place, 
which, as it proved, was to be his permanent home, 
the lad was occupied for the first four years, or until 
1840, in attending school, teaching and clerking. 
During the next four years, he studied law in the 
office of Alexander H. Redfield, Esq., and was admit- 
ted to the bar September 27, 1844, before Judge 
Epaphroditus Ransom, the Examining Committee 
being Ezekiel S. Smith, James Sullivan and Alexan- 
der H. Redfield. In the meantime, he had by the 
aid of his preceptor and other gentlemen, who had 
taken an interest in him, acquired a knowledge of the 
higher mathematics and the languages, and pursued a 
systematic course of reading in history, acting under 
the advice of Nathaniel (afterward Judge) Bacon. 
He had also practiced in the justice courts, and thus 
obtained not only a valuable experience, but some 
remuneration. An event which occurred upon the 
day he was admitted to the bar serves to illustrate one 
phase of Mr. Turner's character, and in a certain 
degree the state of society at that time. He had not 
long before stabbed with a pocket knife and danger- 
ously wounded a notorious bully who had made an 
unprovoked assault upon him to revenge a spite, Mr. 
Turner having made efibrts to force the payment of a 
debt owed by the bully, which had been given to him 
for collection. The Sheriff who arrested him became 
his bondsman, and every member of the bar present 
at the term of court volunteered his services free of 
charge in his defense. There were several counts 
in the indictment, the first being assault with intent to 
kill and murder, and another, simple assault. Mr. 
Turner was acquitted of the more serious charge and 
found guilty upon the smaller offense. Public opin- 
ion was in favor of his entire acquittal, and the jury 
would doubtless have so decided had there not been a 
couple of Quakers in the body whose strong non-com- 
bative principles urged them to bestow a slight repri- 
mand. The same Judge before whom Mr. Turner 
was admitted to the bar heard the trial for murder and 
imposed the lightest fine allowed by law for assault. 
The incident was used against him by Mr. Turner's 
political opponents, when he was a candidate for 
the Legislature in 1848, but as a campaign gun it 
proved ineffectual. He was elected and served so 
satisfactorily that he was returned in 1849. In 1850, 
he was compelled to abandon his profession by reason 
of ill health, and removed to a farm in Jefferson Town- 
ship. In 1856, he was nominated upon the Demo- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



91 



cratic ticket for State Senator, but the Republican 
party organized that year swept the State, and Mr. 
Turner, like others of his party, was defeated. Mr. 
Turner has been active in the affairs of his party, and 
a man always trusted and very frequently honored by ! 
it. Twice he has been a camlidate for the office of 
Probate Judge, and once for that of Prosecuting j 
Attorney. He was nominated for Secretary of State 
in 1866; was Presidential Elector on the Seymour 
ticket in 1868, and, in May, 1876, was a delegate to 
the National Democratic Convention at St. Louis, 
which nominated Samuel J. Tilden for the Presidency. 
Had he been a Republican he might have been " 
advanced to distinguished positions, but he has pre- 
ferred to be loyal to his political convictions at the 
price of losing honored public place, and has enjoyed 
private life in a degree which, perhaps, only one man 
in a hundred is qualified for. Mr. Turner was for 
several years editor of the first paper published in 
Cass County — the Cass County Advocate, now the 
National Democrat, and has been a valued contributor 
to the local press, the Jackson Patriot and other pub- 
lications at periods during the past thirty years. He 
has been noted for his strict integrity, untiring indus- 
try, energy and earnestness. Politically, he has ever 
been a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, has vigor- 
ously asserted and supported what he has conscien- 
tiously believed correct political principles, and, in '. 
so doing, has made some bitter enemies, as well as : 
many friends. In 1874, he returned to Cassopolis, 
where he has since resided and carried on an exten- 
sive business in real estate, insurance, etc. Mr. Tur- ; 
ner was married, in 1845, to Harriet, daughter of Allen 
Munroe, who died in 1858. In 1863, he married the 
widow of John Tytherleigh, an English lady, who came [ 
to this country in 1850. Mr. Turner had by his first [ 
wife six children, two of whom died in infancy. Two 
daughters — Mary (Bosworth) and Lotta (Banks) have { 
died in recent years, and two sons are now living — j 
Ralph B., located at Jackson, Mich., and Sterling B., 
at Bremen, Ind. 

Clifford Shanahan, although a member of the bar, 
was more generally known to the people through his 
long occupation of the office of Probate Judge. He 
was born in Sussex County, Delaware, February 4, 
1801. His mother died when he was eleven years old, 
and he was brought up by an uncle. After he was 
twenty-one years of age, he worked on a farm summers 
and taught school winters, for three or four years. He 
also carried on for a time a cabinet shop and preached 
quite frequently for the Methodist denomination, of 
which he was a member. April 8, 1828, he married 
Miss Mary Lowrey. In the spring of 1834, he moved 
to Michigan, and settled at Edwardsburg, Cass County. 



There he worked at his trade of cabinet-making, served 
as a Justice of the Peace and preached occasionally. 
He was elected Probate Judge, in 1840, upon the 
Whig ticket, and served in that capacity until 1864, 
the extraordinary period of twenty-four years. In 
1845, he removed from Edwardsburg to Cassopolis 
and soon after that was admitted to practice. He died 
August 1, 1865. He was the father of eight children, 
the oldest of whom, Sarah E., now deceased, was the 
wife of Judge Andrew J. Smith. Another daughter, 
Harriet (Pollock), now resides in Cassopolis. 

Noel Byron Hollister came to the county in 1850 
and was the first resident lawyer of Dowagiac. He 
was originally from Victor, Ontario County, N. Y., 
but removed to Dowagiac from Clinton County, Mich. 
Mr. Hollister, besides practicing law, engaged in busi- 
ness as a druggist. His father, Joseph Hollister, who 
was also a lawyer, became a resident of Dowagiac, but 
did not long remain there. Noel B. Hollister, after a 
few years removed to Perryville, Ind. 

Samuel N. Gannt, of Baltimore, Md., came to Do- 
wagiac early in the fifties and obtained a small prac- 
tice. 

Daniel Blackman, one of the ablest lawyers and 
most marked characters of the county bar, resided at 
Cassopolis for a period of twenty-one years. He was 
born in Newtown, Conn., December 31, 1821 ; was ad- 
mitted to the bar in December, 1845, and practiced 
five years in Danbury, Conn. In July, 1851, he 
settled in Cassopolis. He was elected Circuit Judge 
on the peoples' ticket, in November, 1869 ; resigned 
November 1, 1872, and removed to Chicago, where he 
is now practicing law as a member of the firm of Fair- 
child & Blackman. In politics, Mr. Blackman is, and 
has been, a Democrat. He is a man of large ability 
and many peculiarities. While he lived in Cassopo- 
lis, he was identified with a number of public meas- 
ures. In company with Joseph Harper, he located the 
site of the new schoolhouse ; he induced the building 
upon the public square, and did much to bring the 
Peninsular Railroad through the village. 

Judge Andrew J. Smith, son of White B. and Arriette 
(Brown) Smith, was born near Chillicothe, Ross County, 
Ohio, whither his parents had emigrated from Delaware, 
on the 2d of September, 1818. His mother died when he 
was nine months old, and his father, who was a house- 
joiner and farmer, removed the family a few years 
later — in the fall of 1826 — to Rush County, Ind. 
From there they went to Porter County, in the same 
State, in 1835, and settled where the town of Valpa- 
raiso has since been built. The subject of our sketch 
enjoyed very limited educational advantages. He at- 
tended the district school a few winter terras, but the 
greater portion of his time he was at work upon his 



92 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



father's farm, until he was twenty years old. In the 
spring before he arrived at his majority, he was elected 
Constable of Valparaiso. Soon after this time, he 
resolved to abandon farming. He conceived a great 
liking for study, and determined to improve himself 
mentally. He began teaching the district school in 
winter arid studying in summer. In the summer and 
fall Df 1840, he became much interested in politics, 
attended the immense Whig Convention at Tippecanoe, 
and rendered some services during the campaign in 
the neighborhood of his home. In December, 1840, 
he removed to Edwardsburg, Cass County, where he 
attended school alternately as teacher and pupil, most 
of the time for seven years. During this period, he 
also read law. Mr. Smith moved to Cassopolis in 
June, 1847, and taught school there in the fall and 
winter succeeding, after which he clerked in " Uncle 
Jake " Silver's store. Subsequently, he entered the 
employ of Asa and Charles Kingsbury, and was sent 
by them, in 1851, to carry on a branch store in Van- 
dalia. In the mean time, he had industriously pur- 
sued the study of law. He was admitted to practice 
in 1853, and elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1854. 
In the spring of 1856, he gave up the mercantile 
business, returned to Cassopolis and devoted himself 
wholly to the practice of law, and the discharge of his 
official duties. He was elected County Prosecutor five 
times in succession, and served from 1854 to 1864. 
After an interval of two years, he was again elected, 
and thus served altogether in this capacity twelve 
years. In 1874, Mr. Smith was elected Attorney 
General of the State, and served in that capacity for 
two years. In his official capacity as Prosecuting At- 
torney, he rigidly enforced the anti-liquor laws, and 
brought about a very salutary condition of things in Cass 
County. The number of saloons in the county was 
decreased to the minimum, and there were none at all 
in Cassopolis from 1857 until the license law came 
into force. While he was Attorney General, the con- 
stitutionality of the liquor tax law was tested, and, 
notwithstanding the fact that he was personally op- 
posed to such a law, and believed in prohibitory legis- 
lation, he decided it admissible under the constitu- 
tion. His briefs in favor of the law attracted atten- 
tion not only in Michigan, but in all the States in 
which similar questions were before the people. He 
gained a reputation second to that of none who have 
held the position. In the fall of 1878, Mr. Smith 
was elected Circuit Judge in the Second Judicial Dis- 
trict, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of 
Judge Coolidge, and in the spring of 1881, he was 
re-elected without opposition. On that occasion he 
published the following card, which may very appro- 
priately be inserted here : 



Cassopolis, April 11, 1881. 
I take this opportunity to return my thanks to the people of 
this Judicial Circuit for the unanimous support they have given 
me for the office of Circuit J udge. It is certainly very gratifying to 
me to be re-elected without opposition from any parly, and I 
especially tender my thanks to the people of Cass County for the 
hearty support they have always given me whenever I have been 
a candidate for their suffrage ; and the unanimous indorsement 
the people of this circuit have given me at this time is the more 
gratifying to me, as this is the last time I shall be a candidate for 
any office. If I shall live to the close of this term, I shall have 
served the people nine years as Circuit Judge, two years as Attor- ■ 
ney General of the State, and twelve years as Prosecuting Attor- 
ney of Cass County. This is certainly all that I could ask or de- 
sire, and if I live to see that time, I shall retire from public life. 
Again thanking the people of this circuit for the confidence re- 
posed in me, I assure them that I shall endeavor to discharge the 
duties of the office impartially and to the best of my ability. 

.A. J. Smith. 

Judge Smith has held many positions of trust in 
Cassopolis; been active in promoting the welfare of 
the village, and a liberal supporter of all good institu- 
tions. He has been a member of the Council for a 
number of years, and has served twelve years on the 
School Board. He joined the Presbyterian Church, of 
which he has been a very influential member, in 1845, and 
hasbeen a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1853. 
Judge Smith's strict integrity, untiring industry and 
strong determination, have been the forces which have 
made his career one of success. He has always com- 
manded the respect of the people with whom he has 
come in contact, as being a conscientious man and one 
of remarkable fidelity to fixed principles. In politics, 
he has been a Whig, a Free-Soiler and a Republican. 
He was married in 1844, to Sarah E. Shanahan, 
daughter of Cliiford Shanahan, who was Probate 
Judge of Cass County for twenty-four years, and of 
whom a sketch appears in this chapter. Mrs. Smith 
died January 1, 1873, leaving a son and daughter of 
mature age. 

James M. Spencer was born on board of a British 
merchantman, in British waters, on the 14th of Sep- 
tember, 1833. His father was in command of the 
ship, and his mother accompanied her husband on 
the voyage. Not long after his birth, his parents re- 
moved to this country and located in New Orleans. 
After carrying on a mercantile business there for a 
year or two, the father and family removed to Cincin- 
nati, and in 1836 or 1837, to Monroe, Mich. He in- 
vested his money in wild lands lying west of that 
place, and soon after died. The mother's death fol- 
lowed a few years later, and the family of three boys 
and two girls were left to care for themselves. The 
subject of this sketch worked his way upward in the 
world without any assistance (some defect in the title 
to the estate purchased by his father causing it to be 
lost to the children). He went in turn to Ypsilanti, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Ann Arbor, Jackson, Kalamazoo and Dowagiac. In 
September, 1853, he was admitted to the bar at Cass- 
opolis by the Hon. Nathaniel Bacon, then Circuit 
Judge. From that time until August, 1865, he re- 
sided and practiced in the county. He writes that 
"he made many friends, and doubtless some enemies. 
My fourteen years' sojourn in Cass County, as a 
whole, were pleasant and profitable to me." Mr. 
Spencer was elected a Justice of the Peace in Po- 
kagon Township, and discharged the duties of the 
office for four years; he was Circuit Court Com- 
missioner for two years, and subsequently Assessor 
of Internal Revenue for the General Government 
for the district including Cass County. In 1862, he 
was appointed to a position in the War Department, 
which he occupied for about eight months. In 1865, 
Mr. Spencer removed to Topeka, Kan., where he has 
since been engaged in the practice of his profession. 

Charles W. Clisbee, son of Lewis and Hannah 
(Farr) Clisbee, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 24, 
1833. He moved to Cassopolis with his father's 
family in 1838. In 1846, he went to Oberlin, Ohio, and 
spent five years in preparing for college, maintaining 
himself in various ways during the whole period. He 
entered Oberlin College in 1851, but left very soon 
afterward to recruit his finances, and after teaching 
one year at Rochester, Oakland Co., Mich., entered, 
in 1852, Williams College, Massachusetts, where he 
spent three years. He passed his senior year at Ham- 
ilton College, New York, in order to enjoy the advan- 
tages of its law school, and graduated in 1856. He 
then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the law 
office of the Hon. John Crowell. In 1858, he was 
admitted to the bar and served the four years follow- 
ing as Circuit Court Commissioner. He was elected, 
in 1862, as Prosecuting Attorney of Cass County. In 
1864, he was a delegate at large from Michigan to the 
National Republican Convention, held at Baltimore, 
which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the second 
term. He was elected "State Senator from Cass 
County in 1866. In 1868, he was a Presidential 
Elector from Michigan, and in the following year was 
appointed Reading Clerk of the House of Represen- 
tatives of the Fortieth Congress, which oflBce he held 
until 1875. He then returned to Cassopolis and fol- 
lowed his profession. He was Reading Secretary of 
the Republican National Convention, which assem- 
bled in (.'hicago in 1880, and in December, 1881, was 
appointed to his old position as Reading Clerk of the 
House, a place which he is eminently fitted to fill. 

Joseph B. Clarke was born in Connecticut, edu- 
cated at Pompey Academy, Onondaga County, N. Y., 
and at the Rennselaer Scientific School (now called 
institute), at Troy, N. Y., of which he is a graduate. 



He studied his profession principally at Rochester, 
N. Y., and has been admitted to the Supreme Court 
of the United States, to the Federal, Circuit and Dis- 
trict Courts of several States and to the State Courts 
of New York, Michigan and several other States as 
his business has required. Before his admission to the 
bar, he was editor of daily newspapers at Rochester 
and Buffalo, N. Y., Inspector of United States Cus- 
toms for the Genesee District, including the port of 
Rochester, in that State, and acted as Professor of 
Chemistry, botany and other branches of natural 
science in the Vermont Medical College, at Wood- 
stock, Vt., and in several institutions in the State of 
New York. He commenced practice in this State at 
Coldwater, Branch County, in 1855, removed thence 
to Dowagiac, in 1859, and has practiced there ever 
since, with the exception of three years during the 
war when he held positions in the War and Interior 
Departments at Washington, resigning in February, 
1866. He has held the oflSce of Circuit Court Com- 
missioner in this and Branch County, eight years ; 
is now and for fifteen years has been United States 
Commissioner for the Western District of Michigan? 
and is now the Prosecuting Attorney for this county. 
Whilst at Washington, during the war, and when it 
was surprised by the appearance upon its northern 
border of Early's army of eighteen thousand in the 
summer of 1864, he, with others in the civil service, 
volunteered and was mustered into the military serv- 
ice of the United States, in a force extemporized for 
the defense of the national capital. 

George Miller came to this county from Preble 
County, Ohio, in 1859. He had practiced law in 
Ohio two years prior to that time. He was admitted 
to the bar of the several courts in this State at the 
March terra of the Circuit Court in 1860, and at once 
opened an office at Dowagiac, obtaining a fair share 
of business. In 1861, he was elected Justice of the 
Peace for a term of four years. He resigned the 
office, however, in February, 1862, for the reason 
that upon the 22d of the preceding month he had 
been commissioned as Captain of Company L of the 
Ninth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry, which was 
then in camp at Coldwater. He remained in the 
army until March, 1865, when he returned home 
and commenced the practice of his profession a 
Dowagiac. In the fall of 1866, he was elected Circui 
Court Commissioner, and in 1868 Prosecuting At- 
torney. In May, 1871, he removed to Berrien County 
three years later to La Salle, 111. ; in 1875, re 
turned to Cass County, and in 1881 removed to 
Dakota. 

Lowell H. Glover was born in Orleans County, N. 
Y., February, 25, 1839, and removed with his parents 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the same year to White Pigeon Prairie, St. Joseph 
County, Mich. In the fall of 1840, the family 
removed to Edwardsburg, Cass County. The father 
of the family died in 1852. The subject of our 
sketch attended school for two years, and then took 
charge of a grocery belonging to his step-father, and 
pursued his law studies while carrying on the store. 
In the meantime, he had lost his right hand by the 
bursting of a shot-gun. In April. 1861. Mr. Glover 
removed to Cassopolis and became a student in the 
office of Daniel Blackman. He was admitted to the 
bar at the October term of the Circuit Court in 1862, 
Judge Nathaniel Bacon presiding, and Henry H. 
Coolidge. A. J. Smith and the late James Sullivan 
constituting the examining committee. In April. 1862, 
he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has held the 
office ever since with the exception of one year. He 
was married in October. 1865. to Maryette, youngest 
daughter of Joseph Harper. 

Jacob J. Van Riper, the present Attorney General 
of the State of Michigan, was a practitioner in Cass 
County for nearly nine years. He was born at Hav- 
erstraw, Rockland Co., N. Y., March 8, 1838, and 
was the son of John and Leah Van Riper, who after- 
ward were settlers at La Grange Village. Cass County. 
The young man w:as reared in New York City, and 
there received a good academic education in the Con- 
ference Seminary and Collegiate Institute. He came 
to La Grange in March, 1857, about six months after 
his parents located there. After teaching school for 
two years in the village, he attended law lectures at 
Michigan University in 1860 and 1861. He was ad- 
mitted to the Cass County bar in January. 1863, 
subsequently to the bar of the Supreme Court of the 
State and, in May, 1881, to the bar of the Supreme 
Court of the United States. He commenced practice 
in 1863. taking up his residence at Dowagiac. His 
practice was carried on, with only slight intermission, 
until 1872, when he removed to Buchanan, Berrien 
Co., where he has since lived. During the war, he 
was Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for Cass 
County. He was elected a member of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1867. and was a member of the 
Judiciary Committee and Committee on Bill of Rights. 
He was elected, in 1876, Prosecuting Attorney for 
Berrien County, reelected in 1878, appointed to the 
Board of Regents of the State University in January, 
1880, and, in the same year, was elected to the office 
of Attorney General. Mr. Van Riper was married, 
in 1858, to Miss Emma E. Brouner, of Y'ork Mills, 
N. Y. 

Freeman J. Atwell was born in Orleans County, N. 
Y., December 24, 1831, where he was reared and ed 
ucated. taught school and read law. He went into 



the Union army May 21, 1861, and remained until 
1863, serving in the Twenty-seventh Regiment New 
York Infantry, which had, perhaps, more heavy losses 
than any other from the State, coming out of the war 
with only 400 men of a total enlisted of 2,200. Mr. 
Atwell was on detail duty most of the time. On his 
return home, he was admitted to the bar, in 1863, at 
the Supreme Court, which sat in Buffalo. In 1864, 
he went to Memphis to join the forces of Gen. Slo- 
comb; but that officer having gone to Atlanta, Mr. 
Atwell remained in Memphis and began the practice 
of law. He remained there until 1868, when, becom- 
ing partially blind, he gave up his business and spent 
nearly a year in wandering, his infirmity disabling 
him for close attentiou to professional duties. In 1869, 
he came to Dowagiac, with no definite intention of re- 
maining there; but his sight improving and business 
coming to him, he did so, and has since practiced un- 
interruptedly and with fine success. He is rejcognized 
as the leading lawyer of Dowagiac and the equal of 
any in the county. He married, in October, 1871, 
Miss Ellen T. Clark. 

John A. Talbot, son of Edward and Aseneth 
(Green) Talbot, of Penn Township, was born Febru- 
ary 27. 1847. When only seventeen years of age. he 
enlisted in the First Regiment of Michigan Sharp- 
shooters, and went into active service. He was 
obliged, at one time, to return home on account of 
sickness, but when his health was sufficiently re- 
covered, again went into the army, and remained 
until the war was nearly over. He graduated when 
in his twenty-first year from the Law Department of 
the State University of Michigan, and began practice 
in Cassopolis, continuing about ten years, or until 
the sickness which ended in his death, December 24, 
1878, incapacitated him for labor. Mr. Talbot 
was a good lawyer, a man of fine qualities, almost 
universally liked, and, had he been longer spared, 
would undoubtedly have made for himself more 
than a local reputation in the law. or some other 
intellectual field. During the last three years of 
his life, he compiled " Talbot's Tables of Cases," a 
law book which has received high praise from mem- 
bers of the profession. 

The law firm of Messrs. Howell i Carr, of Cass- 
opolis, was formed May 10, 1870. At the start the 
firm possessed a library of ten volumes, and they now 
take a laudable pride in pointing to the complete re- 
ports of nine States, and about two hundred and fifty 
volumes of law text-books, costing not far from 
§4.000. This firm, which has enjoyed a lucrative 
and constantly increasing practice, is composed of 
Marshall L. Howell and John R. Carr. 

-Marshall L. Howell, son of David M. and Martha 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



A. Howell, was born in Cassopolis January 25, 1847. 
He received the degree of Bachelor of Science from 
Kalamazoo College June 17, 1867, and the degree of 
Bachelor of Laws from the University of Michigan in 
March, 1870. His preceptor, with whom he read 
law one year, was the Hon. Daniel Blackman. He 
was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Cass County in 
1874, and defeated in 1876, when he was also candi- 
date for Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket. 
He ran again for Prosecuting Attorney in 1880, but 
made no canvass, and was defeated by Joseph B. 
Clarke. Mr. Howell was married to Miss Emma 
Banks October 11, 1870. 

John R. Carr was born May 18, 1841, at North 
St. Eleanors, Prince Co., Prince Edward Island, 

B. N. A. His father and mother, Hugh and Sophia 
(Ramsey) Carr, both of whom were born upon the 
Island, are still living, and reside at the old home- 
stead. They are- of Scotch and English descent. 
John R. Carr came to Michigan at the close of the 
war ; taught school, studied law, entered the Law 
Department of the University of Michigan in 1868, and 
graduated therefrom in March, 1870, receiving the de- 
gree of Bachelor of Law. He was immediately after- 
ward formally admitted to the bar at Paw Paw, Mich., 
and was also admitted to the United States Courts at 
Grand Rapids in May, 1873. Mr. Carr was called upon 
in the summer of 1881 to defend a man charged with 
murder in Dakota, and appearing as his attorney in the 
court at Fargo, cleared him. Upon October 10, 1868, 
Mr. Carr married Olive, only daughter of John and 
Ann Lyie, of Dowagiac. 

Harsen D. Smith was born near Albion, N. Y., 
March 17, 1842. He received an academic educa- 
tion, and at the age of seventeen commenced teaching 
school. In 1863, he was Principal of the Union 
School at Eldora, Iowa, and the following year be- 
came Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the Iowa 
Lutheran College at Albion, Iowa. In 1865, he re- 
turned to New York and commenced the study of the 
law in the office of Hon. George F. Danforth, of 
Rochester, now one of the Judges of the Court of 
Appeals of that State. In 1867, he came to this State 
and was admitted to the bar the same year at Cold- 
water, Branch County, by Hon. Nathanial Bacon, 
Circuit Judge. He commenced practicing at Jack- 
son, Mich., the following year, and remained there 
until August, 1870, when he removed to Cassopolis 
and formed a copartnership with Hon. Charles W. 
Clisbee for the practice of law. He remained in 
partnersiiip with Mr. Clisbee until August, 1872, at 
which time he opened an office by himself. October 16, 
1873, he was married to Miss Sate Read, daughter of 
S. T. Read, Es(j., of Cassopolis. January 1, 1875, 



' he formed a law partnership with Hon. A. J. Smith, 
under the firm name of A. J. k, H. D. Smith, which 
continued until the senior member was elected Circuit 
Judge in the fall of 1878, since which time Mr. Smith 
has been practicing at Cassopolis without a partner 
in business. In 1876, Mr. Smith was elected Prose- 
cuting Attorney of Cass County, upon the Republi- 
can ticket, and was nominated and re-elected in 1878, 
and in 1880 declined to be a candidate for re-nomina- 
tion. In politics, Mr. Smith has always been a Re- 
publican. 

William G. Howard was a native of Cass County, 
being born in Milton Township, on the 18th of May, 
1846. He was raised on a farm and lost his left hand, 
it being cut off by a mowing machine, when he was 
about ten years of age. After attending district 
school and a higher school at Kalamazoo, he entered 
in the year 1863 Olivet College, where he remained 
until 1865. He then returned to Kalamazoo College, 
from which he graduated in June, 1867, at the age of 
twenty-one. Commencing to read law in the fall of 
1867 with Messrs. Balch, Smiley & Balch, of Kala- 
mazoo, he remained in their office continuously until 
the fall of 1869, with the exception of a term spent 
at Ann Arbor Law School. He was admitted to the 
bar at Kalamazoo in 1869, and on the 1st of Febru- 
ary, 1870, began the practice of law in Dowagiac, in 
partnership with James Sullivan. At the election 
that fall he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, run- 
ning on the Democratic ticket. He remained in the 
practice of law at Dowagiac until 1873, when he re- 
moved to Kalamazoo, and formed a partnership with 
H^n. N. A. Balch, which existed until 1878. He 

I then formed a partnership with Arthur Brown and 

I Ebert S. Roos, under the firm name of Brown, How- 

i ard & Roos. 

George Ketcham was born in Mason Township, 
Cass County, January 9, 1850, a son of Samuel 
and Abigail (Pullman) Ketcham. When eighteen 
years of age, he went to Hillsdale College, from which 
he graduated in 1873. He studied law with Judge 
Henry H. Coolidge, at Niles, and was admitted to the 
bar at Cassopolis, in 1874. In 1875, he was elected 
Circuit Court Commissioner and has held the office 
three terms since. 

Merritt Alonzo Thompson, who lived at Vandalia 
and practiced law in the county from 1874 to 1881, 
was a native of Penn Township, and was born in the 
old homestead, where his mother and sister still reside, 
upon the 26th of April, 1847. He attended the com- 
mon schools until he was sixteen years of age, and 
worked at farming after that until he was twenty. In 
the spring of 1868, he entered the State Agricultural 
College, which he attended two years. In 1870, he 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



entered the law department of the State University, i 
from which he graduated in March, 1872. In June 
of the same year, he was admitted to the bar at Cass- 
opolis. In 1873, he began practice at Osceola City, 
Mich. ; but in 1874 returned to Cass County and 
opened an office at Vandalia, in partnership with ' 
George L. Linden. In 1875, Mr. L. withdrew and 
Mr. Thompson continued alone until October, 1881, 
when he removed to Little Valley, Kan. 

John Wooster was born in Wheatland County, 
Mich., February 1, 1847. He graduated from Hills- 
dale College in 1873, and spent the two years follow- 
ing in reading law in the office of the Hon. Henry 
F. Severns, in Kalamazoo, being admitted to the bar 
in that county December 30, 1875. In the following 
year, he opened an office in Constantine, but not find- 
ing the location a favorable one fo'r a young lawyer, 
removed in the fall of the same year to Dowagiac, j 
where he has since lived and carried on a general law i 
business. He was admitted to practice in the United i 
States, District and Circuit Courts in the fall of 1878. I 
Mr. Wooster is at present City Attorney of Dowagiac, ' 
having been elected to that office in the spring of 
1880, and re-elected in the spring of 1881. 

Joseph L. Sturr, of Vandalia, was born in Bergen 
County, N. J., in February, 1842, and lived there 
until 1854, when he removed with his parents to this 
county. He entered the army in July, 1861, and 
was in the service until September, 1864, when he 
received an honorable discharge. Upon his return 
home, he went to Wexford County, Mich., of which 
he was several times elected Sheriff. He studied law 
with the Hon. N. A. Balch, of Kalamazoo ; was 
admitted to practice there, and located at Vandalm. I 

L. B. Des Voignes, of Marcellus, was born at 
Mount Eaton, Wayne Co., Ohio, October 15, 1857. In 
1861, he removed, with his parents, to Mendon, St. 
Joseph Co., Mich., and, in 1875, entered the office 
of 0. J. Fast, Esq. (then Prosecuting Attorney for i 
the above county), to read law. In 1876, he was ad- 
mitted to practice at the bar of St. Joseph County, 
and was the youngest attorney ever admitted there. 
He then entered the Law Department of the State 
University, from which he graduated in 1878. Upon 
October 2 of that year, he located at Marcellus, where 
he has since followed his profession. He has been, 
for the past three years. City or Village Attorney. 

Frank H. Reshore, of Dowagiac, was born in Ohio, 
in 1853, and removed to Michigan, with his parents, 
the next year. He graduated from the Dowagiac pub- 
lic schools in 1870. His father, Louis Reshore, who 
was an energetic Dowagiac merchant, dying that year, 
the young man took his place in the store, and man- 
aged it successfully for several years. While thus 



engaged, he began reading law. He attended the 
Law Department of Michigan University from 1873 
to 1875, graduating in the latter year. He was 
obliged to give up his profession and engage, for a 
time, in business ; but resuming his law studies in the 
office of Spaffi^rd Tryon, he was admitted to the bar 
in 1879, and in 1880 opened an office in Dowagiac. 

W. J. Sampson was admitted to the bar in Cass 
County August 7, 1880, and has since that time 
practiced at Marcellus. He was born in Hillsdale 
County, Mich., and received his education at Hills- 
dale College. 



OHAPTEE XT. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 

Practitioners in Cass County, Past and Present— Biographical Sketches 
—The Succession of Physicians in Cassopolis, Edwaidsburg, Van- 
dalia, Dnwagiac, Pokagon and Sumnerville— Physicians of La 
Grange, Brownsville, Jones, .^.damsville, Williamsville and Mar- 
cellus. 

CASSOPOLIS. 

THE first physician in the vicinity of Cassopolis, 
or the central part of the county, was a Dr. Grant, 
who made his arrival in 1830 or 1831, and boarded 
with Judge Barnard, of La Grange Prairie. He re- 
moved some time before 1835, "and left no mark." 
Little is known concerning his personality. 

Henry II. Fowler settled at Geneva, on Dia- 
mond Lake, in 1831, and in 1835 went to Bristol, 
Ind. He was not prominent professionally, but be- 
came well known through his establishment of the 
village above named, and the manipulations by which 
he caused that place to be designated as the seat of 
justice for the county. 

Isaac Brown, a native of Virginia, settled in 
Cassopolis in the year 1835, and about two years 
later moved to Prairie Ronde, where he continued to 
practice until his death. 

Charles L. Clowes (pronounced Clews), a broth- 
er-in-law of Dr. Brown, and also from Virginia, 
came to the county seat in 1835, and remained in 
active practice from that time until his death, in 
March, 1850. 

David E. Brown, a brother of Isaac Brown, prac- 
ticed in the village a short time at a period subse- 
quent to the above. 

Benjamin F. Gould, a native of New Hamp- 
shire, born in 1804, came in 1837, and practiced 
until his death, in November, 1844. Dr. Gould was 
a man of fine medical and general education, and a 
graduate of Dartmouth College. 

David A. Clowes, son of Charles L. Clofres, 
came to Cassopolis with his father in 1835, and prac- 
ticed with him during the last few years of his life. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



97 



Subsequently, he was associated for a short time with 
Dr. David E. Brown, and in 1854 he removed to 
California. 

James Bloodgood came to Cassopolis in 1838, 
and practiced for about ten years. He was born, 
May 1, 1813, in Albany, N. Y., and on first coming 
to Michigan, in 1835, located at Niles. He was mar- 
ried, July 3, 1843, to Miss Louisa Beckwith, sister 
of Walter G. Beckwith. Leaving Cassopolis about 
1848, he went to Niles ; from that place not long 
after, to Chicago, and from that city to Dowagiac, 
where he died quite suddenly, April 24, 1865. 

E. J. Bonine, now of Niles, was one of the 
early and prominent practitioijers in Cassopolis. He 
was born in Richmond, Ind., September 10, 1821, 
and was the son of Isaac and Sarah Bonine, who were 
of Quaker descent, and emigrated from Tennessee to 
Indiana at an early date. The young man entered the 
office of Dr. J. Prichet, of Centerville, Ind., and 
remained there three years and #half. In 1844, he 
removed to Michigan and settled in Cassopolis. From 
that time, onward, until the breaking-out of the war 
of the rebellion, he resided in this place and Vandalia, 
and carried on an extensive practice. 

He was elected to represent Cass County in the 
Lower House of the State Legislature in 1852. The 
Doctor became quite prominent in politics, and in his 
later years has held several offices by election and 
appointment. He was originally a Whig, then a 
member of the Free-Soil party, and subsequently 
aided in the organization of the Republican party, of 
which he has ever since been an adherent. On the 
breaking-out of the civil war, he enlisted as a private, 
and was soon afterward appointed by Gov. Blair as 
Surgeon of the Second Regiment of Michigan In- 
fantry. He received steady promotion through the 
various grades to the position of Surgeon-in-Chief for 
the Third Division of the Ninth Army Corps, which 
consisted of about 30,000 men. During his services, 
he participated in twenty-nine engagements, the prin- 
cipal ones being the battles of Yorktown, Williams- 
burg, Fair Oaks, the seven days' fight before Rich- 
mond, the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly and 
Fredericksburg. In 1864, he returned to Michigan 
and located at Niles. He was elected to the Legisla- 
ture, but preferred to accept the position of E.xamin- 
ing Surgeon on the Provost Marshal's Staff for the 
Western District of Michigan, with headquarters at 
Kalamazoo, where he remained until the close of the 
war. 

He was subsequently elected Mayor of Niles 
two terms ; in 1873, was appointed Postmaster and 
re-appointed in 1877 and 1881. He has been Vice 
President of the State Medical Society, and for the 



past twenty-five years a surgeon of the Michigan 
Central Railroad Company. 

L. D. Tompkins, of Cassopolis, the oldest med- 
ical practitioner in the county, arrived in 1848, 
and had a large experience of the pioneer physician's 
life. At the time he began practice in Cass County, 
the labors of physician were much more arduous than 
they now are, and involved not a little of hardship. 
The Doctor soon secured a very fair practice and had 
an extended ride. During the first eight or ten years 
of his residence in the county, he almost invariably 
traveled upon horseback. The roads were not then as 
numerous as now, and most of those which had been 
cleared and improved were in a condition inferior to 
that of the present. Large bodies of land were 
unfenced, and it was the universal custom among 
those persons familiar with the country when travel- 
ing in the saddle to save time by " going across lots " 
by way of the numerous paths through the " open- 
ings " and the heavy timber. Dr. Tompkins rode 
very frequently upon these paths and often in the 
darkness of night was obliged to lean forward upon 
his horse's neck to avoid being brushed from the sad- 
dle by overhanging limbs of the trees. Sometimes, 
wearied with travel and loss of rest, he would fall 
asleep in the saddle, but the trusty horse, plodding on 
through the darkness along the winding, narrow path, 
would bring him safely home. Dr. Tompkins was 
born in Litchfield, Oneida County, N. Y., February 
15, 1817. His parents, Elijah and Minerva (Barber) 
Tompkins, emigrated from New York to Trumbull 
County, Ohio, in 1832, and there the subject of 
our sketch learned the trade of cloth dressing and 
wool-carding which he followed at Newton Falls 
for three years. He studied medicine three years 
in Portage County, Ohio, practiced in North Bend, 
Columbiana County, about one year ; another year 
in Carroll; removed to Logan County, Ohio, in 
1844, and from there to Cassopolis in May, 1848. He 
has since been in constant practice except during the 
interval when he attended the Rush Medical College 
at Chicago, from which he graduated in the winter of 
1851-52. Dr. Tompkins was married December 19, 
1850, to Miss Frances S. Bostwick, who is still living. 

Alonzo Garwood, son of Isaiah and Caroline 
(Culver) Garwood, born October 15, 1824, in Logan 
County, Ohio, came to Cassopolis in 1850, and is still 
in practice in the village. His medical education 
began in reading with Dr. James Hamilton in East 
Liberty, in his native county, in the year 1847. He 
continued under the preceptorship of Dr. Hamilton 
for one year ami a half, then went to Columbus, Ohio, 
attended lectures at the Starling Medical College, and 
studied in the office of Dr. Howard, the Professor of 



98 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Surgery, and an eminent member of the College Fac- 
ulty. He graduated from the institution above men- 
tioned in 1850, and came directly to Cassopolis. Upon 
the 22d of October of the same year he returned to 
Ohio and married Miss Elvira E. Brown. Dr. Gar- 
wood has taken a deep interest in the affairs of the 
community in which he has lived, has been promi- 
nently identified with the management of the schools, 
and in 1857, was honored with election to the State 
Senate and filled that position satisfactorily to his 
constituents. 

Richard M. Wilson came from Niles in 1854, 
and practiced until 1864, when he returned to his 
former location. He was of the eclectic school, and 
a graduate of the college of Cincinnati. 

Alonzo B. Treadwell, one of the prominent and 
successful physicians of the village and one of its most 
popular citizens during his life, began practice here in 
1864, and continued it until his death. Dr. Treadwell 
was born in Monroe County, N. Y., January 9, 1825. 
He obtained a good common school education mainly 
through his own exertions, and in 1845 or 1846 came 
with his father's large family to Calhoun County, Mich. 
Soon after their settlement, the young man left home 
rather against his father's wishes, and entered Albion 
College, and a year or so later went to Detroit to con- 
tinue his study of medicine. In 1850, he commenced 
practice in Hudson, Mich., in company with Dr. Buch, 
and remained there about two years, when he was called 
home to see a sick brother, whom the attending physi- 
cians had given up to die, but who was saved probably 
through the Doctor's skillful treatment and nursing. 
He soon after formed a partnership with a physician at 
Battle Creek, and while living in that place married 
Miss Augusta Phillips, who was attending school there, 
but whose home was in Cortland County, N. Y. From 
Battle Creek Dr. Treadwell went to Albion, and from 
there to Northville, Mich., where he remained five or 
six years, obtained a large practice and broke down j 
under hard work. The next four years he spent upon ! 
a farm. At the breaking-out of the civil war, he en- I 
listed in the army and was commissioned as a Second j 
Lieutenant, but, owing to an unfortunate accident, was 
incapacitated for the service. In 1864, his health was 
so far improved that he resolved to again commence 
the practice of his profession, and in the spring brought 
his family to Cassopolis. He was for a time in part- j 
nership with Drs. Tompkins and Kelsey, and after- 
ward with Dr. F. F. Sovereign. He died April 21, 1 
1874, universally lamented by those who knew him, 
and highly regarded both as a generous and kindly 
man and an able, conscientious physician. 

William J. Kelsey, of the firm of Tompkins & 
Kelsey, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., August 



20, 1839, and came to La Grange Township, Cass 
County, the same year, with the family of his father, 
James Kelsey. He studied medicine with Dr. C. P. 
Prindle, of Dowagaic, and attended the Rush Medical 
College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1865. 
In February of that year, he came to Cassopolis, and 
formed a partnership with Dr. L. D. Tompkins, which 
has existed uninterruptedly since. The firm has en- 
joyed a very large practice. 

Robert Patterson came from Edwardsburg in 1867, 
and was a practitioner in the village for a period 
of about two years ; after which he returned to Ed- 
wardsburg. He is now located at Leonia, Jackson 
County. 

A little later than Dr. Patterson's time. Dr. Fred- 
erick F. Sovereign, now of Three Oaks, Mich., prac- 
ticed in the village for a short time, and following him 
came Dr. M. C. McOmber, a homeopathic physician, 
who remained about two years. 

Fairfield Goodwill was born in Madison County, 
N. Y., May 12, 1835. His father and his grand- 
father were both physicians. His father's family re- 
moved to Detroit when Fairfield was only a year old, 
and the boy was reared in that city and there obtained 
a common-school education. He began the study of 
medicine in 1859, reading with Dr. D. Alden, in Pon- 
tiac, Mich., for two years. Upon the breaking-out of 
the civil war, he enlisted in Taylor's Chicago Bat- 
tery. He was promoted rapidly, and held every non- 
commissioned office below the rank of Captain. At 
the battle of Shiloh, he was seriously wounded and 
went home, being assigned to the recruiting service. 
He raised a company of men at Pontiac — Company 
C of the Eighth Regiment Michigan Cavalry — and, 
in January, 1862, was mustered as its Captain, in 
which capacity he served until the close of the war. 
Upon returning to Michigan, he clerked two years in 
Detroit, then went back with his old preceptor, and, 
upon his death, succeeded to his practice. In 1871, 
he went to Detroit, and entered the office of Dr. Will- 
iam Brodie, and, in the fall of the same year, began 
attendance at the Medical Department of the State 
University. After taking three courses of lectures, 
he graduated in 1874, and, in the same year, located 
in Cassopolis, where he has since practiced very suc- 
cessfully. Dr. Goodwin has, in the comparatively 
brief period of his residence in the village, done much 
to advance its interests. Few of its citizens have ex- 
hibited an equal degree of enterprise and public spirit. 
The block on the east side of Broadway, in which is 
Goodwin's Hall, is noteworthy as a single example of 
the Doctor's zeal in building. Dr. Goodwin was first 
married December 25, 1861, in Pontiac, to Miss Mary 
Gordon, who died several years later. Upon January 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



15, 1879, he was united with his present wife, who 
was Miss Lida Wadsworth, of Lansing. 

F. P. Hoy was born at Bellefonte, Centerton 
Co., Penn., in 1854 ; graduated at the Hahnemann 
Medical College in New York in 1870, and after 
taking extra courses of lectures, located in Cassopolis 
in the fall of the same year. 

William E. Parker, born in Jefi'erson Town- 
ship, Cass County, in 1854 — a son of John and 
Sarah J. (Ingling) Parker — graduated from the Rush 
Medical College, of Chicago, in 1879, and located in 
Cassopolis in 1880, after practicing one year in the 
eastern part of the county. 

J. D. Mater, a graduate of the University of 
Virginia, came to Cassopolis in 1881, from Parke 
County, Ind., and formed a partnership with Dr. 
Goodwin. 

EDWARDSBURG. 

The first physician who practiced here was a Dr. 
Martin, a young man who came to the village in 1829. 
He remained only a short time. 

Henry H. Fowler, afterward of Geneva, practiced 
in Edwardsburg a short time prior to 1830. He 
came from Connecticut a single man, and soon re- 
turned there and married. When he came back to 
the village with his bride, they boarded at John 
Sibley's, on Pleasant Lake. 

Dr. Meacham, a cousin of George Meacham, was 
another early practitioner. 

P. P. Barker located here as early as 1834 or 1835, 
and died in the village. He was a man of much pro- 
fessional ability, and had been a surgeon in the 
regular army. 

Henry Lockwood was one of the most prominent 
and popular physicians ever in the village. He was 
born in Little Falls, N. Y., in 1803, read medicine 
with a Dr. Green of that place, graduated at the West- 
ern Medical College, located at Fairfield, Herkimer 
Co., N. Y., and after practicing for several years in 
that region, emigrated to Michigan and settled in 
Edwardsburg in 1837, or the following year. In 
1862, he left Edwardsburg, spent the winter and 
spring in New York State, and, returning, made a 
Western visit in the summer. On coming back to 
Michigan he determined to locate in Dowagiac, but 
had not fairly settled there when his death occurred 
upon the 17th of December, 1863. His remains 
were taken to Edwardsburg for interment. Dr. 
Lockwood was a leading member of the Odd Fellows 
Lodge. 

Isr.ael G. Bugbee, another well-known practitioner 
of Edwardsburg, was born in Putney, Vt., April 11, 
1814. Some time in the thirties he came to Edwards- 
burg, and soon after commenced the study of medi- 



cine with Dr. John Treat. He afterward went to 
the State of New York and attended lectures at Fair- 
field Medical College. He practiced Medicine for a 
time in Livingston County, N. Y., and there married. 
June 16, 1839, Elizabeth Head. Shortly after his 
marriage, he returned to Michigan, at first locating in 
Oakland County. In 1840, he removed to Berrien 
Springs, Berrien County. He remained there but a 
few months, and then went to Edwardsburg, where he 
formed a partnership with Dr. Henry Lockwood. 
With Dr. Lockwood he organized Ontwa Lodge, No. 
49, I. 0. 0. F., at Edwardsburg, and he was its 
first chief officer. He was elected Grand Warden of 
the Grand Lodge of Michigan, in 1847, and Grand 
Master of the order in 1859. He was Representa- 
tive of the Grand Lodge of Michigan to the Grand 
Lodge of the United States, for the years 1861-62. 
In 1852, he was Democratic candidate for the office 
of Sheriff" of Cass County, and was defeated by 
twelve votes. He was a successful business man and 
practitioner in Edwardsburg, until the fall of 1869, 
when he met with an accident which made him an in- 
valid for the remainder of his life. He died May 18, 
1878. 

Dr. Alvord and Dr. John Treat practiced in the 
village a portion of the period covered by the resi- 
dence of Drs. Lockwood and Bugbee. The latter 
sold out in 1839 or 1840, to Philogene P. Mallard, 
a West India man, who had received his medical edu- 
cation at Philadelphia. He went from Edwardsburg 
to Niles. 

A Dr. Wheeler, a young man, was in partnership 
with Dr. Lockwood for a brief period, about 1845-46, 
and a Dr. Sargent came to the village in 1847. 

Enos Penwell, a man who became very prominent, 
and gained a large practice, came to Edwardsburg in 
1846, from the Medical College at La Porte, Ind. He 
moved away in 1854, and is now at Shelbyville, III. 
During a portion of Dr. Penwell's practice in Ed- 
wardsburg, he had as a partner. Dr. Edgar Reading, 
whose parents lived in the township of Ontwa. He 
was also a graduate of the college at La Porte. He 
went to Niles in 1853, built the Reading House 
there, and subsequently removed to Chicago. 

John B. Sweetland came to Edwardsburg in 1861, 
having graduated from the University of Buffalo in the 
same year. He was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., 
in 1834. He enlisted in the Fourth Regiment 
Michigan Cavalry, in August, 1862. About a year 
later, he was made a surgeon in the regular army, 
and sent to Louisville. In this position, he gained an 
experience which has been of great value to him in 
subsequent private practice. In 1875, he was sent to 
the Legislature as Representative of Cass County, 



100 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



being elected upon the Republican ticket. Latterly 
he has found time for journalistic labors in addition to 
his large medical practice, and has ably edited the 
Edwardsburg Argus. Dr. Sweetland was married, 
February 19, 1868, to Frances E., daughter of Will- 
iam Bacon, one of the pioneers of Ontwa. 

Levi Aldrich, born in Erie County, N. Y., Jan- 
uary 27, 1820, was the son of James and Hannah 
Aldrich, who at an early day settled in Milton Town- 
ship, where Levi was reared. He studied with Dr. 
J. V. D. Sutphen, of Bertrand, for a year and a 
half, and then went to Erie County, N. Y., and finished 
under the preceptorship of Dr. George Sweetland. 
He then took a course of lectures at Buffalo, another 
at Albany, and the final one at Buffalo, graduating 
there in 1849. He practiced in Erie County and then 
came to Edwardsburg, where he has successfully 
practiced ever since. 

Robert S. Griffin was born in Erie County, N. Y., 
September 25, 1828, and came with his parents to 
Cass County when quite young. The family located 
near Edwardsburg. Young Griffin read medicine 
with Dr. Henry Lockwood, and with Drs. Penwell 
& Reading. He graduated from the Indiana Medi- 
cal College at La Porte, in 1849 ; then practiced at 
Baldwin's Prairie (where now is the village of Union); 
removed to Edwardsburg in 1853, and to Van Buren 
County in 1855. Afterward, he spent one year at 
South Bend, and in 1875 returned to Edwardsburg, 
where he still resides. 

Frank Sweetland has practiced in the village about 
four years, and James H. Williams for a short time. 

Marion Holland, born in Oakland County, Mich., 
graduated from the Medical Department of the State 
University in 1875, and from the Dental Department 
in 1877. After his graduation, he located in Cassopo- 
lis and practiced a short time ; then went to Grand 
Rapids, and in 1880 came to Edwardsburg, where 
he has since practiced and carried on a drug store. 

William I. Lusk was born in New Y^ork. He is a 
graduate of the Cincinnati Homeopathic College, and 
the only homoepathic physician in Edwardsburg. 

VANDALIA. 

Dr. A. L. Thorp was the first physician who set- 
tled in this village. He came in 1849, remained for 
two years, and then, after an absence of two years, 
returned, and has since practiced continuously. 

Dr. E. J. Bonine practiced here for several years 
subsequent to 1851. (See Cassopolis). 

Dr. Leander Osborn was born December 27, 1825, 
in Wayne County, Ind., and in 1835, removed with 
the family of his father, Josiah Osborn, to Cass 
County, settling in Calvin Township, then an almost 



unbroken wilderness. There were no schools in the 
neighborhood, and he received the rudiments of an 
education at home, his mother being his teacher. 
The first occupation to which he devoted himself after 
arriving at his majority was teaching a district school. 
He was examined by and received a certificate from 
Dr. Taylor and the Rev. George Miner, who compli- 
mented him highly upon his acquirements. His 
school was in what was known as the " Shavehead 
District," in Porter Township. Shortly after this he 
made the acquaintance of Dr. E. J. Bonine, then a 
young practitioner in Cassopolis, and determined to 
study and follow the medical profession. He com- 
menced reading with Dr. Bonine in 1847 ; attended 
the usual course of lectures at the Rush Medical Col- 
lege, of Chicago, in 1851 and 1852, and commenced 
the practice of his profession in Vandalia in 1853. 
For two years he was in partnership with Dr. Bonine. 
In 1856, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has 
since occupied that ofiice continuously, with the ex- 
ception of an interval of two years. He had pre- 
viously held the office of Supervisor of Calvin 
Township. In 1866, he was elected to the State 
Legislature, served two years and had the pleasure of 
voting to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States. Dr. Osborn was 
married November 12, 1854, to Miss Helen M. Beall, 
of Centerville, Wayne County, Ind. 

H. H. Phillips was born in Scott, Cortland 
County. N. Y., July 2, 1843, and removed with the 
other members of the family to Minnesota in 1859. 
He enlisted when eighteen years old in the Fourth Regi- 
ment Minnesota Infantry, and served three years and 
two months, the last two years in the medical depart- 
ment. He commenced studying medicine while in the 
army in 1863. He came to Cassopolis in the spring 
of 1866, continued the study under the direction of 
Drs. Tomkins, Kelsey and Treadwell ; subsequently at- 
tended the State University and graduated from the 
medical department in 1868. He commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine and surgery at Vandalia in the sum- 
mer of the same year, and has since carried it on. 

D. L. Flanders, of St. Joseph County, practiced 
in the village from 1871 to 1873, and Dr. D. Teague, 
of Wabash, Ind., from 1865 to 1868. 

DOWAGIAC. 

There have been fifty phsicians in Dowagiac from 
the time of its establishment as a village to the present 
writing. The greater number of these have been 
transient residents concerning whom no extended men- 
tion could be made even if it was desirable. A few 
have been men of high standing in their profession, 
and have practiced long in the community. Of all 





^/z^. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



101 



such, biographies are given whore it lias been pos- 
sible to secure the data. 

Thomas Brayton was the first physician in the 
place and began practice in 1848 or 1849. He was 
a native of Steuben County, N. Y., and both as man 
and physician, of good repute. His practice in Dowa- 
giac extended from the time of his arrival until his 
death, which was caused by a railroad accident some 
time in the sixties. Dr. Brayton had some original 
methods of treatment. As an example, when Nicho- 
las Book's daughter (now Mrs. William Larzelere) was 
very sick with a fever and not expected to live, the 
physician brought Fred Werz, the village fiddler, to 
the bedside and commanded him to remain there day 
and night and fiddle his most inspiriting tunes when 
the patient had sinking spells. The Doctor's orders 
were followed to the letter, and the patient recovered. 

Dr. Barnum came soon after Dr. Brayton, but left 
in 1852. 

A Dr. Jarviscame to the village about the time Dr. 
Brayton left, and remained for a number of years. He 
was more noted as a drayman than a follower of the 
healing art, and for some time attracted attention by 
driving a bull or steer instead of a horse. 

L. R. Raymond came to Dowagiac about 1851 and 
left five or six years later. He was from Evans, Erie 
County, N. Y., and returned to that place. He was, 
during his stay, regarded as one of the leading physi- 
cians of the county. 

Dr. Keables, now of Decatui-, practiced here a short 
time in the fifties. 

C. W. Morse came to Dowagiac in 1851, and with 
some intervals has since lived here and enjoyed a large 
practice. He was born in Orange County, Vt., June 
26, 1827, but left there when twenty years of age. 
He read medicine with a brother, A. H. Morse, in 
Erie County, N. Y. After coming to Dowagiac, he 
went East, received a diploma from the University of 
Buffalo, in 1864, and also took a course of lectures at 
Cincinnati. Soon after coming to Dowagiac, he bought 
the place where he now resides. For about four years 
he was in the drug business with N. B. Hollister. 

Hiram Crapper and a Dr. Richards practiced for 
brief periods from 1853 to 1856. 

Dr. C. P. Prindle had an extensive practice in 
Cass County, and followed it for a long term of years, 
residing at Dowagiac, of which community he was a 
highly valued citizen. He was born in Spafford, 
Onondaga County, N. Y., May 25, 1825. His 
boyhood days were passed in the usual manner of 
well-conditioned children. Under the supervision of 
loving parents, in moderate though comfortable cir- 
cumstances, he had little to mar his pleasures. He 
was light-hearted and merry, and made the most of 



life. When he was eleven years of age, however, his 
father died, leaving him, with other children, to the 
guidance of his mother. Time passed on and at the 
age of sixteen he commenced the study of medicine 
in the office of Dr. Morrel, of Borodino, Onondaga 
County. Passing through the required course of 
reading and obtaining much practical knowledge in 
the office from other sources than books, he went to 
Geneva College, from which institution he graduated 
in 1846. He desired to gain further knowledge in 
the line of his chosen calling, and with that end in 
view decided to go to New York and enter the great 
Bellevue Hospital, which has been a valuable school 
for hundreds of physicians. In order to pay his ex- 
penses, he was first obliged to work for six months. 
This he did and then carried out his plan. He re- 
mained for about a year at Bellevue, and also attended 
lectures during that period. Returning from the city, 
he spent a year in the central part of New York 
State. He had some thoughts of removing to the 
West, but it was with difficulty he made up his 
mind to do so. At last he came, and for a short time 
was located in Sumnerville, Pokagon Township, Cass 
County. Feeling that he could not have sufficient 
latitude at that place, he went to Lawrence, Van 
Buren County. There his ride soon became very ex- 
tensive and he felt that his labors as a physician had 
commenced in earnest. This was in 1850 and 1851. 
It was during his residence at the last-named place 
that he married Miss Adaline S. Case, of Onondaga 
County, N. Y. The winter of 1854, he spent in New 
York City, attending lectures and ministering to the 
needs of a friend who was seriously ill. In the city, 
he was brought into close intercourse with his old 
preceptor. Dr. Alonzo Clark, which he felt was a 
great advantage to him, as a young physician. In 
March, 1855, he came West again and located at 
Dowagiac, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
He practiced thirty years, and those the best years of 
his life. His death occurred August 2, 1876. He 
built several houses in Dowagiac, and was closely 
identified with its best interests ; but it was as a 
physician that he was best known and appreciated 
there and in the county. He was very much devoted 
to his profession and nothing daunted him in his zeal 
and determination to honor it. A writer in one of 
the local newspapers said of him at the time of his 
death : " For twenty-one years, although often racked 
with pain and fatigue, such as few imagined, never in a 
single instance when able to ride did he refuse to attend 
the call of suffering — whether coming from friend or 
foe, rich or poor, it was all the same to him." He 
detested " the professional quack in medicine," and 
few things hurt his feelings as much as did the often 



102 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



sad results of their insincerity and ignorance. He 
disliked, too, anything like pretentiousness, or the 
use of high-flown language. On one occasion when 
returning from a long country ride, he observed as 
he drove into town quite a large gathering of men 
around one of his cotemporaries, a young doctor who 
was giving his ideas of a case of illness, and ostenta- 
tiously displaying his knowledge of the technicalities of 
medicine, using all the terms in the category of the 
" Materia Medica," and, for that matter, in the whole 
range of the literature of the healing art, which he 
could possibly find excuse for. After listening for a 
few moments, he stepped up to the young M. D., say- 
ing, in his outspoken manner, " Young man, you are 
disgracing your Alma Mater. How do you expect 
these men to understand what you are trying to ex- 
plain in your high-flown language ? Always use plain 
and simple language ; then there will be no mistakes." 
He often spoke against professional bombast, and said 
that there should be no secrets in the true practice. 
The doctor was known as a strong, earnest, manly 
character, and was almost universally esteemed for 
his worth as a man and his qualities professionally. 

" His death," continues the obituary notice, from 
which we have already made one brief quotation, 
" caused widespread sorrow in many homes, where 
for years he had been the trusted physician, the tried, 
true friend. His funeral was very largely attended, 
the stores and business places in Dowagiac being 
closed by common consent." 

Dr. Prindle left at his death a wife and two chil- 
dren. Flora H. Prindle. the elder, and Edward C. 
Prindle, the younger, who is now a practicing physi- 
cian, having graduated from Ann Arbor University 
with the class of 1876, and also from the Columbia 
College of New York City in 1877. . 

A. B. Hall followed the profession here from 1854 
to 1858 or '59. 

William E. Clarke, M. D., was formerly in practice 
here as physician and surgeon for some ten or twelve 
years prior to the breaking-out of the war. He is a 
native of Lebanon, Conn., was educated at the Roches- 
ter (N. Y.) Institute, and in his profession chiefly 
under the tuition of Prof Edward M. Moore and 
Frank Hamilton, then of that city, with several courses 
of lectures at the Williamstown (Mass.) and Vermont 
Medical Colleges, of which they were professors. In 
the summer of 1861, and while in practice at Dowa- 
giac, he was commissioned Surgeon of the Fourth 
Regiment of Michigan Infantry ; served with it in the 
Army of the Potomac, until after McCiellan's cam- 
paigns of 1862 ; was transferred to the Nineteenth 
Infantry, organized at Dowagiac, in the fall of 1862, 
and thence, in 1863, to Carver General Hospital at 



Washington, and thence, at the close of the war, to 
a regiment still on duty in North Carolina. After 
his discharge, he commenced and has since continued 
the practice of his profession at Chicago, where he has 
been President of the Medical Society of the city. 

Moses Porter came in 1854, and after practicing 
eight years, removed to Kalamazoo. 

A. J. Leonard followed the profession for a short 
time, and then removed to Whitewater, Wis. 

Theodore P. Seeley was, for a year or so, in part- 
nership with William E. Clarke. He went into the 
army, and on his return settled in Chicago. 

J. H. Beals was for a short time associated with 
Dr. Brayton, afterward went into the army, and was 
a Lieutenant of cavalry. 

James Bloodgood came here in 1864 and died in 
1865 (see Cassopolis). 

Dr. Odeil and Dr. Salter each practiced for a short 
time, as did also Dr. Martin, now of Berrien Springs. 

Cyrus J. Curtis was the pioneer Eclectic physician 
of Dowagiac and of Cass County. He was born in 
St. Lawrence County, N. Y., January 31, 1819 ; re- 
moved with his father's family to Erie County, Penn., 
in eai-ly boyhood, and there received his education at 
the Waterford Academy. He studied medicine with 
a Dr. Smith, in Erie, and graduated at the Worthing- 
ton Medical College of Ohio. In 1844, he was mar- 
ried to Lucinda Brace, of Erie, Penn., and removed 
to Adrian, Mich. Four years later, he returned to 
Erie County, Penn., where he practiced until 1860. 
His health failing that year, he removed to Berkeley 
Springs, Va. At the outset of the war, he was obliged 
to leave at a great personal sacrifice, and located in 
Portage County, Ohio. His wife died there May 2, 

1864. and in December of that year he removed to 
Michigan and located at Dowagiac, bringing with him 
his children and Dr. S. T. McCandless, who was as- 
sociated with him in practice. He married his second 
wife, Lillie A. Mills, of New Milford, Ohio, in May, 

1865. The labor of an extensive practice in Penn- 
sylvania and Ohio had so impaired his health that he 
was unable to follow a general practice after coming 
to Dowagiac, and devoted himself to the treatment of 
chronic diseases, and soon established an enviable 
reputation through his marked success. During most 
of the time of his residence in Dowagiac. he had part- 
ners who gave their attention to the general practice. 
Dr. S. T. McCandless was with him from December, 
1865, until January, 1867 : D. B. Sturgis and Will- 
iam Flory from September 1, 1868, to March 10, 1869 ; 
Linus Daniels from May, 1869, to May, 1870 ; Dr. 
H. S. McMaster from September, 1871, to Septem- 
ber, 1873, and his son, E. A. Curtis, from December, 
1873, until his death, which occurred April 21, 1875. 




iX/z- C^^'^ 



0, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHICtAN. 



103 



During his early professional life, Dr. Curtis took an 
active part in public affairs, especially educational 
matters. He was a charter member of the Eclectic 
Medical Society of Michigan, and its President ; a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of 
the Masonic Order, The last year of his life was 
spent in traveling in Colorado, in the vain hope of re- 
storing his health. 

S. T. McCandless, a graduate of the Eclectic 
Medical Institute of Cincinnati, came to Dowagiac 
in 1864, associated as has been said, with C. J. j 
Curtis. He removed to Alliance, Ohio, in January, 
1867. 

D. B. Sturgis came to Dowagiac in September, 
1868 ; was associated with C. J. Curtis, under the i 
firm name of Curtis & Sturgis until March 10, 1869, \ 
when he removed to South Bend, Ind. 

William Flora was a partner of C. J. Curtis, and a 
son-inlaw of D. B. Sturgis. He came to Dowagiac in > 
1868, having graduated from the Bennett Medical 
College of Chicago. 

Linus A. Daniels, also an Eclectic physician, came 
to Dowagiac in May, 1869, and was in partnership 
with C. J. Curtis until May, 1870, when he removed 
to Plainwell, Mich. He attended the Medical Depart- 
ment of the State University, but graduated from the 
University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. 

Henry Lockwood practiced here a very short time. 
(See Edwardsburg.) 

A Dr. Barnes was here several years. 

James D. Taylor came to Dowagiac in 1858, and prac- 
ticed his profession until his death. February 11, 1871 
His wife (who waa Miss Elizabeth A. McMain) and 
two children still reside in Dowagiac. Dr. Taylor 
was born near Elyria, Ohio, December 2, 1828, and 
obtained his medical education in Cleveland and Chi- 
cago, receiving his diploma from the Hahnemann 
College of the latter city in 1868. 

P. I. Mulvane was born in Newcomerstown, Tus- 
carawas Co., Ohio, December 13, 18-36. He was ed- 
ucated at the University of Michigan, and received 
his medical diploma from the Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, in 1870. He commenced practice in Illi- 
nois in 1862, and in the same year entered the army. 
In 1865, he came to Dowagiac, and remained in prac- 
tice there until 1873, when he removed to Topeka, 
Kan. At one time Dr. Mulvane was associated with 
Dr. C. P. Prindle, and again for two years or more 
was in partnership with Dr. C. W. Morse. He was 
quite prominent as a physician, and had a large prac- 
tice. Since residing in Kansas, he has been Presi- 
dent of the State Eclectic Board of Medical Examiners, 
ever since the new medical act has been in force. 

"Dr." Whitehead, an Indian "medicine man," 



came to the town in 1862, or about that time, and for 
a short time occupied an office near where Mosher & 
Palmer's store now is, and exercised the " herb art " 
upon a few credulous people. 

J. H. Wheeler came to Dowagiac in 1867, and 
soon became one of the leading and influential physi- 
cians of the town. He was born in Cheshire County, 
N. H., October 17, 1812; removed with his father 
and other members of the family to Western New 
York in 1821, and emigrated to Cass County in 1835. 
He was a practical surveyor, and in his leisure mo- 
ments studied medicine. He took his degree in Phil - 
adelphia in 1844, and in the same year began practice 
in Edwardsburg; removed to Berrien County in 1847, 
and from there, twenty years later, to Dowagiac. He 
died here, January 5, 1877, in his sixty-fifth year, 
leaving a wife and three children. 

Dr. Sherwood was in partnership with Dr. Wheeler 
from 1872 to 1874. 

G. W. Fosdick practiced (homoeopathy) for a short 
time, and removed to a farm in Volinia in 1876. 

L. V. Rouse came in the sixties, and still practices 
in the city. 

Edward Sawyer Stebbins settled here in 1868. 
He was born in the town of Norwich, Vt., January 
17, 1820, and resided there until 1839, when he went 
to Worcester, Mass. He began the study of medicine 
in part for the purpose of curing himself of consump- 
tion, with which he was then afflicted in its incipient 
but well marked stages. Succeeding in this, he at- 
tended the prescribed courses of lectures in the New ' 
England Botanical College, at Worcester, Mass., in 
1845 and 1846. In 1844, he was united in marriage 
with Harriet Goddard, of that city. He continued to 
res ide in Worcester until his removal to the West, 
and in 1867 was el ected Representative to the Mas- 
sachusetts Legislature, on the Republican ticket. In 
1869, the year after the Doctor removed to Dowagiac, 
he lost his wife, a very estimable lady, who left four 
children to mourn her loss. With the exception of 
a short interval when he was in business with his son- 
in-law, L. E. Wing, he continued to follow his pro- 
fession, until 1879, when he abandoned a lucrative 
practice for a larger field, and removed to East Liver- 
pool, Ohio, where he now resides. Dr. Stebbins is a 
scholarly man, a great reader and an untiring student 
of specialties. In electrical therapeutics, he probably 
had no equal in Western Michigan. 

Hamilton Sheldon McMaster was born December 
80, 1842, in West Sparta, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 
a log house, on the banks of the Genesee Valley 
Canal, and was reared on a farm one mile from his 
birthplace until he was nineteen years of age, attend- 
ing district school in the winter. August 6, 1862, 



104 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirti- 
eth Regiment New York Infantry, afterward changed 
to the First New York Dragoons. He was AVard- 
master eight months in Douglass Hospital, Washing- 
ton, D. C. (after getting up from a siege of typhoid 
fever), in 1863-64, and his experience there has been 
of value to him in subsequent practice. He served in 
the army two years and ten months, being discharged 
June 6, 1865. In October, 1867, he came to Michi- 
gan. He received a good academic education at 
Dansville Seminary, in New York, Lima Seminary of 
the same State, and Albion College, Michigan. He 
taught school a couple of terms before coming to 
Michigan, and four in this State, the last three (one 
year) being in a graded school at Blissfield. His sum- 
mer vacations were spent upon a farm, and his even- 
ings occupied with study. He attended lectures at 
the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, and at 
Bennett Medical College, Chicago, graduating from 
the latter in the class of 1871. He commenced prac- 
tice in Onondaga, Mich., in 1870, and was there six 
months before going to Chicago ; went to Battle 
Creek in June, 1871, and came to Dowagiac in Sep- 
tember of the same year, and has resided here ever ■. 
since, with the exception of a little more than a year 
spent in Grand Rapids. In 1872, he was married to 
Miss Mary F. Stebbins, daughter of Dr. E. S. Steb- 
bins. Dr. McMaster is well known in his profession 
as a frequent contributor to the medical journals, such ; 
as the Medical Times, of Chicago, the Eclectic Medi- 
cal Journal, of Cincinnati, the Medical 7ribune, of 
New York, and the Therapeutical Gazette, of De- 
troit ; also as a defender of the liberal, non-sectarian 
principles and ethics of the Eclectic school of practice, 
and advocate for a high standard of qualifications for 
graduation in the colleges that are recognized by 
the National Society. He has prepared several 
papers for the State and National Medical Societies. 
He was the first City Physician of Dowagiac ; is now 
a Trustee and Director of the schools : President of 
the Ladies' Library Association ; President of the 
Dowagiac Union Medical Society ; Secretary of the 
State Eclectic Medical and Surgical Society ; the 
editor of the report of its annual transactions, and I 
the Vice President of the National Eclectic Medical 
Association. He is best known outside of his pro- , 
fessional practice as a persistent advocate of equal 
rights for the Eclectic school of medicine, before 
the law, in the University, in the State Board of 
Health, and in other institutions of Michigan. Dr. 
McMaster has taken an active part in public affairs, 
and been a leading spirit in temperance reform. His 
heart is always on the right side. This is not merely 
a rhetorical figure — true metaphorically — but a phys- 



ical fact, and one which has been attested by various 
examinations by medical gentlemen. 

E. B. Weed, a homoeopathic physician, came to 
Dowagiac in 1871, and remained until 1877, when he 
went to Grand Rapids. He now resides in Detroit. 

Eugene A. Curtis, an eclectic physician of Dowa- 
giac, was born in Waterford, Erie County, Penn., 
December 17, 1852, and came here in 1864 with his 
father. He studied medicine with his father. Dr. C. 
J. Curtis, and graduated from the Bennett Medical 
College of Chicago in 1873. He began practice with 
his father and Dr. H. S. McMaster. He was asso- 
ciated with Dr. W. F. Ball during 1877, but termi- 
nated the partnership to reside in Chicago. After 
spending nearly two years there in attendance at the 
colleges and hospitals be returned to Dowagiac in the 
summer of 1879, and has since been in practice here. 

W. L. Marr came to Dowagiac in 1874, having just 
graduated from the State University, and remained 
until 1879, when he went to Chicago. 

E. C. Prindle, son of Dr. C. P. Prindle, graduated 
from the State University in 1876, and has since 
practiced here. 

Theodore Rudolphi has been in practice in the city 
since 1877. 

John Robertson, now of Pokagon, was in practice 
here from 1877 to 1880. 

W. F. Ball, an eclectic physician and a graduate of 
the Philadelphia Medical Institute, came here in 
1877 and left in 1878, going to East Liverpool, Ohio. 
He was in partnership with Dr. E. A. Curtis. 

E. W. Eldridge, a graduate of the Cincinnati Col- 
lege of Medicine and Surgery was in the city in 
1879-80. 

J. H. Ludwig, a homoeopathic physician, came 
here in 1879, and still remains. 

W. W. Easton, eclectic, graduate of the Bennett 
Medical College of Chicago, has been here since 1880. 
He is a son of Thomas Easton of Silver Creek. 

D. W. Forsythe has been in practice in Dowagiac 
since 1880, coming directly from the Bennett Medical 
College of Chicago. He was born in Canada in 
1853. 

W. J. Ketcham, for about six years a practitioner 
in Volinia, has lately formed a partnership with Dr. 
C. W. Morse. He studied with Dr. C. P. Prindle, 
and is a graduate of the State University. 

LA QRANfiE. 

Dr. Jacob Allen located in La Grange (then called 
Whitmanville) in 1837, and practiced there with mod- 
erate success until 1852, when, on account of failing 
liealth, he went to California. He was afllicted with 
asthma, but became entirely relieved of the disease 




vVlLLlAjM J, K ELSE/ Jv(. D, 




(rvv». 



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F^ESIDENlCE OF ^OK. J0H,NI B.SWEETL/iKD fvl. D. EDW/M^DSBa^G, MICH 



HI8T0RY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



when lie readied the plains, and was free from it 
until he came East upon a visit. He returned to the 
Pacific Slope, and now resides at Los Angelos, Cal. 

POKAGON AND SUMNERVILLE. 

The physicians at present residing at Pokagon are 
Dr. C. P. Wells, Dr. Charles A. Morgan and Dr. 
John Robertson. Dr. Henry Leeder (now deceased) 
formerly practiced in the vicinity, residing between 
Pokagon Village and Sumnerville. Dr. James Leeder 
now resides at the latter place. 

Dr. John Robertson was born in the town of Ar- 
gyle, Washington Co., N. Y., September 25, 1820. 
In 1835, he moved, with his parents, to Onondaga 
County, of the same State, and, in 1844, commenced 
reading medicine with Dr. Isaac Morrell, in that 
county. He attended the Medical Institution at Pitts- 
field, Mass., and graduated at Castlets, Vt. In the 
summer of 1848, he came to Michigan, and settled in 
Sumnerville, where he practiced his profession for ten 
years very successfully. In 1850, he bought property 
in what is now the village of Pokagon, and built the 
residence where he still resides. He has had an ex- 
tensive practice, but has been compelled recently to 
abandon it, because of failing health. It has been 
said of Dr. Robertson, by a friend: "Whenever his 
patrons or strangers required his aid, he never refused 
to go, no matter how dark and stormy the night, how 
bad the roads or whether the mercury stood a hundred 
degrees above or thirty below zero." 

Charles P. Wells was born in Conquest, Cayuga 
Co., N. Y., May 26, 1834, and came, with his parents, 
Jonathan and Sylvia P. Wells, to Niles, Mich., in June, 
1835. They soon after purchased land previously 
entered by Arthur Johnson, on which was four or five 
acres of "slashing," and a log cabin, situated one and 
a half miles east of Niles and near 'Yankee street," 
in Section 31, Howard Township, Cass County. 
There they settled, and, in 1836, erected the third 
frame dwelling in the township, and remained for 
many years. The subject of this sketch entered upon 
the study of medicine November 1, 1852, in the office 
of the late Dr. Joel Loomis, of Niles, and completing 
the usual course of study under his preceptor and at 
the medical college, graduated at Cincinnati, Ohio^ 
May 13, 1856, and during the following summer, en- 
gaged in the practice of his profession at Plymouth, 
Ind., and, after several seasons of travel, mostly in the 
Northern States and Territories, came to Pokagon in 
November, 1865, and, associated with. A. L. Abbott, a 
merchant of the place, opened the first drug store ever 
kept in the village, of which he subsequently became 
sole proprietor, and has continued the business unin- 
terruptedly, in connection witli his practice, and may 



be counted the oldest and only dealer remaining in 
any branch of trade that was here when he came. 
May 21, 1870, he was married to Josephine V., 
daughter of Benjamin Curtis, of Berrien, Berrien 
Co., Mich. 

Dr. Charles A. Morgan, born in Wales in the year 
1841, came with his parents to Michigan in 1848, 
and the family settled in Cass County, near its west- 
ern border. He worked upon his father's farm until 
1861, when he entered the army. He served until the 
close of the war, and was taken prisoner at the battle 
of Pittsburg Landing. Soon after the close of the 
war, he attended Kalamazoo College, where he studied 
until 1868, in which year he entered the office of Drs. 
Bonine &. Dougan, in Niles, and began to read medi- 
cine. He graduated from the Medical Department of 
the State University in 1871, and established himself 
in practice at Sumnerville soon afterward. 

ADAMSVILLE. 

Henry Follett, one of the earliest and most noted 
medical men of Cass County, was born in Eastern 
New York November 5, 1789 ; went to Cayuga 
County at an early age ; studied medicine with Dr. 
Pitney, of Auburn, and served under him in the war 
of 1812, as assistant surgeon, being stationed at 
Niagara. He commenced the practice of medicine 
after the war, near Weedsport, Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
and soon afterward moved into Weedsport. He was 
married on the 26th of February, 1816, to Mary 
Wells. 

In 1836, he started with the family, consist- 
ing of his wife and six children, for the far West, 
journeying from Niagara through Upper Canada to 
Detroit, and thence to Adamsville, in this county, 
arriving in the latter part of August. He at once 
commenced the practice of his profession ; in 1838, 
moved onto a farm a mile and a half east of Adams- 
ville, and there continued practice until his death, 
which occurred December 14, 1849. 

j BROWNSVILLE. 

Dr. Phineas Gregg, of Brownsville, was born in 
j Ross County, Ohio, on the Slst of March, 1800. He 
has been a lifelong member of the Society of Friends. 
In 1812, the family moved to Knox County, in the 
above State, and Phineas was there married, in 1827, to 
Lydia Carpenter, who was born in Vermont in 1806. 
They moved to Logan County in 1834, and thence to 
Brownsville, Cass Co., Mich., in the year 1848, 
where they are both still living at this writing. The 
Doctor commenced the practice of medicine on 
botanic principles in Ohio, but since coming to Michi- 
gan took up the Eclectic system. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Thomas L. Blakeley, of Newberg (Jones' Station), 
was born in Niagara County, N. Y., July 5, 1839. 
When a small boy, the family removed to Huntington 
County, Ind., where his parents died. In 1857, he 
removed to Vandalia, Cass County, where he lived un- 
til 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh 
Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. In 1865, he 
returned from the war and located in Buchanan, Ber- 
rien County, where he married, July 1, 1866, Mary J. 
Batchelar. They removed to Nicholsville, in this 
county, in 1869, and there the Doctor began the 
practice of medicine in accordance with the Eclectic 
system. In 1872, they removed to their present 
home, Jones' Station. Dr. Blakley was the first 
physician who located there. In 1873, he opened a 
drug store, which he carries on in connection with his 
practice. He was elected Justice of the Peace on the 
ticket of the National Greenback party in 1879. 

WILLIAMSVILLE. 

Otis Moor was born at St. Joseph, Mich., July 12, 
1847. He moved with his parents to Chicago in 
1852, married Miss Mary Conkey, of that city, in 
1866 ; graduated from the Rush Medical College in 
1872, moved to Williamsville, Cass County, in the 
same year, and has since continued to practice there. 
Dr. Moor has been twice elected as Justice of the 
Peace, and is at present Superintendent of Schools of 
Porter Township. 

MARCELLUS. 

H. Carbine has been in practice since 1871, when 
he came from Decatur, and has had considerable suc- 
cess. In partnership with him is F. Grant, a gradu- 
ate of the State University, who has been in the 
village about a year. 

C. E. Davis came to Cass County in 1861, from 
Huron County, Ohio, where he was born in 1846. 
His father's family settled in Howard Township. Dr. 
Davis enlisted, February 22, 1864, in Company 
A, of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry, in which he 
served two years. He studied medicine with Dr. A. 
J. Mead, of Niles, and began practice in the spring of 
1869. In 1871, he went to Philadelphia, and took a 
two years' course of lectures in the University of 
Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1873. In 
the following year he located at Marcellus. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



First Newspaper Published in Cassopolis— The Xatimial Democrat 
and the Fi{)ti!an(— History of the Dowagiae Press— The ReimhUcaii 
and the Tinxx— Papers in Kdwardsburg— Marcellus-Vandalla. 

CASSOPOLIS. 

THE first newspaper established in the county was 
the Cass County Advocate, the first number of 
which was issued March 11, 1845. It was a small 
but well-printed sheet, issued as a weekly, and bore 
at the column head the name of E. A. Graves, who 
was editor and proprietor. In politics it was Demo- 
cratic. Abram Townsend purchased the paper in 
1846, but failed to build it up to a prosperous condi- 
tion. In 1850, it fell into the hands of Ezekiel S. 
Smith, Esq., who removed it the same year to Do- 
wagiae. 

The National Democrat was established by a stock 
company in 1850, and the first number published 
March 17. George B. Turner was the first editor 
of this journal, and conducted it with ability, making 
a lively, spicy paper, which nevertheless did not lack 
solidity of character and dignity of journalistic tone. 
H. C. Shurter was the publisher for the company. 
In the spring or summer of 1854, the paper was pur- 
chased by G. S. Bouton, who sold out to W. W. Van 
Antwerp upon September 5, of the same year. 
While the paper was owned by Mr. Van Antwerp, it 
was edited by Daniel Blackman, Esq., now of Chicago. 
In 1858. the original stock company again became the 
owners of the Democrat, and employed Blackman as 
editor and H. B. Shurter as publisher. During the 
next three years, the oflBce was not in as prosperous 
condition as was desirable, and in 1861 it came under 
the Sheriff's hammer. The purchasers were Pleasant 
Norton, D. M. Howell and Maj. Joseph Smith. It 
was transferred by them to L. D. Smith, who managed 
it during the first two years of the war. In March, 
1863, it again became the property of Messrs. Norton, 
Howell & Smith, and for a short time was edited by Maj. 
Smith. C. C. Allison had been employed as publisher 
in 1862, and upon May 5, 1863, bought the property. 
He has since been its owner, and has personally edited 
the paper and managed the office. The Democrat, 
under his control, has been enlarged and improved 
from time to time, and made a valuable, local news; 
paper, as well as a political factor of much influence. 
The Democrat has always been an advocate of those 
principles which its name would indicate. 

An ephemeral and unremunerative journalistic en- 
terprise was inaugurated in 1846, in the publication 
of the Literary News. This paper was a small sheet, 
devoted, during its short existence, to social gossip and 
humor. 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



107 



The Cassopolis Vigilant was established as a Re- 
publican newspaper on the 16th of May, 1H72, D. B. 
Harrington and M. H. Barber being its projectors. 
It was purchased by C. L. Morton and W. H. Mans- 
field, on the 28th of February, 1873, and in July, of 
the same year, Mr. Mansfield became the sole pro- 
prietor. He continued the publication alone until 
1876, when he associated with himself James M. 
Shepard. This gentleman, in 1<S7S, purchased Mr. 
Mansfield's interest, and has since that time managed 
the paper alone. The Vigila7it, has been and is a 
live, cleanly, well edited newspaper, and it receives 
the hearty support of the people of Cass County. 

DOWAGIAC* 

The first paper published in Dowagiac was one re- 
moved from Cassopolis, by the proprietor, Ezekiel S. 
Smith, in 1850. It was called the Cass County Ad- 
vocate. The building containing the office was situ- 
ated on Front street, nearly opposite the northern 
terminus of Beeson street. Mr. Smith soon disposed 
of his interest to L. P. Williams, who changed its 
title to Dowagiac Times atid Cass County Republican. 
In 185-1, Mr. Williams returned from a short busi- 
ness trip to find the building containing the office de- 
stroyed by fire. He made no effort to resurrect the 
paper, and abandoned the field. 

In 1854, Mr. James L. Gantt established the 
Dowagiac Tribune, and continued its publication until 
1859, when he sold the good will of the office to W. 
H. Campbell. During the previous year, W. H. 
Campbell and N. B. Jones hatl established another 
newspaper entitled the Republican, and the last- 
named paper now occupied the field without op- 
position. Mr. Gantt removed his printing material 
to Mackinaw, published a paper there a short time, 
and finally removed to Baltimore, Md. The cause 
which led to the establishment and final success of the 
Republican was, that the course of the Tribune be- 
came very distasteful to the Republicans of the 
county, and in January, 1858, a meeting of the county 
officers and leading Republicans was called to con- 
sider the matter. Overtures were made to Mr. Gantt 
to either dispose of the paper or to allow a committee 
to select an editor, in which case the expense would 
be paid, but all offers were rejected. It was then de- 
cided to establish another paper which would more 
clearly represent the views of the party. Thereupon, 
negotiations were entered into with Jones k Camp- 
bell, of Jackson, Mich., and the Republican was es- 
tablished. The co-partner.ship continued but three 
months, when Mr. Jones retired. The committee 
which was instrumental in establishing the Republican 

•The history of the Dowagiac prem ia by Mr. O. J. Oreenlcaf. 



consisted of Justus Gage, Jesse G. Beeson, W. G. 
Beckwith, Jo.shua Lofland and William Sprague, of 
Kalamazoo. The last-named gentleman had pre- 
viously represented the district in Congress, and was 
then engaged in business in Dowagiac. Mr. Camp- 
bell continued the publication of the Republican until 
Januai-y, 1865, when Mr. Charles A. Smith pur- 
chased the office and published the paper for a period 
of about two years. While the paper was under Mr. 
Smith's administration, it continued to prosper, was 
ably edited, and, being the official organ of the county, 
was well patronized. It still maintained the old-time 
out-and-out Republican principles, and did every- 
thing in its power to aid the Union cause during the 
dark days of the rebellion. It was a journal of wide- 
spread influence, and an advocate upon which the 
party could with safety depend. Mr. Smith was quite 




young at the time, being but little more than twenty- 
one years of age, but having learned his trade in the 
same office, and having studied the desires and pecu- 
liarities of the citizens of the county, and, being withal, 
a firm and unflinching advocate of Republican princi- 
ples, managed to furnish his readers with a good, 
sound, local paper. Mr. Joseph B. Clarke, a promi- 
nent lawyer, and yet a resident of the city, and 
a brother of " Grace Greenwood," frequently con- 
tributed political articles which were highly appre- 
ciated by the readers of the paper. He was a man of 
gi-eat talent, and his writings always had the same 
painstaking precision which characterize his legal 
practice, in which profession he was a jurist wliom 
few equal and fewer excel. Mr. Smith, wishing to 
engage in another branch of business, disposed of the 
office to Mr. Jesse J. Roe, of Buchaniin, Mich., who 
retained the same but a few weeks, when he sold the 



HISTOKT OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



concern to its founder, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Roe was 
not a practical printer, and knew little about the 
business, whicli was doubtless the cause of his retire- 
ment after three weeks' experience. Mr. Smith is at 
present, we understand, residing in Chicago, having 
been a resident of that city some dozen years. Soon 
after his arrival in that city, he became editor of the 
Real Estate and Building Journal, and in one year 
became half-owner of the same concern. He was con- 
nected with the Journal as its editor four years in all. 
It was a large twenty-four-page paper. He is, we 
believe, now engaged as proof-reader for the large 
printing house of Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co. 

In 1868, the paper was sold to H. C. Buffington, 
under whose management the name and politics 
remained unchanged. Mr. Campbell later removed 
to Minneapolis, Minn., where he still resides. He 
was a practical printer and formerly worked on the 
Lockport (N. Y.) Democrat. 

Mr. Buffington continued the publication of the 
Republican until September of 1875, when it was 
purchased by Richard Holmes and C. J. Greenleaf 
Mr. Holmes was a practical printer of many years' 
experience, he having once owned half-interest in the 
La Porte (Ind.) Herald, and he had also served Mr. 
Buffington some years as foreman of the office. Mr. 
Greenleaf had been a .resident of the village some 
years, and had acquired a local repute as a writer of 
some ability. 

About a year after Mr. Buffington had retired from 
the Republican, he again entered the newspaper field 
by the purchase of the Van Buren County Republican, 
located at Decatur. By the influence of influential 
politicians, he was appointed Consul at Chatham, Can., 
which office he still holds. Under the management of 
Holmes & Greenleaf, the Republican paid much atten- 
tion to purely local matters, and was fairly successful. 
In August, 1880, Mr. Holmes disposed of his interest 
in the office to his partner, and in the next month Mr. 
Greenleaf sold the office to Mr. R. N. Kellogg, of 
Ellsworth, Kan. Of the former proprietors, Mr. 
Holmes formed a co-partnership with Mr. Kellogg, 
under the firm name of Kellogg k Holmes, but soon 
retired, and again resumed work before the case as 
foreman of an office. Mr. Greenleaf turned his 
whole attention to the photographic trade, in which he 
had been engaged many years. Mr. Kellogg had 
been engaged for some years in the publication of 
the Ellsworth (Kan.) Times, but hearing of the lively 
little city in Michigan, he sold out and determined to 
locate there. Under his management the name was 
changed from the Cass County Republican to the 
Dowagiac Republican, and the paper changed from a 
seven-column folio to a six-column quarto. It has 



recently been changed back to a seven-celumn quarto. 

I Mr. Buffington purchased the Van Buren Repub- 
lican of Mr. W. M. Wooster, who then turned his 
eyes longingly on the journalistic field at Dowagiac. 
He therefore purchased the material of the Lawrence 

; Advertiser, and removed it to Dowagiac. September 

I 1, 1880, he issued the first number of the Dowagiac 
Times. The paper claimed to be independent in poli- 
tics, but before the experiment became an assured 
success, Mr. Wooster met with a severe accident on 
the railroad, inflicting such injuries that he was forced 
to abandon his work. On March 15, 1881, the mate- 
rial and good will were purchased by Mr. A. M. Moon, 

I of the Marcellus News. Mr. Moon had been pub- 
lishing the Netvs for nearly four years, and, moving 
part of the material to the Dowagiac office, he contin- 
ued the publication of the Times, changing its politics 
from Independent to Democratic. Careful attention 
is paid to local news, and the enterprise promises a 

I fair degree of success. It is a five-column quarto in 
size. 

I Among the more ephemeral ventures in the Dowa- 
giac journalistic field might be mentioned a paper 
called the Herald, published by Samuel N. Gantt soon 
after the commencement of the rebellion. The sol- 
diers demanded its suppression, and its editor, deem- 
ing discretion the better part of valor, announced its 
suspension by order of Gen. Burnside. 

The Monitor, started in 1875 by C. W. Bailey, 
had a short and deservedly unsuccessful career of a 
few months only. The first daily ever issued here 
was, on Monday evening, April 22, 1861, by William 
H. Campbell. Only a few numbers were issued. 
November 11, 1879, Ward Brothers, of Port Huron, 
started the Cass County Daily Netvs. It was a little 
leaflet about 14x20 inches in size, and expired after a 
troubled existence of eighty-nine days. 

EDWARDSBURG. 

[ The publication of a newspaper was commenced in 
this village, by M. M. Edminston, December 3, 1874. 
It was called the Edwardsburg Index, and the first 
issue was printed in Mishawaka, Ind. This paper 
was suspended September 25, 1875, and the portable 
property of the office, together with the proprietor, 
disappeared suddenly. The Index has been described 
as "neutral in politics and destitute of religion." 
William A. Shaw began the publication of the Ed- 
wardsburg Argus October 5, 1875, and, not long 
after, H. B. Davis became its editor. He sold out to 
F. M. Jerome. The paper continued to be neutral in 
politics until 1878, when Jerome formed a partnership 
with G. F. Bugbee, and it was made a supporter of 
Democracy. Dr. John B. Sweetland took charge 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of the paper February 6, 1879, since which time it 
has " been neutral in nothing, independent in every- 
thing." It has been liberally sustained, both by sub- 
scription and advertising patronage, and deservedly, 
for it has been a well-couducted local newspaper. 

MARCELUJS. 

The first newspaper in this village was the Messen- 
ger, started, in 1874, by S. D. Perry. The paper was 
not remarkably successful, and the material used for 
its printing and publication soon passed into the hands 
of tiie Goodspeed Brothers, of Volinia. They re- 
sumed the issuance of the paper, under the name of 
the Marcellus Standard, with R. C. Nash as manager. 
The Standard passed over to the silent majority of 
local papers in August, 1876. 

Upon July 13, 1879, A. M. Moon brought out the 
first issue of the Marcellus News. It was established 
as an independent journal, but, eight months later, 
made an organ of the Greenback party. In March, 
1881, Mr. Moon removed to Dowagiac, taking the 
machinery and material of the News, and purchased 
the Dowagiac Times, which he has since conducted. 
Mr. Moon had quite a large experience in newspaper 
making before coming to Cass County, having been 
connected with the Lawton (Mich.) Tribune, with the 
Bee Keepers' Journal and Agriculturist, with his 
father, establishing Moon's Bee World at Rome, Ga., 
and holding a position, more recently, on the Bee 
Keepers' Journal, published by H. A. King, in New 
York. 

The Netvs, at present published in Marcellus, and 
a bright, newsy sheet, was established by C. C. Alli- 
son, proprietor of the Cassopolis National Democrat, 
upon December 24, 1881, and is now published by 
Messrs. Allison & Parker. 

VANDALIA. 

The Vandalia Journal was first issued June 14, 
1881, by William A. De Groot, an old and expe- 
rienced printer, who had started a paper of the same 
name at Constantine in 1876, and subsequently re- 
moved to White Pigeon, where he remained in busi- 
ness until coming here. The Vandalia Journal was 
established as a six-column folio, and soon afterward 
made a five-column quarto. 



CHAPTEE XVn. 

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND THE KENTUCKY 
RAID. 

The two Lines of the Underground Kailroad which fi)rnied a .lunction 
in Cass County— Station Agents and tMiidnotors— Their Methods- 
Spies sent out from Kentucky Id lind liigitivc Slaves— Kidnapers 
foiled in Calhoun County— Warniiik's sent by Friends to the Cass 
County Colored Colonies— Raid cf the Kentucliians In August, 
1847— Incidents— The Raiders' Plans frustrated by tlie Aboli- 
tionists and other Friends— Riot and Bloodshed narrowly Ks- 
caped— " Nigger Bill" .Tones, the Baptist Minister and the Negro 
Baby — Excited Condition of the Public Mind — Legal Pro- 
ceedings In Cassopolis— Negroes discliarged from Custody and 
Spirited away to Canada— Suit against the Fugitives' Friends by 
the KentucUians. 

THE so-called Kentucky raid, which grew out of 
the workings of the " Underground Railroad," 
was a very unique and interesting episode in the his- 
tory of Cass County, and one which produced some 
far-reaching results. 

The Underground Railroad, as it has been happily 
called, from the dark, mysterious nature of its opera- 
tions, was organized and carried on by a few hundred, 
or perhaps thousands, of earnest philanthopists, 
scattered through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois- and Michi- 
; gan. Its founders and operators were men who en- 
1 tertained a firm conviction that human slavery was a 
! sin, and that it should, therefore, be combated. They 
assisted many thousand fugitive slaves in their journey 
j toward the north star and freedom. The railroad 
j which afforded transportation to the poor blacks, was 
I one of many ramifications, a vast system of routes, 
each one of which exten,ded from some point on the 
I border of the Slave States to the Canada line. Two 
j of these routes, one from the Ohio River and the other 
! from the Mississippi, formed a junction in Cass County. 
The first of these was known as the " Quaker line," 
; and the other as the " Illinois line." Of the latter, 
John Cross was the projector. It was put into opera- 
tion in 1842. The " Quaker line," so called because 
I almost entirely managed by the Quaker settlers in 
I Indiana and Michigan, was opened to travel prior to 
j 1840. Every Quaker settlement along the line was 
a station. At all of them were afforded rest, refresh- 
ment and that retirement from publicity which was 
always grateful to the colored traveler. 
\ In Cass County, the houses of Ishmael Lee, Stephen 
Bogue, Zachariah Shugart and Josiah Osborn (all 
Quakers), were stations of much importance. W. S. 
Elliott, conductor, brougiit fugitive slaves through to 
these men from L. P. Alexander, agent at Niles, and 
they were sent onward toward Canada by way of 
Flowerfield, in St. Joseph County, and Schoolcraft, 
in Kalamazoo County. William Wheeler was the 
agent at the former, and Dr. Nathan M. Thomas at 
the latter station. William Jones, of Calvin, known 
as "Nigger Bill," and Wright Modlin, of Williams- 



110 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ville, were famous "nigger runners," and made fre- 
quent trips to the Ohio River, and sometimes to 
Kentucky soil, for the purpose of assisting and guid- 
ing fugitives to freedom. The number of runaway 
slaves who passed through Cass County, prior to 
1848, and who were given aid in one way or another 
by the Abolitionists, was probably not less than fifteen 
hundred. Dr. Thomas, of Schoolcraft, estimated that 
he had assisted at least a thousand upon their way, 
and he by no means received all who journeyed 
through this county. 

The men engaged in "nigger running," and those 
who gave the slaves food and shelter along the road 
were engaged in a business which made them amena- 
ble to law, and which placed their property, and even 
their lives sometimes in jeopardy. Operations were, 
therefore, carried on with the utmost cunning and 
stealth. The trains upon the Underground Railroad 
were usually run at night, and the human freight, 
when unloaded at a station, was carefully concealed. 
Each station agent knew the name of the next agent 
ahead of him, but was ignorant of the identity of the 
one behind, unless he learned it by accident. The 
conductors, when applying for hospitality for their 
passengers, either at regular stations, or occasional 
stopping-places, to which they resorted in case of 
accident on the road, invariably used as a password 
the query, " Can you furnish entertainment for my- 
self and another person ? " The form of question 
never underwent the slightest change. 

Often the owners of escaped slaves, or agents em- 
ployed by them, came through the country in search 
of their property, and many amusing tales might be 
told of the manner in which they were sometimes 
foiled. Occasionally the fugitives were discovered, 
and marched back to slavery ahead of their master's 



As time progressed, the slaves enjoyed greater im- 
munity from the danger of pursuit and recapture, and 
many of them finding occupation in Michigan, re- 
mained here with friends, thinking that they would 
be nearly as safe as in Canada. 

In Cass County, in the beginning of the year 1847, 
there were at least fifty runaway slaves. The num- 
ber has been estimated as high as one hundred, but 
the former statement is nearer the truth. Most of 
them were in Penn and Calvin Townships, where 
the chief Quaker .settlements were located. All of 
the Quakers entertained Abolition sentiments, and 
there were many people in this vicinity who, as a 
rule, sympathized with them. Another colony of 
colored people was formed in Calhoun County. 

Some of the fugitives who had settled down in Cass 
County owned small tracts of ground, for which they 



were about equally indebted to their own industry, 
and the generosity of their white friends. All were 
willing to work and conducted themselves in an in- 
offensive manner, gaining the respect of the people 
around them. That they were not secure in their 
newly-found homes was soon made manifest. During 
the years 1846 and 1847, spies were sent out from 
Kentucky to hunt for fugitive slaves in various neigh- 
borhoods in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. One of 
them who came to Michigan, was in the employ of an 
association of Bourbon County, Ky., planters, formed 
for the purpose of recovering their runaway slaves. 
Perhaps no neighboroood in the whole South had 
suffered more losses than Bourbon County, and it so 
happened that a large proportion of the blacks who 
had colonized in Cass and Calhoun Counties, were 
from that region. 

Early in 1847, a young man who gave his name as 
Carpenter, arrived in Kalamazoo, and entered the 
law office of Charles E. Stewart, for the alleged pur- 
pose of studying law. He represented himself as 
from Worcester County, Mass., and professed to be a 
strong Abolitionist. He was in reality a spy sent 
out by the planters of Bourbon County, Ky. 

After remaining a short time in Mr. Stewart's 
office, and gaining some information in regard to the 
location of the fugitives' settlements, he started out to 
visit them, thus to obtain more minute and definite 
knowledge. Still playing the role of the Yankee 
Abolitionist, he went in turn to the Calhoun and Cass 
County colonies, spending considerable time in each. 
Adopting the shrewd device of canvassing for Eastern 
Abolition journals, he readily obtained admission and 
hospitable entertainment at the houses of the Quakers 
and other friends of the negro, and easily received 
such information as he desired. He ascertained the 
number and the exact location of the fugitives, and 
the places from which they had "emigrated " in Ken- 
tucky. 

Not long after his visit to Calhoun County a party 
of Kentuckians, led by one Francis Trautman, ap- 
peared there and endeavored to kidnap the Crosswhite 
family, former slaves. In this they were foiled by 
the neighbors who came to the defense of the negroes 
some two hundred strong. The slave-hunters returned 
to Kentucky, and great excitement was aroused by 
the tales which they told of the Abolition outrage. In- 
dignation meetings were held and a memorial presented 
to the State Legislature setting forth in vigorous lan- 
guage the wrongs which the would-be kidnapers* and 
the owners of the slaves had suffered. An appropriation 



* The term " kidnapers" haa been commonly used in Michigan &s an appetla 
tion for the KentucltianB and appears; frecniently in this chapter, but as a mattel 
of fact they were not in the eye of the United Slates law" liidnapers" at all 
but simply men engaged in the recovery of their legal property. 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY,. MICHIGAN. 



Ill 



was made by the State to aid her citizens in seeking re- 
dress. Suit was brought by the owners of the slaves 
against a number of the leading citizens of Calhoun 
County to recover the value of their chattels and 
damages because of riot. The parties made defendants 
to the suit were Dr. 0. C. Comstock, Charles T. 
Gorham (late United States Minister to the Hague) 
and Jarvis Hurd, they being among the crowd as- 
sembled on the occasion of the alleged riot, who were 
known to be responsible financially. The first trial 
resulted in a divided jury, and the second, which 
came off in 1848, in a verdict against the defendants 
for $1,900 and costs. The late Zachariah Chandler 
was brought into political prominence indirectly by 
this suit. He headed a subscription paper with 
$100 and succeeded in raising (principally in Detroit) 
the amount which the defendants were required to 
pay. His activity did much to make him popular 
among the people who afterward gave him their suf- 
frages. 

Before the Calhoun County riot case was brought to 
a conclusion in the courts, another and similar one 
was commenced — that which grew out of the Ken- 
tucky raid in Cass County. 

A party of thirteen Kentuckians driving fine hores 
attached to comfortable covered wagons, arrived in 
Michigan about the 1st of August, 1847. They 
made their first stop at Battle Creek, took lodgings at 
the hotel, and representing themselves to be engaged 
in vending some kind of domestic machinery, made 
excursions into the country, ostensibly to conduct busi- 
ness with the farmers"! There were a number of fugi- 
tive slaves living in the vicinity of Battle Creek, and 
the Kentuckians had doubtless gone there to capture 
them. Before their plans were perfected, however, 
their mission was discovered. Erastus Hussey, gath- 
ering the strangers in the village tavern, told them 
that the citizens knew them to be slave-hunters and 
that they must depart immediately from the town and 
its neighborhood. He further informed them that the 
people would not allow any of the negroes there to be 
returned into slavery, and intimated that those who 
contemplated seizing them for that purpose, were en- 
dangering themselves by longer remaining in the 
vicinity. The Kentuckians left. 

Immediately after their departure, Mr. Hussey, 
conceiving that they would visit the Cass County 
negro settlements, dispatched letters to Stephen Bogue 
and Zachariah Shugart, to put them on their guard 
against the invasion. It transpired subsequently that 
Mr. Hussey 's kind intention failed in its object, be- 
cause of the slowness of the mails. Another warning, 
which had its source in Kentucky, also arrived too 
late. It was forwarded through the efl"ortsof the late 



Levi Coffin, "the reputed President of the Under- 
ground Railroad," who, in his "Reminiscences," has 
told the story as follows : 

* * * " Slaves often have friends living in Slave 
States — people whose principles are unknown to the 
slaveholders. One of this class, a man living in 
the neighborhood of the Kentucky slaveholders, became 
apprised of all their plans for capturing the fugitives 
in Michigan, but was misinformed in regard to the 
time they were to start. He wrote to a confidential 
friend in Cincinnati, informing him of all the plans of 
the raiders, but stated the time of their starting incor- 
rectly — they started several days earlier. His friend 
came directly to me, and gave me all the information 
he had received. I at once set about to intercept their 
plans. I was well acquainted at Young's Prairie, 
Mich. There was a settlement of friends there, many 
of whom had emigrated from Wayne County, Ind., 
and were among the early settlers of the neighbor- 
hood. Some had formerly been my neighbors in Ind- 
iana. I had been at Young's Prairie and visited sev- 
eral of the families of fugitives in that settlement. 
Friends had established a school among them, and 
they seemed to be prospering. I decided to send a 
messenger at once to apprise them and their friends of 
the danger. At that day, letters were often eight or 
ten days in reaching Young's Prairie, and I knew it 
would not do to risk sending a message by mail ; it 
would not reach them in time. 

" A young man then boarding with us, an active 
and energetic Abolitionist, volunteered to go if his 
expen.ses were paid. I agreed to pay his expenses, 
and started him at once. As there were no railroads 
or stage lines then, we had to depend on private con- 
veyance for the journey. I gave the young man let- 
ters to my friends in the various neighborhoods in 
Indiana, through which he would pass, requesting 
them to furnish him with fresh horses on the stages of 
his journey. This was promptly done on his way 
through Wayne, Randolph and Grant Counties, Ind., 
and greatly facilitated his journey to Michigan. But 
his laborious effort proved too late; the raid was 
over." 

But to return to the Kentuckians. Upon leaving 
Battle Creek they had driven southward into Indiana, 
and rendezvoused at Bristol. After remaining there 
a day or so, they moved northward after nightfall into 
Cass County, entering Porter Township, and travers- 
ing it until they reached a point near the southeast 
corner of Calvin, where a halt was made. It was 
their intention to kidnap the negroes in Calvin and 
Penn, and retreat as quickly as possible to Bristol. 
They had in their possession, as was afterward ascer- 
tained, very accurately drawn maps upon which the 



112 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



houses which sheltered the fugitives were carefully 
designated. These had undoubtedly been made by 
Carpenter, the spy. They had little difficulty in fol- 
lowing the roads which the maps exhibited, and made 
their way quietly and without being observed, to the 
vicinity of Josiah Osborn's dwelling, near the east 
line of Calvin (Section 24). Their wagons had been 
left two miles down the road where the party had 
halted, and they were thus enabled to proceed more 
rapidly and more stealthily. At Osborn's, several of 
the raiders stopped, but the larger number pushed on 
to the other localities in which they knew their human 
chattels were to be found. The plan was to divide, 
seize them as nearly simultaneously as was possible, 
hasten back to Osborn's, join the men left there, pro- 
ceed together to the point where the wagons were left, 
and then drive rapidly southward a -little over three 
miles and cross the Indiana line. But " the best laid 
plans of mice and men gang aft aglee." 

Several months before the time of which we write, 
a family of five fugitive slaves, tired, foot-sore and sick, 
had arrived at Mr. Osborn's, on their way to Canada, 
and had been allowed to stop and rest. Subsequently, 
as they were satisfied to remain, thinking they had 
traveled far enough north to be safe, they had been 
given employment on the farm. The family consisted 
of an old man, his wife, two sons and a daughter. 
They occupied a small house, a few rods from the one 
in which the Osborn family lived. The three males 
of this slave family were the first persons captured by 
the raiders. They were seized and handcuffed in bed, 
making little or no resistance. The mother and 
daughter escaped by jumping from a window and 
concealing themselves. The men, manacled together, 
were marched out to the road. Josiah Osborn imme- 
diately sent out messengers, who apprised the farmers 
in the neighborhood of the capture, and, in an almost 
incredible short time, a large and excited company 
had gathered at his house. 

The party who made the arrest at Osborn's had in- 
tended to await the return of their comrades from 
Young's Prairie, but finding themselves surrounded 
by a throng of angry and threatening men, among 
them some free negroes, they became uneasy. They 
were annoyed, too, by the delay of their friends, and, 
as the night wore away and they did not return, were 
filled with apprehension that they had met with the 
same kind of trouble experienced by themselves. 
After anxious consultation, they moved off to the 
northward, with their three captives, closely followed 
by the crowd of men and boys who had assembled 
about them. 

In the meantime, the other company of slave hunt- 
ers had made captures in Penn Township, and met 



with a reception similar to that of the party at Os- 
born's. 

They went first to the East settlement in Calvin, 
where William East and several sons, all members of 
the Society of Friend-, had their residence. Here 
they captured three men, a woman and a child. The 
raiders were resisted by one of the male slaves, but 
they battered dowa the door of his cabin and over- 
powered him. They found lying upon the bed a 
child about two years old, which one of the Kentuck- 
ians, the Rev. A. Stevens, a Baptist minister, claimed 
as his property. He was the owner of the mother, 
and although the child had been born on free soil, it 
was his, according to the principle of slave law, which 
declared that a child followed the condition of its 
mother. The mother had made her escape when the 
cabin was attacked and could not be found. But the 
Rev. Mr. Stevens secured her by a stratagem. Tak- 
ing the babe in his arms and making it cry, he started 
toward the road. The voice of the infant reached the 
mother, as was intended, and emerging from her hid- 
ing place she was made a captive. 

The raiders went next to the neighborhood of Zach- 
ariah Shugart's house, which stood where A^'andalia 
now is. One of the families of fugitives who lived 
here had leased a piece of land of Mr. Shugart, built a 
snug cabin upon it and were prospering finely. The 
cabin was approached stealthily and suddenly entered. 
A negro man was seized but his wife made her 
escape unobserved through a window. She ran to 
Zachariah Shugart's, aroused the family, gave the 
alarm and then secreted herself and managed to es- 
cape capture. 

Immediately upon being informed of the raid by 
the slave woman, Shugart mounted his horse and rode 
as fast as he could to the house of Stephen Bogue, 
who lived about two miles west. Bogue had a very 
fleet horse, which he saddled and rode at its utmost 
speed to Cassopolis, to give the alarm and to have the 
proceedings of the kidnapers arrested. 

Passing ou to Stephen Bogue'a, the party secured 
a man who lived in a cabin upon his farm. Here 
they met with determined and vigorous resistance. 
The door of the cabin was securely fastened. The 
negro's master demanded admittance, but his voice 
was recognized and the occupant of the cabin refused 
to throw open the door. It was soon battered down, 
however, and the black man overpowered, though he 
fought stoutly against his enemy. The blow which 
finally prostrated him was dealt with the butt-end of 
a heavy riding whip and it cut a terrible gash through 
his ear and across the side of his head. 

The company of raiders now turned southward to 
effect a retreat into Indiana. A crowd of excited 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



113 



men gathered about and followed tliem. The night 
was liow nearly gone. The alarna had been spread with 
amazing swiftness, and the throng rapidly increased 
in numbers. At Odell's Mill, a short distance south 
of the site of Vandalia, the company from the prairie 
with its undesired escort of Abolitionists, met the party 
who had kidnaped the negroes from Osborn's and 
the East settlement. About the same time and just 
as daylight came on, a large number of people from 
Cassopolis, to whom Stephen Bogue had carried the 
news, arrived upon the scene. Their leader was 
Moses Brown, a powerfully built blacksmith, and as 
staunch an Abolitionist as any in the land. " Nigger 
Bill" .Jones was also present and several other resolute 
characters. 

The Kentuckians were now given to understand 
that they could not proceed further southward, unless 
they went without the negroes. They were all armed 
with pistols and bow^ie knives. Nearly every man 
among their opponents had a stout club in his hand, 
and tliere were doubtless some other weapons carried 
less conspicuously. Angry words were exchanged, 
violent threats made, and it was evident that a feeling 
existed which might become- uncontrollable. A battle 
was imminent, and might at any moment have been 
precipitated by a single act of violence. But there 
were many Quakers present — men like the Orsborns, 
Bogues, Shugarts and Easts, and their wise counsel 
that only peaceable and lawful measures should be em- 
ployed to attain the desired end, finally triumphed 
over the sanguinary spirit exhibited by the larger 
part of the mob. 

It was agreed, after much discusssion, that the 
Kentuckians should go to the county seat, submit 
their case to a Justice of the Peace, and prove their 
property, as the law required. 

"Nigger Bill" Jones particularly distinguished 
himself during the excited conference at Odell's Mill, 
and upon the march to Cassopolis. It is said that he 
dextrously disarmed a man who drew a pistol and 
threatened to shoot him, and several other similar 
acts are reported of which he was the hero. Soon 
after the motley crowd started from Odell's Mill, 
Jones compelled Hubbard Buckner, one of the Ken- 
tuckians, to dismount from his horse in order that one 
of the negroes taken at Osborn's, who was sick, might 
ride. Having thus unhorsed one of the enemy, 
Jones playfully slipped the shackle which had bound 
the negro's wrist upon his own. It closed with a 
snap, and could not again be opened, the key being 
lost. Consequently the wearer trudged along the 
road manacled to the remaining one of the original 
pair of chained chattels. The Rev. A. Stevens was 
compelled to carry the babe which he had captured. 



About 9 o'clock in the morning, the strange pro- 
cession entered Cassopolis. It was composed of thir- 
teen Kentuckians, their nine shackled captives and a 
crowd of at least three hundred citizens. During the 
time that had elapsed between the bringing of the 
news and the arrival of the concourse in town, it had 
been constantly increasing in size, by reason of the 
addition of various small parties met upon the road 
ami merged in its mass. 

In Cassopolis, the utmost excitement prevailed. 
The public square was thronged with people, the ma- 
jority of whom, though not Abolitionists, sympathized 
with the negroes and plainly indicated their intense 
disapprobation of the Kentuckians. 

The slaves were soon conducted to Joshua Bar- 
num's tavern and a guard stationed at the door of the 
room they occupied. 

The Kentuckians had not been long in Cassopolis 
before they secured the services of George B. Turner, 
at that time a young man and only the year before 
admitted to the bar. He told them very frankly that 
although the law was up on their side, it would be almost 
an absolute impossibility even if an order was secured 
from any court in Cass County, remanding their 
slaves, to take them from the county. Mr. Turner 
offered nevertheless to take every legal step which 
was possible, and he did so. 

Preparations were made to prove the ownership of 
the slaves and to recover possession of them, a writ of 
restitution being applied for before D. M. Howell, Jus- 
tice of the Peace, under provisions of the law of 1793. 
EzekielS. Smith, Esq., and James Sullivan, Esq., ap- 
peared on behalf of the fugitives and obtained an ad- 
journment of the case for three days. 

Sheriff Barak Mead immediately after the adjourn- 
ment was secured served a writ upon all of the Ken- 
tuckians (except one Graves, whom the defense had in 
hiding) for kidnaping, arrested four of them on 
the charge of trespassing upon the premises of Josiah 
Osborn, and one upon the charge of assault and bat- 
tery. Theirbail was fixed by Justice Howell at $2,600, 
and Asa Kingsbury, Amos Dow and Daniel Mc- 
intosh were accepted as sureties for the amount. The 
names of the raiders which have been preserved, in 
the memory of old residents, are nine in number, as 
follows : Rev. A. Stevens, Hubbard Buckner, C. 
B. Rust, John L. Graves (Sheriff of Bourbon County), 
James Scott, G. W. Brazier, Thornton Timberlake, 
Bristow and Lemon. 

A. H. Redfield, Esq., who was at that time Circuit 
Court Commissioner of Cass County being absent, the 
friends of the fugitives sent to Niles to secure a writ 
of hahe.ax corpus, under which tiiey might take them 
to Berrien County. -James Brown, Esq., of Niles, 



114 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



volunteered his services as assistant counsel for the 
fugitives, with Messrs. Sullivan and Smith, and ad- 
vised Mr. Mcllvain that he might legally go to Cass 
County to try the case. He accordingly did so, and 
a writ of habeas corpus was sworn out, which required 
the Kentuckians to show cause why the alleged slaves 
should not be discharged from custody. The Com- 
missioner heard the case on Monday, and decided ad- 
versely to the Kentuckians. Mr. Turner, their law- 
yer, offered, first, the statutes of the State of Kentucky, 
which included the State and National Constitutions, 
as evidence that the institution of slavery existed in 
that State, and argued that the Commissioner, as well 
as all the courts. State and National, were bound to 
notice judicially the existence of slavery in the States 
where it was recognized by the Constitution or laws 
of the United States. Upon this latter point, he 
made his strongest argument, but upon both was over- 
ruled by the Commissioner. In this connection, it 
may not be amiss to state that Mr. Turner offered 
oral testimony, as well as documentary evidence from 
courts of record in Kentucky, to show that slavery 
had a legal existence in that State, but he was, on all 
points, overruled. Mr. Turner then boldly charged 
the Commissioner with illegal and corrupt rulings; 
amongst other things, that he had no jurisdiction of 
the case and came to the county as the willing tool 
of men bent on violating the laws of the State and 
the United States. It was generally acknowledged 
that Mr. Mcllvain did not have jurisdiction in Cass 
County, and it was afterward so held by the United 
States District Court at Detroit, and further held that 
even if the Commissioner had jurisdiction, he was 
bound to recognize, officially, the existence of slavery 
as a legal institution in States where recognized by 
the laws of the United States. But the Commission- 
er's decision nevertheless liberated the nine fugitives. 
They were immediately taken to the house of Ishmael 
Lee, a mile south of Cassopolis, and a few days later, 
with more than forty others, left for Canada on a train 
of the Underground Railroad, of which Zachariah 
Shugart was conductor. 

Three days had elapsed between the time the raiders 
arrived in Cassopolis and the day when Commissioner 
Mcllvain rendered decision against them. During 
those three days, they had been angered almost be- 
yond endurance by colloquys with various citizens, 
and several times personal encounters seemed immi- 
nent; but disgraceful scenes of that kind were, hap- 
pily, averted. When the Circuit Court Commission- 
er's decision was rendered, and the fugitives renloved, 
there was no longer any object in prosecuting the 
raiders, and the suits against them were dropped. 
They were crestfallen at the turn affairs had taken, 



and their only recourse was to bring suit for recov- 
ery of the value of the slaves against citizen^ who 
were financially responsible, and this they made prep- 
arations to do. In the meantime, a single and small 
grain of comfort was left them. A runaway slave, 
whom one of them claimed as his property, had been 
convicted of some petty crime a short time before the 
raid was made, and, being unable to pay the fine im- 
posed upon him, was serving out a sentence in the 
county jail. This man, at least, the Kentuckians 
thought they had secure. He certainly could not be 
spirited away to Canada. But lo ! when they looked 
for him at the jail, he was gone. Some ardent Ab- 
olitionist had paid his fine and set him free. 

An incident of some interest, the particulars of 
which have never yet been related in print, occurred 
just after the Kentuckians started from Cassopolis 
upon their return South. They were preceded upon 
the road by Josiah Osborn, who was going to his home 
in Calvin ; and that was a very fortunate circumstance 
indeed for the Kentuckians. Osborn had gone but 
a little way along the road in Calvin, when he espied 
four negroes in a cornfield. They were armed with 
rifles, and a little questioning revealed the fact that 
they were lying in ambush for the purpose of firing 
upon the slaveholders, whom they knew must soon 
pass by. They expressed a very firm determination 
to carry out their design, and were laboring under 
considerable excitement. It required all of the good 
Quaker's power of argument and his most earnest 
protestation , to prevail upon them to desist from their 
murderous purposes, but they finally promised to do 
so and dispersed. A half hour later the raiders passed 
safely by the spot where, but for Osborn's lucky dis- 
covery, some of them must inevitably have met with 
death. The negroes afterward denied that they had 
intended to take life, but said their plan was for each 
of them to take such aim as to break a man's leg and 
kill the horse he rode. Then they intended to make 
their escape to Canada. They said they " wanted to 
give the slaveholders something to remember Michi- 
gan by," and it is altogether probably that their 
bitter hatred would have led them to shoot in such 
manner as to kill instead of wound their victims. 

In February, 1848, the Kentuckians brought suit 
to recover the value of their slaves, in the United 
States Circuit Court, at Detroit. The defendants 
were D. T. Nicholson, Stephen Bogue, Josiah Osborn, 
Ishmael Lee, Zachariah Shugart, Jefferson Osborn, 
William Jones and Ebenezer Mcllvain. Abner Pratt, 
of Marshall, and Francis Trautman (the Kentuckian 
who acted as leader in the Calhoun County raid) ap- 
peared in behalf of the plaintiffs, and Jacob M. How- 
ard, of Detroit (afterward United States Senator) 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



James L. Jerneygan, of South Bend, Ind., and Eze- 
kiel S. Smith, were the attorneys for defendants, the 
last named being the attorney of record. 

The case was continued several times, and finally 
came to trial in the latter part of 1850. In January, 
1851, it was concluded, the jury disagreeing. The 
principal witness for the prosecution, Jonathan Cruise, 
of South Bend, was arrested on the charge of perjury 
as soon as he left the stand, and the jury before which 
he was tried, stood nine to three for his conviction. 

At the disagreement of the jury, D. T. Nicholson 
paid th% sum of $1,000 to clear himself and Ishmael 
Lee. This virtually settled the cause of the Ken- 
tucky slave-owners against the Michigan Abolitionists. 
The total costs of the case, which amounted to about 
$3,000, were borne by the several defendants, Nichol- 
son included. The number of witnesses subpoenaed by 
both sides was somewhere from forty to fifty, and 
many depositions were taken, especially by the plaint- 
iffs. The witnesses for the defense charged, as a 
rule, only the amount of their actual expenses. Had 
they received the legal fees, the costs of the suit would 
have been much larger. 

The sum of $1,000 paid by Mr. Nicholson, was ac- 
cording to rumor, appropriated by Abner Pratt, Esq., as 
his fee in the case, and the slave-owners never received 
any portion of it. And so ended, as far as the Cas* County 
people were immediately interested, tliis " celebrated 
case." The Kentucky raid, however, had other effects 
than those locally observable. With the Van Zant case 
in Ohio, it had a strong bearing upon the passage of 
the fugitive slave law of 1850, which, in turn, brought 
slavery into a more pronounced position as a political 
issue, and powerfully influenced in one way or another 
all subsequent legislation upon the " peculiar institu- 
tion." 



CHAPTER XVIIT. 

CASS COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 

The First ('ompany of Soldiers raised in tlie County— Its Organization 
— Attaelied to tlie Forty-second liiinois Infantry— Brief History of 
tliat Keginient— Koster of tlie Officers and Men of the Forty- 
second, from (ass County— Other Full Companies from the County 
—The Sixth Michigan Infantry— Brief Histories of the Twelfth and 
Nineteenth Infantry -Kegiments, with Koster of Men from Cass— 
The First Michigan Cavalry. 

rpiHE first demonstration made in Cass County 
-L toward taking a part in the armed protection of 
the .Union, was made at Dowagiac by the Cass County 
Guards, upon the 22d of April, 18G1, at which time 
they elected officers, "voted to drill every Saturday 
afternoon until accepted in the service of the State," 
and passed a resolution in favor of publishing the pro- 
ceedings of their meetings " in the Dowagiac Daily 
Union and other papers in tlie county friendly to the 



stars and stripes."* The officers elected were : Cap- 
tain, D. McOmber; First Lieutenant, W. N. S. 
Townsend ; Second Lieutenant, N. H. De Foe. 
The remainder of the officers chosen were as follows : 
L. Andrews, First Sergeant ; L. Roberts, Second 
Sergeant ; James Wiley, Third Sergeant ; Joseph 
Johnson, Fourth Sergeant; L. H. Barney, First 
Corporal; Charles Root, Second Corporal; B. F. 
Griffin, Third Corporal; Edward Herson, Fourth 
Corporal. 

This company singularly enough became a portion 
of an Illinois regiment. The company was re-organ- 
ized upon the 18th of May, but without essential 
change of officers, and was then the twenty-seventh 
company organized in the State. They remained in 
barracks at Dowagiac six weeks : were assigned to 
the Fourth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, 
which was in process of formation at Adrian ; subse- 
quently changed to the Sixth, and before they could 
report, the officers were ordered to Detroit for military 
schooling, and the privates ordered to disperse. An 
effort was made to have these orders rescinded, but it 
was unavailing, and refusing to comply with the Gov- 
ernor's requirements, the members of the company, 
by a unanimous vote, decided to proffer themselves for 
enlistment in the Douglas Brigade, then organizing 
in Chicago. This brigade was not accepted until 
after the first battle of Bull Run, and the company, 
which had gone to Chicago in June, had returned 
: home; but upon the 26th of July, 1861, they were 
mustered in at Dowagiac by Capt. Webb, United 
States Mustering Officer, as Company E, of the 
Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and left for 
Chicago, where they remained ten weeks. 

We herewith present a condensed history of the 
regiment : 

THE FORTY-SECOND ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.! 

j This regiment was mustered into service at Chi- 

I cago, 111., July 22, 1861. Its first movement was 
to St. Louis, Mo., September 21, 1861. October 

; 18, it arrived at Tipton, Mo., and was assigned to 
Col. Palmer's brigade. October 25, it was at War- 
saw, fro'n whence it moved, November 1, to Spring- 
field, arriving there November 4, after a march of 
ninety-seven miles. December 13, they went into 
winter ([uarters at Smithton, Mo., where they re- 
mained until February 3, 1862, when they marched 
to St. Charles, Mo. February 20, they were at Fort 
Holt, Kentucky ; Columbus was occupied March 4, 
and March 10 saw them on their way to Island No. 
10, where they were engaged until its surrender, 

I April 11, 1862, at which date they joined Gen. Pope's 

♦Dowaulac Umly Union, A|)rirz4, 18111. 
1 t From report of the A^jutint Uonentl uf [lllnoirt. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



army, and moved to Fort Pillow the 14th. Hamburg, 
Tenn., was the next point in the march, arriving 
there April 22. They were engaged at the siege of 
Corinth, Miss. May 19, 1862, we find them engaged 
in battle at Farmington, Miss., where the regiment 
lost two killed, twelve wounded, and three missing. 
After this fight, they were in the advance, in pursuit 
of the rebel army, under Beauregard. From July 
25 to September 3, they were occupying Courtland, 
Ala., when they left for Nashville, Tenn., at which 
place they arrived September 13, having had on their 
march a battle at Columbia, Tenn., in which they lost 
one man. 

They were in Nashville during the siege, and on 
December 20, 1862, marched out on the Nolensville 
pike six miles. December 16, engaged in the Mur- 
freesboro campaign. December 31, 1862, they were 
in the battle of Stone River, losing 22 killed, 116 
wounded, and 85 prisoners. 

March 5, 1863, engaged in the pursuit of Van 
Dorn to Columbia, returning to camp at Murfrees- 
boro the 14th ; entered upon the Tullahoma campaign 
June 24 ; camped at Bridgeport, Ala., July 31. 
September 2, engaged in the Chattanooga campaign. 
Marched to Alpine, Ga., thence to Trenton, and 
crossed Lookout Mountain ; was in the battle of 
Chickamauga, Ga., losing 28 killed, 128 wounded, 
and 28 prisoners, and retreated to Chattanooga. At 
the battle of Mission Ridge, November 28, 1863, the 
Forty-second was on the skirmish line during the 
whole engagement, losing 5 killed and 40 wounded. 
Pursued the enemy to Chickamauga Creek and re- 
turned. 

The East Tennessee campaign was entered upon 
November 28, 1863. December 27, 1863, camped 
at Stone's Mill. 

January 1, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted and be- 
came a veteran volunteer organization. Dandridge 
was the next point, arriving there January 15. Feb- 
ruary 2, arrived at Chattanooga. February 21, 
moved by rail for Chicago. March 2, the men re- 
ceived a thirty days furlough, returning April 2, and 
arriving in Chattanooga April 27, 1864. May 3, 
they began the Atlanta campaign and were engaged 
in battles at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairs- 
ville. New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and 
Lovejoy Station, encamping at Atlanta September 8. 
Total 'loss of the campaign, 20 killed, 89 wounded 
and 7 prisoners. 

Moved, September 25, by rail, to Bridgeport, Ala., 
and to Chattanooga October 19 ; then marched to Al- 
pine, Ga., and returned October 30. 

Moved, by rail, to Athens, Ala., then marched to 



Pulaski, Tenn., arriving there November 5. Began 
retreating for Nashville November 22, 1864, and on 
the march fighting the rebels at Spring Hill and 
Franklin, and losing 24 killed, 95 wounded, and 30 
prisoners. Arrived at Nashville December 1. The 
battle of Nashville occurring the 15th and 16th, the 
regiment engaged and lost 2 killed and 11 wounded ; 
then pursued the enemy eighty-two miles, and camped 
at Lexington, Ala.. December 31, 1864. January 6, 
1865, they were in Decatur, Ala., remaining there- 
until April 1, 1865. They went to Nashville, going 
through Bull's Gap and Blue Springs. June 15, 
1865, they went by rail to Johnsonville, Tenn., and 
thence by water to New Orleans. July 18, they pro- 
ceeded to Port Lavaca, Tex , and went on post duty. 
December 16, 1865, they mustered out and left In- 
dianola, Tex., the 20th. Left New Orleans the 24th 
and arrived at Camp Butler January 3, 1866. Janu- 
ary 10, 1866, received final payment and discharge. 

Company E. 
Capt. Daniel McOmber, Uowagiac. 
Capt. William H. Colburn, Silver Creek; com. April 11, 1865; 

m. 0. Dec. IG, I860; 1st Lieut. May 17, 1864; Sergt. vet. 

Jan. 1, 1864 ; Corp., July 26, 1861. 
First Lieut. William H. Clark, Dowagiao, May 17, 1864; declined 

coin. 
Second Lieut. Nathan H. DeFoe, Uowagiac, Jan. 22, 1861 ; res. 

Mayjl, 1862. 
First Sergt. William T. Codding, Dowagiac, July 22, 1861 ; m. 0. 

.Sept. 16, 1864. 
Sergt. Jehiel Hall, Dowagiac, July 23, 1861 ; killed at Stone 

River Dec. 31, 1862. 
Sergt. Cyrus Phillips, Dowagiao, July 22, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 

prom. 1st Lieut. Co. F. 
Sergt. Leonard H. Norton, La Grange, Aug. 10, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 

1, 1864 ; died of wounds March 5, 1864. 
Corp. William H. Colburn, Silver Creek, July 26, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 

1 , 1 864 ; prom. Ist Lieut, from Sergt. 
Corp. Asher Huff, Dowagiac, July 26, 1861 ; dis for clisahility 

March V?., 1863. 
Corp. Comfort P. Estes, Dowagiac, July 26, 1861; vet. Jan. 1, 

1864; killed at Kenesaw June 18, 1864. 
Corp. Christopher Harmon, Dowagiac, July 26, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 

1864 ; m. 0. Sergt. Dec. 16, 1865. 
Corp. Theo. De Camp, Silver Creek, July 26, 1861 ; dis. for dis- 
ability March 11, 1863. 
Corp. William H. Clark. Dowagiac, July 26, 1861: vet. Jan. 1, 

1864; m. 0. as Sergt. May 28, 1865. 
Corp. Victor Wallace, Dowagiao, July 26, 1861; vet. Jan. I, 

1864; ra. 0. as Sergt. Dec. 16, 1865f 
Arnold, Desire, Silver Creek, July 26, 1861 ; killed at Stone 

River Dec. 31, 1862. 
Brownell, Lorenzo D., Dowagiac, July 26, 1861 ; dis. for dis- 
ability Nov. 18, 1862. 
Barrack, Jonathan A., Calvin, Aug. 1, 1S61 ; dis. for disability 

Aug 17, 1862. 
Burling, Robert G., I'okagou, July 26, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

Oct. 24, 1862. 
Bragg, Gustavus, Pokagon, Aug. 7, 1861 : died of wounds at Tren- 
ton, Ga., Sept. 10, 1863. 
Caston, Hiram. Jefferson, July 26, 1861 ; ra. 0., wounded, Sept. 

16, 1864. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUiXTY, MICHIGAN. 



Cone, Hulett, Dowagiae, Aug. 31, 1861 : died at Park Barracks' 

Ky., Nov. 6, 1862. 
Calhoun, .\lbert, Aug. -SO, IS61 ; died in rebel hogp., Wilniinglon. 

N. C, March 5, 186-5. 
Day, Lucius C, Dowagiae, .July 'JG, 1861 ; vet. .I.an. 1, 1864; m. 

0. July 15, 1865. 
Finehart, Daniel P., Pokagon, .luly 26, 1861 ; died Feb. 8, 1862. 
Fleming, James H., Volinia, Aug. — , 1^61; died of wounds at 

Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 25, 1863. 
Heath, Edward C, Pokagon, July 26, 1861 ; Corp. ; died Aug. 2;-!, 

1862. 
Hill, James, Dowagiae. July 26, 1861; vet. .Ian. 1, 1864; m. o. 

Dee. 16, 1865. 
Hanna, Nathaniel L., Dowagiae, Aug. 10, 1861 ; dis. for disability, 

March 27, 186,3. 
Hover, John B., Calvin, Aug. 21, 18fil ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; prom. 

Prin. Mus. 
Higgins, George W., Dowagiae. July 26, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

March 27, 1862. 
Henderson, George H., Dowagiae, July 26, 1861 ; m. o. July 15, 

186-5. 
Hitsman, Sidney, Dowagiae, July 26, 1861; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 

m. 0. Dec. 16, 1865. 
Higgins, Daniel, Dowagiae, Aug. 1, 1861 ; dis. Dec. 5, 1862. 
Krisher, John, Jr., Calvin, Sept. 9, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; m. 

o. Dec. 16, 1865. 
Lc'on.ard, William, Cassopolis, July 26, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 

m. 0. Dec. 16, 1865. 
Lucas, Henry, Newburg, July 31, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; de- 
tached at m. 0. 
Lewis, Edwin H., Cassopolis, July 26, 1861; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 

dis. for disability April 18, 1862. 
Miller, William H. H., Calvin, .luly 26, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864 ; 

killed at Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, 1864. 
Munger, Charles A., Dowagiae, .July 26, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 

prom. 1st Lieut, from Sergt. 
Momany, Oliver F., Dowagiae, July 26, 1861; wounded; trans- 
ferred to Vet. Res. Corps Feb. 16, 1864. 
McDonald, Alva, Pokagon, Aug. 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. .3, 1864. 
Northrup, Adoniram, Calvin, Aug. 1, 1864; killed at Stone River 

Dec. 31, 1862. 
Nevill, John G., Dowagiae, Aug. 1, 1864; wounded; transferred 

to Vet. Res. Corps April 16, 1864. 
Orange, Andrew, Dowagiae, Aug. 10, 1861 ; dis. Dec. 5, 1862. 
Peters, John, Calvin, Aug. 1, 1861 ; dis. for disability May 26, 

1862. 
Picrson, Bartley, Calvin, Aug. 1, 1861 ; dis. for disability .May 3, 

1862. 
Corp. Peter Rummels, Silver Creek, July 26, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 

1864; m. o. Dec. 16, 186.5. 
Rea, Albert W., Calvin, Aug. 1, 1861 ; vet. Jan. I, 1864; died of 

wounds Dec. 15, 1861. 
Spieer, George G., Dowagiae, July 26, 1861; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 

m. 0. Dec. 16, 1865. 
Shanafelt, Albert A., Dowagiae. July 26, 1861 ; m. o. Sept. 28, 

1864. 
Shan.afelt, Herbert R., Dowagiae, July 26, 1861 ; died of wounds 

Columbia, .S. C. . 
Shearer, James H., Dowagiae, Aug. 1, 18<)1 ; died at Smithlon, 

Mo., Jan. 29, 1862. 
Stevens, Joseph H., Dowagiae, Aug. 1, 1861 ; died of wounds .luly 

7, 1864. 
Stevenson, Zimri, Calvin, Aug. 1, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; ni. o. 

Dec. 16, 1865. 
Sturr, Joseph L., Calvin, Aug. 1, 1861 ; m. o. Sept. 18, 1864. 
Tillotson, John D., Calvin, Aug. 1, 1861 ; m. o. Dec. 16, 1.865. 
Trenholm, Benjamin, Calvin, Sept. 9, 1861 ; m. o. .Sept. 16, 1864. 



Worden, Amasa P. R., Dowagiae, July 26, 1861 ; died of wounds 
April 7, 1864. 

RKCKHITS. 

Morse, Abel S.., Silver (>eek ; dis for disability Aug. 15, 1861. 
Row, Ferd. P., Silver Creek ; dis. for disability, Sept. 10, 1861. 
Stage, William, transferred to .Sappers and Miners Sept 5, 1861. 

SIXTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY. 

The second company, organized in the County, was 
Company D of the Sixth Michigan Infantry. This 
company was organized at Dowagiae, with Charles E. 
Clarke, as Captain ; Frederick J. Clarke, First Lieu- 
tenant ; James Ellis, Second Lieutenant, and William 
H. Gage, Orderly Sergeant. The Captain of the com- 
pany arose to the position of Colonel,* James Ellis to 
the rank of Captain, and Orderly Sergeant Gage to 
that of Lieutenant. First Lieutenant Clarke became 
acting Captain, and was killed at Port Hudson. f 

The history of the Sixth Regiment is briefly as 
follows : 

It was what was known as a " camp instruction regi- 
ment;" was oi'ganized in the summer of 1861, and 
was rendezvoused at Kalamazoo. The commissioned 
officers were selected by the Governor, and they in 
turn selected the non-commissioned officers of their re- 
spective companies, and both commissioned and non- 
commissioned officers then went into a camp of instruc- 
tion at Detroit, where they were thoroughly drilled 
for nearly two months. The regiment left Kalamazoo 
for the East, August -SO, 1861, with 944 men, and 
remained in Baltimore for nearly six months on 
garrison duty. On February 22, 1862, the regiment 
went to Newport News (Fortress Monroe), and, on 
the 4th of March, left with other regiments for New 
Orleans, embarking just in time to encounter a ter- 
rific gale off Cape Hatteras. The Sixth was the first 
Union regiment which occupied New Orleans in the 
day time (a few had entered in the night). On the 
9th of May, the regiment, with its brigade, proceeded 
up the Mississippi, taking possession of various 
places, but meeting with no opposition until it arrived 
at Warrenton, a small place near Vicksburg. The 

♦Colonel Charles E. Clarke, formerly of Dowagiao, is a native of Lebanon, 
Conn. For several years prior to liis residence at Dowagiae, be was Captain of 
Bteiimboats on tlioOhio and MissiHsippi Riv,-r.^. Tn ilie summer of 1861, ho was 

(afterwanl made Heavy Artilt.M >-. i i. ..,. .^,,vi. pr,.iii .ti..ri.. h.-rjime its 

Colonel. Ho served with hi»n _)Mi,i.l li.iiil. ~ imil.-r Gens. 

BiitlorandB:4nks, in the Low.-i M v. . .inm iniril tl,,. |,riiM ipal part 



CnpLi 



regiii 



. I n>> was mustered out with bis 

.; was soon aftercommissioned 

V I milk of M^Jor, conferred "for 

I i!i III' rrgutar army, chiefly as com- 

,it]i. ami was transferred to the retired 



t (and Acting Captain) Frederick J. Clarke, wasa native of 
of .Toseph B. (Jlarke and nephew ofOol. Charles E. Clarke. 



buried in the National Militory i;emetory at Baton llouge. 



118 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



enemy was fortified there and refused to surrender. , 
They were not dislodged, and on the 5th of June the j 
brigade returned to Baton Rouge, where they en- I 
camped the next day. On the 20th of July, six 
companies of the regiment, in command of Col. 
Clark (T. S.), made a raid in the direction of Camp 
Moore, sixty miles eastward of Baton Rouge, for the 
purpose of capturing Charles M. Conrad, who had 
been Secretary of War under President Fillmore, and | 
a number of other rebels. At Benton's Ferry, a rebel ! 
force was encountered, and a running fight ensued. ! 
On August 5, while Baton Rouge was being heavily 
atttacked by the rebel forces under Breckinridge, the 
regiment, then under command of Col. Charles E. ; 
Clarke, received and repulsed the principal attack, 
which, had it been successful, would have resulted in 
the loss of a large quantity of artillery and stores. 
The loss of the regiment was twenty killed, forty-three ! 
wounded and six missing. Capt. Clarke, Acting Lieu- 
tenant Colonel, and Lieut. Clarke, were especially men- ' 
tioned for meritorious action in the reports of their ] 
superior officers. After the evacuation of Baton'Rouge 
by the Union forces on the 20th of August, 1862, the i 
Sixth was stationed at Mettarie Ridge, guarding one of 
the approaches to New Orleans. Owing to the un- 
healthiness of the locality only 755 men were fit for , 
duty when they arrived at New Orleans December 6, 
but those sick soon recovered there. On the 14th of 
January, 1863, the regiment participated in an ex- [ 
pedition, under Gen. Weitzel, to Bayou Teche, 
which destroyed the rebel gunboat Cotton. On the 
the 23d of March, it attacked the rebels at Poncha- . 
toula ; was engaged with the enemy April 3, at 
Amite River; at Tickfaw River on the 12th, and 
again at Araite River on the 12th of May. On a 
later date, the Sixth made a raid up the -Jackson Rail- 
road, destroying the enemy's camp at Pangipaho, | 
capturing sixty prisoners and appropriating or destroy- ! 
ing property valued at ^400,000. The regiment i 
then returned to New Orleans, and upon the 23d, as : 
a part of Gen. Banks' force, arrived in front of Port , 
Hudson, and was placed in one of the most exposed 
positions. On the 27th, the Sixth was engaged in the 
celebrated and deadly assault on Port Hudson, in 
which a third of its men were killed. The regiment 
in this finely fought combat, was under the command 
of Col. T. W. Sherman (who should not be confounded | 
with Gen. William T.. Sherman). The siege of Port 
Hudson followed. On the 5th of June, the regiment 
took part in a less disastrous assault. The Sixth 
was stationed at Port Hudson until March 11, 1864, 
where 247 men re-enlisted, a sufficient number of 
veterans to preserve the organization. It started 
for Michigan under command of Col. Edward Bacon, 



and after arriving at Kalamazoo, was furloughed for 
thirty days. Having again re-assembled it returned to 
the South, arriving at Port Hudson on the 11th of May, 
with a large number of recruits. On the 6th of June, 
it was ordered to Morganzia and remained there until 
the 24th, when it was ordered to Vicksburg. From 
that point it went to St. Charles, Ark. After the 
siege of Port Hudson, the Sixth had been made an artil- 
lery regiment, but it was now attached to an infantry 
regiment. Remaining but a short time at St. Charles, 
the regiment returned to Morganzia, where, for a 
short time, it was employed as engineers, but was soon 
after returned to duty as heavy artillery. The regi- 
ment was present at the bombardment and surrender 
of Fort Morgan, Ala., but arrived too late to partici- 
pate. Almost the entire service of the Sixth was 
rendered in the extreme Southern States. On the 
the 1st of November, 1864, Col. Charles E. Clarke, 
commanding, it was stationed in Alabama. Com- 
panies A, B, D, G and K garrisoned Fort Morgan 
and Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, while 
the other companies were detached in December and 
joined an expedition against Mobile. After a fine 
career, the regiment came North at the close of the war, 
and was paid off and discharged at Jackson, Mich., 
September 5, 1865. The Sixth, during its term of serv- 
ice, met the enemy at Sewell's Point, Va., March 5, 
1862 ; Fort Jackson, La., April 25, 1862 ; Vicks- 
burg, Miss., May 20, 1862 ; Grand Gulf, Miss., May 
27, 1862; Amite River, Miss., June 20, 1862; 
Baton Rouge, La., August 5 and 7, 1862 ; Bayou 
Teche, La., January 14, 1863 ; Ponchatoula, La., 
March 24, 25 and 26, 1863 ; Baratoria, La., April 
7, 1863 ; Tickfaw River, La., April 12, 1863 ; Amite 
River, Miss., May 7, 1863 ; Ponchatoula, La., May 
16, 1863 ; siege'of Port Hudson, May 23 to July 8, 
1863; Tunica Bayou, La., November 8, 1863; Ash- 
ton, Ark., July 24, 1864 ; Fort Morgan, Ala., August 
23, 1864; Spanish Fort, Ala., April, 1865; Fort 
Blakely, Ala., April, 1865 ; Fort Huger, Ala., 
April, 1865 ; Fort Traeey, Ala., April, 1865 ; siege 
of Mobile, Ala., from March 20 to April 12, 1865. 

The total enrollment of the Sixth was 1,957 officers 
and men ; its losses 542 ; of which 2 officers and 43 
men were killed in action ; died of wounds, 21 men ; 
and of disease, 6 officers and 470 men. 

Field and Staff. 
Col. Chas. E. Clarke, Dowagiac, com. October 16, 18G4 ; m. o. as 
Lieut. Col. Sept. 7, 1865; com. Lieut. Col. Feb. 1, 1864; 
Maj. June 21, 1862; Capt. U. S. Army July 28, 1866 ; Brevet 
Major March 7, 1867, for gallant ami meritorious services in 
the siege of Port Huron, La. ; retired June 28, 1878. 
NoN Commissioned Staff. 
Sergt. Maj. Henry W. Ellis, Pokagon, com. May 13, 1865; m. o. 
.\ug. 20, 1865. 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Principal Musician Geo. 'L. Hazen, Calvin, e. .Ian. 1, 1862; vet. 

Feb. 1, 1864 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Musician John R. I.ee, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. by order Sept. 20, 

1862. 

COMTANY A. 

Briggs, George, Porter, e. Aug. 30, 1862 ; dis. by order July 22, 

1865. 
Woodard, Alvah, Porter, e. Aug. 30, 1862: died of disease at 

Ft. Morgan, Ala., Sept 24, 1864. 

Company C. 
First Lieut. Jas. A. Ellis, Donagiac, com. Dec. 1, 1862; trans. 

1st. Lieut, to Co. D. July 20, 1863. 
Anderson, Andrew J., Calvin, e. Jan. 11, 1864; trans to 7th 

U. S. Heavy Artillery June 1, 1864. 
Freeman, Henry W., Porter, e. Jan. 20, 1864 : trans, to Veteran 

Reserve Corps. 
Gilbert, Alson, Wayne, e. Dec. 21, 1863 ; died of disease at New 

Orleans, La., Oct. 12, 1864. 
Hawks, Henry, Mason, e. Jan. 11, 1864; trans, to 7th U. S. 

Heavy Artillery June 1, 1864. 
Turnley, Hiram M., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability March 

28, 1864. 

Company D. 
Capt. Charles E. Clarke, Dowagiac, com. Aug. 20, 1861 ; prom. 

Major. 
Capt. James A. Ellis, Dowagiac, com. Sept. 1, 1863 ; resigned July 

19, 1864; trans. 1st Lieut, from Co. C, July 20, 1863; 2d 

Lieut. Co. D, Aug. 20, 1861. 
First Lieut. Frederick J. Clarke, Dowagiac, com. Aug. 19, 1861 ; 

killed in battle at Port Hudson, La., May 27, 1862. 
First Lieut. William W. McIIvaine, Cassopolis, com. Sept. 1, 

1863 ; com. 2d Lieut. Dec. 1, 1862 ; Sergt. Aug. 20, 1861 ; re- 
signed as 1st Lieut. July 20. 1864. 
First Lieut. Charles St. John, Dowagiac, com. March 7, 1865 ; m. 

0. July 20, 1865; 2d Lieut. Co. F; Sergt. Co. D; vet. Feb. 

1, 1864. 

Second Lieut. John G. Allison, Porter, e. Sergt. Aug. 20, 1861 ; 

vet. Feb. 1, 1864 ; m. o. as Sergt. July 20, 1865. 
Sergt. Hiram Meacham, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 

14, 1862. 
Sergt. William 0. Kellam, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

April 30, 1864. 
Sergt. Ira Coe, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; prom. 2d Lieut. U. S. C. T. 
Corp. Charles K. Weil, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; prom. 1st Lieut. 1st 

La. Battery, Nov. 29, 1802. 
Corp. Ira Coe, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 23, 

1864. 
Corp. Thomas M. Sears, La Grange, e. Nov. 21, 1862; vet. March 2, 

1864: dis. by order Aug. 20, 1865. 
Corp. James K. Train, e. Dec. 10, 1863 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Corp. Theodore Perarle, Ontwa, e. Dec. 2, 1804; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Aikins, Alexander, Calvin, e. Oct. 7, 1863 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 
Baker, Ferdinand, m. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Bell, James M., Jefferson, e. Aug. 20. 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1. 1864 ; 

dis. for disability Aug. 1, 1865. 
Brown, Francis D., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of .service, Aug. 

23, 1864. 
Carter, Elijah H., Porter, e. Aug. 12, 1862 ; died at Port Hudson, 

La., of wounds, May 27, 1863. 
Carter, John M, Calvin, e. Aug. 12, 1862; died of disease at 

Port Hudson, Sept. 2, 1863. 
Christie, Willard, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service, Aug. 

23, 1864. 



Curtis, Edward, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at New Orleans, 

La., Nov. 30, 1862. 
Cushing, James H., Silver Creek, e. April 12, 1864; dis. by 

order, Sept. 5, 1865. 
Dorr, Peter, Penn, e. Aug. 20, 1861; vet. Feb. 1, 1864; m. o. 

Aug. 20, 1865. 
Estabrook, Aaron L., e. .\ug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service, 

Aug. 23, 1864. 
Estabrook, George R., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability, Oct. 

14, 1862, 
Fraker, Oliver P., Porter, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864 ; 

dis. for disability. May 18, 1865. 
Gannett, Lewis, e. .\ug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 23, 

1864. 
Grennell, Oliver C, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 14, 

1862, 
Gales, Jefferson, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Baltimore 

Oct. 8, 1861. 
Gilbert, Allison J.. Wayne, e. Dec. 21, 1863; dis. for disability 

June 2, 1865. 
Goodrich, Noah, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis for disability Oct. 12, 

1864. 
Gregg, James H., e. .\ug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 

23, 1864. 
Greenman, James J., Porter, e. Aug. 12, 1862; m. o. July 21, 

1865. 
Hall, George M., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 6, 

Hall, Philander W., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864; m. o. 

Aug. 20, 1865. 
Harmon, Benjamin H., died at Port Hudson, La , of wounds. 

May 27, 1863. 
Harmon, James, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. by order March 28, 

1864. 
Harmon, Sylvester, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Port 

Hudson, La., Aug. 13, 1863. 
Herrod, Francis M., Porter, e. Jan. 2, 1864; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1866. 
Horr, Calvin L., Calvin, e. Aug. 14, 1862 ; m. o. July 21, 1865. 
Hover, Evart, Silver Creek, e. March 31, 1864; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 
Jackson, J. J., Porter, e. Aug 27, 1862 ; dis. for disability March 

10, 1863. 
Johnston, Albert, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. by order Feb. 10, 1863. 
King, Edward, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 23, 



King, John, e. Jan. 1, 1862 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864. 

Kidder, Norman C, e. Aug. 12, 1862 ; m. o. July 21, 1865. 

Kirk, George W., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Camp 

Williams Nov. 21, 1862. 
Lake, William H., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 

23, 1864. 
Lewis, Peter, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Port Hudson, 

La., Aug. 12, 1803. 
.Mcintosh, Jacob M., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 
23, 1864. 
j Meacham, Cyrus, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 14, 
I 1862. 

j Meacham. William J., e. Jan. 1, 1862; dis. for disability Oct. 
1 14, 1802. 

Miller, James M. ;.di3. for disability Sept. 18, 1803. 
Montgomery, .Milton, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Baton 

Rouge, La., Aug. 3, 1862. 
Montgomery, Samuel, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Port 
Hudson, La., July 18, 1863. 
i Myers, George R., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at New 
I Orleans, La., Aug. 12, 1862. 



120 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Nesbitl, William, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dig. for disabililj Ocl. 14, 

1862. 
Neville, Jerry, Silver Creek, e. Dec. 22, ISCS : in. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 
Osborn, Allen S., Calvin, e. Aug. 11, 1862 ; m. o. July 21, 1865. 
Osborn, Arthur, e. Nov. 10, 1862 ; in. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Osborn, Job E., Calvin, e. Aug. 14, 1862 ; died of disease at Port 

Hudson, La., Oct. 4, 1863. 
O'Neil, Timothy, Silver Creek, e. Nov. 21, 1863 ; ni. o. Aug. 20, 



Overmeyer, Thomas J., e. Aug. 20, 18i;l : dis. at end of service 

Aug. 23, 1864. 
Owen, Andrew J., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of 

23, 1864. 



Patrick, Levi \V., died of disease at Baton Rouge, La., July 3, [ Corp. John R. Lee, e. Aug 
1862. 



First Lieut. .John Jacks, Edwardsburg, com. Sept. 1, 1862; dis. 

for disability Oct. 27, 1863. 
First Lieut. Edw.ard C. Beardsley, Dowagiac, com. Nov. 25, 

1864. 
Second Lieut. .John Jacks, Ontwa, com. .\ug. 20, 1863; prom. 

First Lieut. 
Second Lieut. Edward C. Beardsley, Dowagiac, com. June 3, 

1864 ; prom. First Lieut. 
Sergt. Charles Morgan, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service 

Aug. 23, 1864. 
Sergt. E. C. Beardsley, e. Aug. 20, 1801 ; prom. Second Lieut. 
Aug. j Sergt. John P. Carr, Jefferson, e. Aug. 20, 1861; vet. Feb. 1, 
0. Aug. 26, 1865. 



il ; trans, to regimental band. 
Corp. Alouzo Benedict, e. Aug. 20, 1861; dis. for disability Oct. 

26, 1862. 
Corp. Leonard Sweet, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 
26, 1802. 

23, 1864. I Corp. David Ogden, e. Aug. 20, 1861; vet. Feb. 1, 1,864; m. o. 

Reynolds, Paul S., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. i ^ug. 20, 1865. 



Randall, Lorenzo D., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 

23, 1864. 
Reynolds, George, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 



23, 1864. 
Rinehart, Henry, e. Aug. 18, 1862 ; m. o. July 21, 1805. 
Ring, John. e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 14, 1862. 
Robb, John, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Jan. 20, 1862. 
Rogers, Leroy, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. .at end of service Aug. 23, 

1864. 
Sickles, George VV., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died in action at Port 

Hudson, La., June 30, 1863. 
Starka, William, Silver Creek, e. April 12, 1864; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 
Shawl, Merrin, Silver Creek, e. April 12, 1864 ; ra. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 
Stockwell, John, e. Aug. 20, 1851 ; dis. for disability Oct. 14, 

1862. 
Stone, Edmund, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at New Orleans, 

La., Aug. 12, 1862. 
St. John, Charles, Silver Creek, e. Aug. 2U, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 

1864; dis. for prom. 2d Lieut, this regt., Co. J, Nov. 1, 

1864. 
Swinehart, Lewis, Porter, e. Aug. 18, 1862; died of disease at 

Port Hudson, La., Aug. 29, 1863. 
Tracy, Spencer, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Port Hudson, 

La., Sept. 22, 1863. 
Wallace, William, Wayne, e. Dec. 19, 1863 ; m. o. July 21, 1865. 
Wheeler, Thomas, Penu, e. Aug. 25, 1864 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Wicting, John, Silver Creek, e. March 31, 1864 ; dis. for disability 

Dee. 15, 1864. 
Wilsey, William H., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Carrol- 
ton, La., March 6, 1863. 

COMl'ANY E. 

Second Lieut. Charles St. John, Dowagiac, prom, from Sergt. 
Co. D, July 18, 1864; prom. 1st Lieut., Co. I). March 7, 
1865. 

Company F. 

PRIVATE. 

Corsclnian, Levi, Marcellus, c. March 1, 1862 ; dis. by order Sept. 

14. 1865. 

Company G. 

privatks. 

Clark, (leorge 11., Wayne, e. Dec. 19, 1863; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 
Dewey, Enoch, Silver Creek, e. Dec. 21, 1863; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1866. 
Stevens, Isaac R., Silver Creek, e. Oct. 20, 1864; m. o. Aug. 20, 

1865. 



Corp. James H. Smith, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Jan, 

20, 1862 
Corp. John Chatterdon, Howard, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 

1864; m. o. Aug. 11, 1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Barrett, Ransom, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Port Hud- 
son, La., June 25, 1862. 
Bramhall, Nathan W., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Port 

Hudson, La., FeJ). 6, 1864. 
Brunson, Perry, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. to enter Regular Army 

Dec. 23, 1862. 
Bump, Adolphus, Jefferson, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864; 

m. 0. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Coder, Willett G., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. for disability Oct. 26, 

1861. 
Cole, Johnson B., e. Aug. 20, 1861; dis. for disability Oct. 29- 

1862. 
Eby, George W. N., e. Aug. 20, 1861 : dis. for disability Jan. 5, 

1863. 
Hanson, Benjamin, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Ship 

Island, La., March 18, 1862. 
Haskins, Calvin, Jefferson, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864; 

m. 0. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Heyde, Henry, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 23, 

1864. 
Joy, Elias W., Jefferson, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864 ; m. 

0. Aug. 20, 1865. 
Kieffer, Jacob, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Aug. 23, 

1864. 
Lamson, Horace, dis. at end of service, Aug. 23, 1864. 
Lockwood. Henry P., e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at 

Baton Rouge, La., July 24, 1863. 
McKinstry, Albert, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; dis. by order March 9, 

1864. 
Mott, Sylvester, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease at Camp Will- 
iams Oct. 8, 1862. 
Putnam, Uzziel, Pokagon, e. .\ug. 20, 1861 ; dig. for disability 

Jan. 26, 1864. 

, , Niles, vet. Feb. 1, 1804 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 

Rourke, Patrick, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1, 1864 ; m. o. Aug. 

20, 1865. 
Shiry, William, Baton Rouge, e. Aug. 20, 1861 ; died of disease 

New Orleans. La., Sept. 11, 1862. 
Smith, Mathew, e. Aug. 20, 1862 ; died of disease at New Or- 
leans Aug. 29, 1868. 
Sweet, Leonard, re-e. Dec. 6, 1863 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 1865. 



IIISTOIIY OK CASS COUNTY. MICllrCAN. 



Thayer, Kira, .lefferson, e. Aug. 20, 18lil ; vet. Feb. I, 18ti4; m. 

o. Aug. 20, I860. 
Wesifall. Mivrvin F., Jefferson, e. Aug. 2(1, 18(11 : ve(. Feb. 1 , 1864 ; 

(lis. for disability .lune •), 18(55. 
Williams, George W., e. Aug. 20, 18('.l ; (lis. at end of service 

Aug. 23, 1864. 

THK TWELFTH MICHUiAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

A large number of Cass County men were in 
this regiment. Company A, raised by Capt. Joseph 
Harper of Cassopolis, was composed almost entirely of 
men from this county. They were enlisted at Casso- 
polis, in the fall of 18(31, and the company was orga- 
nized at Niles, which place was selected as the place 
of rendezvous for the Twelfth Regiment, in the spring 
of 1862. Charles A. Van. Riper was First Lieutenant, 
and David M. McLelland Second Lieutenant. 

The Twelfth completed its organization, and was 
mustered into service, on March 5, 1862, with a 
strength of 1,000 officers and men. The regiment 
moved from Niles, on the 18th of March, taking the 
route to St. Louis, from whence it was hurried forward 
by steamer, by the Mississippi. Ohio and Tennessee 
Rivers, reaching Pittsburg Landing in time to take 
part in the important engagement, fought at that 
place on the 6th and 7th of April. The Colonel 
commanding was Francis Quinn, of Niles. The regi- 
ment was assigned to Col. Peabody's brigade of Uen. 
Prentiss' division, and was one of the first regiments 
attacked by the enemy, sufi"ering a severe loss. The 
battle of Shiloh was an important event in the history 
of the Twelfth. During April and May, it remained 
at Pittsburg Landing, and in June and July was in 
Jackson, Tenn. In August, it was stationed at Boli- 
var, in the same State. Under command of Col. 
Uraves, the regiment was on picket duty, near the 
field of action, at luka on September 2, and was in 
the battle of Metamora, on the Hatchie River, October 
.'), with loss, and was complimented in the report of 
Gen. Hurlburt for efficiency and bravery in the action. 
The other engagements with the enemy, in which the 
Twelfth took part, were at Middleburg, Tenn., De- 
cember 24, 1862; Mechanicsville, Miss., June 4, 1868; 
siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June and July, 1863 ; 
siege of Little Rock, Ark., August and September, 
ISO-]; Clarendon, Ark., June 26, 1S64; Gregory's 
Landing, September 4, 1864. 

The regiment was, for some time after the close of 
active hostilities, engaged in guarding public property 
in Arkan.sas, but came north, in February, 1866, and 
on the 6th of March, the men were paid off and dis- 
charged at Jackson, Mich. The total membership of 
the regiment was 2,32.^. and its losses 432, of which 
number 1 officer and 23 men died of wounds ; 28 men 
were killed in action ; 3 oflicers and 377 men died of 
disease. 



Cdmpanv A. 
('apt. .Foseph llarper, Ossopolis, com. .Sept. 26, 18(51 ; resigned 

May 7, 1862. 
First Lieut. Charles A. Van Riper, La (irange, com. Oct. 4, 1861 ; 

resigned Feb. 28, 1863. 
First Lieut. Austin L. Abbott, Pokagon, com. Feb. 23, 1863 ; 

resigned .luly 3, 1864. 
Second Lieut. David M. McLelland, Dowagiac, <:oni. Oct. 14, 

1861 ; resigned Nov. IG, 1862. 
.Second Lieut. Robert .S. M. Fox, H(.ward, com. April 8, 1864 ; 

prom. 1st Lieut. Co. G. 
Sergt. Austin L. Abbott, Pokagon, e. .Sept. 28, 1861 ; prom. 1st 

Lieut. Co. A. 
Sergt. George B. Crane, Pokagon, e. Oct, 4, 1861 : died of disease 

at Little Rock, Ark., .July 23, ]8(i4. 
Sergt. 15en,iarain F. Dunham, (^assopolis, e. Oct. 4, 1861 ; prom. 

(^m. Sergt. April 1, 1862; died of di8ea,se at St. Louis, .Mo., 

May 24 1862 
.Sergt. .James Hill, Cassopolis, e. Oct. 9, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

May 31, 1864. 
Sergt. Joseph R. Edwards, Pokagon, e. Sept. 28, 18C1 ; dis. at 

end of service Jan. "J, 1865. 
Sergt. Robert S. .M. Fox, Howard, e. Oct. 2, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25, 

1863; prom. 2d Lieut. Co. A. 
Sergt. Isaac D. Harrison, Pokagon, e. Sept. 28, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 

25, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Corp. Isaac D. Harrison, 
t'orp. William E. Stevens, Mason, e. Oct. 22, 1861 ; prom. 2d Lieut . 

Co. K. 
Corp. Lewis Van Riper, La Grange, e. Oct. 4, 1861 ; dis. for .Usa- 
bility Jan. 21, 1862. 
Corp. William Lingual, Pokagon, e. .Sept. 31, 1861 ; dis. at end of 

service Feb. 14, 1865. • 

Corp. Almon W. Eck, Wayne, e. May 18, 186:5; vet. Feb. 2!J 

1S64; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Musician Wellman Blanchard, Pokagon, c. Oct. 15, 1861 ; dis. for 

ilisability Aug. 16, 1862. 



Allen, Alonzo W., Pokagon, e. Sept. 28, 1861 ; died of disease at 

Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 25, 1863. 
Allen, Nelson K., Porter, e. .Ian. 30, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Barker, George F., e. Dec. 15, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 5, 18(53; m. o. Feb, 

16, 1866. 
Bilderback, Peter, .Silver ( 'reek, e. Oct. 31, 1861 ; dieil of wounds 

at Pittsburg Landing, June 5, 1862. 
Bilderback, Wesley B., Silver Creek, e. Oct. 31, 1861 ; dis. for 

disability Nov. 14, 18(53. 
Broniier, David, Penu, e. Oct. 18, 1861 ; died of disease .\pril — , 

1862. 
Brown. Albert E.. Ontwa, e. March 2, 1865; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Brown, Charles G., Dowagiac, e. Sept. 5, 1862; dis. at end of 

service .Sept. 9, 1865. 
Buckley, Peter, Pokagon, e. March 18. 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Bucklin, George S., Wayne, e. Nov. 12, 1861; dis. for disability 

Sept. 9, 1862. 
Hush, Asa L., Dowagiac, e. Feb. 18, 1862; died of disease at 

Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 20, 1863. 
Bycrs, Charles F., La Grange, e. Aug. 19, 1864; dis. at end of 

service Sept 9, 1865. 
i;arr, Allen .M., Ontwa, e. Feb. 25, 1864; dis. for disability May 

22, 1865. 
Caves, Samuel, died of disease at Niles, Mich., March 23, 1862. 
Chisby, James, La Grange, e. Feb. 18, 1862; dis. a( end of serv- 
ice Feb. 17, 1865. 
Campbell. Daniel, Pokagon, e. March 18, 1863; died of wounils 

ai Cuniden, .\rk., Oct. 6, IsCo. 



122 



HISTORY OiF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Cleveland, Cliailes E., e. Jan. 27, 1«02; dis. ai end of service 

, Jan. 27, 1865. 
Colby, James, e. (Id. 14, 18iil ; died in action at ShUoh April 

6, 1862. 
Colvin, James M., e. Oct. 29, 1861; vet. Dec. 25, 1863; acci- 
dentally killed Sept. o, 1864, 
Curtis, Franklin P., Mason, e. Feb. 14, 1864 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866, 
Davis, Edson, Uowagiac, e, Oct. 5, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25, 1863 ; m. o. 

Feb. 15, 1866. 
Delauey, Thomas, Cassopolis, e. Oct 9, 1861 ; vet. Dec, 25, 1863; 

dis. by order Aug. 14, 1865. 
Denison, Franklin, Cassopolis, e, Oct. 9, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 28, 

1863; dis. for disability .May 11, 1865. 
Eggleston, William J., Mason, e. Feb 16, 1865; dis. by order 

May 22, 1865. 
Emmons, Darius, Dowagiac, e. Feb. 22, 1864; dis, by order May 

22, 1865. 
Emmons, Jonathan, Dowagiac, e, Feb. 22, 1864; m, o, Feb. 15, 

1866. 
Emmons, Wm. A., Dowagiac, e. Feb. 22, 1864 ; m. o, eb. 16, 1866. 
Foster, Francis M,, Penn,, e. Feb. 23, 1864; m. o. Feb, 15, 1866, 
Gallagher, James, Jefferson, e. Dec, 8, 1863; m, o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Gilbert, Samuel, Mason, e. Oct. 25, 1861 ; dis. by order Sept. 7, 

1862, 
Gillespie, George, Dowagiac, e. Dec. 28, 1861 ; dis. by order April 

25, 1863. 
Goodrich, James, Jefferson, e. Feb. 22, 1864 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866, 
Goff, Hiram, Wayne, e. Nov. 9, 1861 ; died at home, 
Graham, Edward R., Cassopolis, e. Feb. 21, 1862; dis. at end of 

service Feb. 21, 1865, 
Graham, Henry C, La Grange, e, Sept. 7, 1864 ; dis. al end of 

service Sept. 9, 1865. 
Haas, Jacttb, Howard, e. Sept. 23, 1864; dis. at end of service 

Sept. 9, 1865. 
Haines, Thomas L., Outwa, e. March 2, 1865; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Hartsel, Edward, Dowagiac, e. Oct. 5, 1861 ; died of disease at 

Columbus, Ohio. 
Hatfield, Andrew V., dis. by order Jan, 24, 1866. 
Hauser, Michael B., Pokagon, e. Oct. 15, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

Aug. 28, 1862. 
Heaton, Abram, Porter, e. Dec. 5, 1863 ; m. o. Feb 15, 1866. 
Heaton, Lester iM,, Porter, e, Dec, 29, 1863; m, o, Feb, 15, 1866, 
Higgins, Benjamin F,, Newburg, e. Oct. 12, 1861 ; dis. by order 

.\pril 21, 1863, 
Higgim, James P,, e, Dec, 10, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25, 1863; dis, for 

disability July 8, 1864. 
Higgins, Jonn, Newburg, e. Dec. 11, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25, 1»63 ; 

m, 0. Feb, 15, 1866. 
Higley, Solomon G., Ontwa, e. Dec. 29, 1863 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866, 
.Higley, William, Ontwa, e. March 2, 1865; m, o, Feb, 15, 1866. 
Hill, Henry T., Cassopolis, e. Feb. 18, 1862 ; dis. at end of service 

Feb. 17, 1865. 
Kibray, Jacob P., Newburg, e. Oct. 3, 1861 ; died of disease at 

Montgomery, Ala., May I, 1862. 
Hitchcock, Lucius P., Porter, e. Feb. 5, 1864; m. o. Feb, 15, 1866 
Holmes, Henry, Pokagon, e, .March 18, 1863; died of disease at 

Dowagiac Oct. 2(i, 1863. 
Holmes, William, Silver Creek, e. Nov. 19, 1861 : died of disease 

at Dowagiac June lU, 1863, 
Horner, James, La Grange, e. Oct. 18, 1861 ; vei. Dec. 28, 1863; 

m. 0. Feb. I i, 1866. 
Hudson, James, Jefl'erson, e. Dec. 16, 1863; m. o. Feb. 16, 1866. 
Huff, Charles H,, La Grange, e. Jan. 17, 1866 ; dis. by order Jan. 

24, 1866. 
Hunt, John H,. Jefferson, e. Nov. 11, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 26, 1863: 

m. 0. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Ireland, Elon M., m, o. Feb. 16, 1866. 



Jackson, Erastus M., Porter, e. Feb. 7, 1864; m. o. Feb, 15, 1866. 
Jackson, George, Mason, e. Feb. 14, 1865; m o. Feb, 15, 1866. 
Jackson, John S., Porter, e. Feb. 7, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Jennings, Abram, Dowagiac, e. Oct. 15, 1861 ; dis. by order July 

23, 1862. 
Johns, Aaron, Mason, e. Oct. 18, 1861 ; m. o. Feb, 15, 1866, 
Kugan, Edward, Jefferson, e. Feb, 28, 1862: captured at Little 
Rock, Ark., Sept. 3, 1864; exchanged May 27, 1865; dis, at 

end of servici' July 8, 1865. 
Kelley, John H., Calvin, e. Feb. 7, 1866; died of disease at Wash- 
ington, Ark., July 2, 1865. 
Kelley, Joseph, Calvin, e. Peb. 26, 1864 ; dis. by order May 22, 

186.J, 
Keyes, John, Wayne, e, Nov, 9, 1861 j dia. by order July 16, 1862. 
Landon, Edward, .Mason, e. Feb. 16, 1865; m, o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Langley. Zachariah B„ Pokagon, Oct 13, 1861 ; dia, at end of 

service Jan. 7, 1865. 
Lillie, John, La Orange, e, Dec. 28, 1861 ; dis. at end of service 

Jan. 7, 1865. 
Liphart, George M,, La Grange, e. Oct. 31, 1861 ; died al Indian- 
j apolis, Ind., April 17, 1865. 

Lewman, Simon, La Grange, e. Feb. 22, 1864; died of disease at 
i Duval's Bluff, Ark., Dec. 16, 1804. 

I Maloney, Lawrence, Pokagon, e. Feb. 3, 1864 ; died of disease at 
I Camden, Ark., Dec, 9, 1865. 

.Marsh, Benjamin, La Grange, e. Dec. 7, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 

1866. 
Marsh, Nathan, La Grange, e. March 16. 1865; m. o. Feb. 16, 

1866, 
Miner, William A., La Grange, e. Oct. 6, 1801 ; vet. Dec. 25, 

1863 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Munson, Allen C, Volinia, e. Sept. 2, 1864 ; dis. at end of serv- 
ice, Sept. 9, 1865. 
.Myers, George, Volinia, e. Feb. 18, 1864 : died of disease al 

Camden, Ark., Dec. 9, 1865. 
Neft', Aaron, Jefferson, e. Feb 22, 1864 ; ui. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Niblett, James, Mason, e, Feb. 8, 1864 ; dis. by order .May 22, 

1865. 
Nichols, Arthur. Penn, e. Dec. 11, 1»61 ; dis. for disability 

July 17, 1862. 
Norton, Bela A., La Grange, e. Jan. 27, 1802; dis. at end of serv- 
ice, Jan. 27, 186-J. 
Odell, Victor M , e. Feb. 1, 1862: missing in battle al Shiloh. 

April 7, 1862. 
Pratt, Henry D., Pokagon, e. Nov. 17, 1801 ; died of disease al 

St. Louis, Mo,, June 5, 1862. 
Pratt, James i:.. La Grange, e. Oct. 21, 1801 ; vet. Jan. 2, 1864 ; 

m. 0. Feb. 16, 1866. 
I'hilips, William J.. .Mason, e. Jan. 18, 1864; died of ilisease at 

Duval's Bluff, Ark.. Nov. 26, 1864. 
Post, John H., Pokagon, e. Oct. 8, 1861 : dis. al end of service, 

Jan. 27. 1865. 
Reams, Peter, Jefferson, e. Feb. 23, 1864; dis. for disabilily May 

26, 1865. 
Roberts, James H, Mason, e, Feb. 15, 180.5; m. o. Feb. 15, 

1860. 
Robinson, Levi, Pokagon, e. Oct. 15, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25. 1863; 

dis. by order March I. 1864. 
Rogers, .lesse. Potter, e, Dec 5, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1860. 
Root, Charles. La Grunge, e. Feb. 22, 1804; died of disease at 

Little Rock, Ark.. Aug. 8, 1864. 
Root, Josiah C, La Grange, e. t)ct. 31, 1801 ; dis. for disability 

July 17. 1862. 
Rosburgh, Enos. Jefferson, e. Feb. 26, 1862; dis. by order Nov. 

16, 1K62. • 
Rost, John A., La Grange, e. Feb. 18, 1862; dis. for disabilily 

June 4, 1802. 



I 



itISTOKY OF OASS COUNTV, MICHIGAN 

Keh.2H, 18li4 



123 



Kussey. .lohn M., tji (irangc, e. Feb. 21, 1W2 

m. o. Feb. lo, 1866. 
Sergt. .lames M. Savage, La Grange, e. Oct. 31, 18i'>l : vet. Dec. 

■>o. 1863: m. o. Feb. 15, 18H0. 
Scotten, William, Ontwa, e. March '2, 1865: iii. o Feb. 15, 1866. 
Secor, Isaac, La (irange, e. Oct. 28, 18^1 ; ilied at .laekson, Tenn. 

(railroad accident,) .Sept. 24, 1862. 
Secor, Joseph VV., La Grange, e. Oct. 24, 1861 ; dis. by order 

Sept. 1, 1862. 
Shanafelt, William H., e. Oct. 81, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 26, 1863; m. 

0. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Shepard, Charles, Calvin, e. Feb. 25, 1864; died of disease at 

Niles, Mich. 
Shuste, Thomas P , La Grange, e. Nov. 11, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

Sept. 20, 1862. 
Simpson, Thomas, La Grange, e. Oct. 20, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25, 

1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866 
Soules, Peter, Pokagon, e. Oct. 15, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 38, 1863; m. 

o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
.Stanage, Benton, La Grange, e. Feb. 20, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, (,„i,b, Albert T., Dowagiac, e. Dec-. 25, 1861; dis. for disability 

1866. 



Una.*, George, La Gran're, e. Dec. 1, 1863; ni. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Haas. .lohn. La Grange, e. Dec. 1, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Haas, .lohn A., La Grange, e. Dec. 1, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Higby, Calvin .J., Newburg, e. Sept. 5, 1864 ; dis. at end of serv- 
ice, Sept. 9, 1865. 

Ilnyck, William D., dis. for disability, Nov. 9, 1865. 

.Mosher, Isaac, Pokagon, e. Feb. 16, 1865 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 18ii5. 

Palmer. Charles H., vet. .Ian. 2, 1864. 

Parkertdn. William, Dowagiac, e. Feb. 19, 1862; vet. Feb. 27, 
1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Peltus, Luther, La Grange, e. Dee. 1, 1863; died of disease at 
Camden, Ark., Sept. 1, 1865. 

Rose, .lohn. Pokagon, e. Sept. 3, 1864; dis. at end of service, 
Sept. 9, 1865. 

Wheeler, Kdwin. Marcellus, e. Feb. 29, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 



Ashley, Horace, e. Dec. 31, 1861 ; discharged for disability .July 

19, 1862. 
Barmore, .lohn E., e. Dec. 5, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 29, 1868. 



Stephenson, .James B., .letTerson, e. Feb. 22, 1864; died of dis. 

ease at Little Rock, Ark., .lune 28, 1864. 
Steere, William H., Wayne, e. Nov. I'.l, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

Aug. 2, 1862. 
Stevens, Samuel. .Mason, e. Feb. 15. 1865; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Smith. Nelson A., Porter, e. Oct. 13, 1861 ; il 

Jan. 7, 1865. 
Temple, Franklin, Ontwa, e. March 2, 1865; m. o. Feb. 15. 

1866. 
Thomas, Noble O., La Grange, e. Oct. 31. 1861 ; dis. at end of 

service, Jan. 7, 1865. 



Feb. 25, 1862. 
Doty, James H., Porter, e. Feb. 22, 1864; vet. Dec. 24, 1863. 
Doty, William J., e. Dec. 7, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 24, 1868; m. o. Feb. 

15, 1866. 
Griffith, Samuel, Milton, e. Oct. 25, 1861; vet. Dec. 24, 1863; 

m. 0. Feb. 15, 1866. 
end of service (.^^p charies Hungerford, Dowagiac. e. Oct. 25, 1861; dis. by 

order June 30, 1862. 
Kappelman, John, Pokagon, c. March 1, 1865; m. o. Feb. 15, 

1866. 
King, Samuel P., Porter, e. Feb. 22, 1864 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Kirk, William H., Porter, e. Feb. 22, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 



homas, Sherwood, La Grange, e. Oct. 31, 1861 : dis. at end of ^^j^^^^ j^^^ Dowagiac, e. Feb. 15, 1862 ; vet. Feb. 25, 1864 

.\IcGee, Lemuel S., Dowagiac, e. Jan. 4, 1862; vet. J 



service, Jan. 7, 1865. 
Thompson, Smith, Marcellus, 



864 : 



)cl. 20, 1861 ; dis. at end of 

service, Jan. 7, 1865. 
Townsend, William, La Grange, e. Oct. 31, 1801 : died of disease 

at St. Louis, Mo., Nov. II, 18ii3. 
Tubbs, Lester, Porter, e. Dec. 5, 1803; m. o. Feb 15, 1866. 
Upham, George, La Grange, e Feb. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Van Tuyl, Richard, Mason, e. Feb. 27, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
White, Seth, Wayne, e. Nov. 12, 1861 : vet. Dec. 25, 18<;3; ra. o. 

Feb. 15, 1866. 
Wilcox. Henry, Pennsylvania, e. Feb. 4, 18t;2; killed in railroad 

accident at Jackson, Tenn., Sept. 24, 1862. 
Wiltard, John, e March 3,1804; died of disease at St Louis, 

Mo., Oct. 20, 1863. 
Williams, Samuel, Jefterson, e. Feb. 23, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 

1866. 
Winfrey, George, Dowagiac. e. Dec. 15, 1861 : dis. by order July 

24, 1862. 
Wing, Orlaudo, Jefferson ; e.- Dec. 2, 1862; ni. o. Feb. 15, 1866_ 



m. 0. Feb. 15, 1860. 
Olmstead, John, e. Feb. 8 1862 ; dis. by order March 18, 1«62. 
.Sergt. John H. Patterson, e. Nov. 25, 1861 ; vet. Dee. 24, 1863; 

m. 0. Feb. 15, 1866 
Sanders, Daniel, Pokagon, e. Feb. 21, 1865; ni. o. Feb. 15, 

1860. 
Stillwell, lidwiu C, Dowagiac, e. Jan. 6, 1802; vet. Dec. 31, 

18C3. 
Tliompson, Reason, Porter, e. Feb. 23, 1864 : died of disease at 

Camden, Ark., Sept. 8, 1866. 
Welch, John C, Dowagiac, e. Dec. 35, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 31, 1863; 

prom. 2d Lieut. Co. 1 July 3, 1864. 

Company D. 

Simmons, Peter W., Mason, e. .\ug. 31, 1864; dis. at eml of ser- 
vice Sept. 9 1865. 

Sirriue, Henry F., Volinia, e. Sept. 2, 1864; dis. at end of service 
Sept. 9, 1865. 



Wolfe, Franklin, e. Feb. 26, 1862; vet. Feb. 29, 1864 ; m. o. Feb. Springsteen, John W., Volinia, e. Sept. 6. 1864; dis. at end of 



16, 1861; 

WooUey. Lewis, La Grange, e. Oct. 4, 1861 ; died of disease at 
Camp Logan, Tenn., May 21, 1862. 



Bsldwin, IMwin K., La Grange, e. Dec. 1, 1863; m. o. Feb. 

1866. 
Bell, Richard H., Howard, e. March 29, 1862; vet. March 

1864; m.o., Feb. 15, 1866. 
Bryant. Thomas G., Mason, e. .March 1, 1865; dis. at en« 

service, Sept. 9, 1865. 
Dennis, John, Milton, e. .March 1, 1865; ni. o. Feb. 15, 1860. 
DriscoU, Noah, Porter, e. Feb. 13, 1864; in. o. Feb. I'l, 1806. 
Dunn. Ambrose, Cassopolis, e. Feb. 15, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1: 



service Sept. 9, 1865. 

coMP.tN^ i:. 

Barton, Reuben. Pokagon, e. .Sept. 3, IS64 ; dis. by order Sept. 

14, 1865. 
Beebe, William H.,died of disease at St. Louis, Mo. June 1, 1862. 
Leach, James M., Pokagon, e. Sept. 3, 1864; dis. by order June 

20, 1865. 
OJell, ,lo8eph, Pokagon, e. Sept. 3, 1864; dis. by order Sept. 14, 

1865. 
Perkins, Harvey W.. Howard, e. Oct. 18, 1864 ; dis. by order Oct. 

24, 1865. 
Walz, John, Silver Creek, e. Feb. 29, 1864; died of disease at 

Grand Rapids, Mich. 



124 



COMPAMY t'. 

Second Lieut. William Horton, Jr., Dowagiac (Sergt. Co. I), re- 
signed June 12, 1865. 

.Sergt. Philo H. Simmons, dis. for disability March IG, 1862. 

.Sergt. aobert A. Walton, Howard, e. Oct. 12, 1861 ; vet. .Jan. 1, 
1864; m. o. Feb. :'), 1866. 

PRIVATES. 

Albrecht, Jacob G., Torter, e. Feb. 22, 1864; m. o. Feb. ir,. 1866. 
Bellows, Job S., Ontwa, e. Sept. 2, 1864 ; dis, at end of service, 

Sept. 9, 1865. 
Brown, Luman, Jefferson, e. Nov. 25, 1861 ; died .May I, 1862, of 

wounds received at Shiloh April 6, 1862. 
Butler. Henry M., m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Dean, Thomas, Ontwa, e. Nov. 8, 1861 ; dis. at end of service 

Jan. 7, 1865. 
Durstern, Michael, e. March 16, 1862; discharged by order July 

1.5, 1862. 
Hawkins, Charles, Pokagoii, e. Dec. 30, 1863 ; m. o. Feb. 16, 1866. 
Hawkins, Benjamin, vet. Dec. 30, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Hawkins, Charles, discliarged by order June 17, 1865. 
Inman, Isaiah, La Grange, e. .\ug. 31, 1864; m. o Feb 15, 1866. 
Leich, Elias, Milton, e. Dec. 5, 18G1 ; trans, to Veteran Reserve 

Corps Jan. 15, 1864. 
Lewis, George W., Jefferson, e. Nov. 22, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 30, 1863 ; 

m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Lynch, William J., Milton, e. Oct. 15, 1861 ; died on hospital 

boat May, 1862. 
■Markle, John, Milton, c. Feb. 22, 1862; vet. Feb. 24, 1864 ; m. o. 

Feb. 15, 1866. 
McNitt, Charles W., Porter, e. Feb. 26, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 

1866. 
Mitchell, Robert, Pokagon, e. Feb. 21, 1865; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Morau, James, Jefferson, e. Dec. 2, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 30, 1863; m. 

0. Feb. 15. 1866. 
Morgan, Charles A., Milton, e. Oct. 15, 1861; vet. Jan. 1, 1864; 

m. 0. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Noble, James M., Milton, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; dis. by order June 25, 

1862; re e. March 8, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
O Keefe, Eugene, Silver Creek, e. Oct. 30, 1861 ; dis. at end of 

service, Jan. 7, 1865. 
Parks, Almenon, e. .March 7, 1862; vet. Marcli 8, 1864; m. o. 

Feb. 15, 1866. 
Reigle, Goorge W., Porter, e. Feb. 22, 1864 ; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Reynolds, Henry C, La Grange, e. Sept. 23, 1864 ; dis. at end of 

service Sept. 29, 1865. 
Rogers, Charles F., Pokagon, e. Nov. 19, 1861 ; trans, to Vet. 

Res. Corps Jan. 15, 1864. 
Rogers, Hiram, Ontwa, e. Nov. 21, 1861 ; dis. for disability March 

16, 1862. 
Rogers, Kiram L., Pokagon, e. Oct. 14, 1861 ; died of disease at 

Keokuk, Iowa, May 6, 1862. 
Simmons, Joseph, Jefferson, e. Dec. 2, 1861 ; dis. for disability 

March 16, 1802. 
Snow, William H., Jefferson, e. Nov. 22, 1861 ; dis. at end of 

service Jan. 7, 18115. 
Tuttle, Jacob, Milton, e. Oct. 15, 1861 ; dis. for disability March 

16, 1862. 
Whitmore, George A., La Grange, e. March 15, 1865; m. o. Feb. 

15, 1866. 
Wilson, James, Ontwa, e. Dec. 13, 1861 : vet. Dec. 3, 1863 ; m. o. 

Feb. 15, 1866. 
Wilson, Joseph S., Outwa; e. Dec. 14, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 3. 1863; 

m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Warden, George, R., Jefferson, e. Dec. 5, 1861 ; dis. by order 

July 25, 1862. 
Wyant, James, Ontwa, e. Nov. 21, 1861 ; dis. by order July 8, 

1862. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 

Zeek, William F., Ontwa, e. Sept. 2, 1864 ; dis. by order Oct. 31, 



Company G. 
First Lieut. Roberts. M. Fox, Howard, com. Oct. 19. 1864; re- 
signed .Sept. 18, 1865. 

Lawrence, Joseph, Silver Creek, e. Dec. 19, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 
1866.- 

Nichols, Warren W., Marcellus, e. Sept. 27, 1864; dis. by order 
Sept. 30, 1865. 

Schuh, Nicholas, La Grange, e. Dec. 3, 1803; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Shiwl, Alexander, Pokagon; e. Sept. 3, 1864; dis. at end of serv- 
ice, Sept. 9, 1865. 

Shiver, Walter, Ontwa; e. Dec. 24, 1863; m. o. Feb. 10, 1866. 

Stamp, David, Porter, e. Dec. 5, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Ties, Anton, La Grange, e. Dec. 3, 1863; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 

Company H. 
Bailey, James E., Silver Creek, e. Feb. 14, 1864; dis. by order 

May 22, 186.5. 
Born, Henry, Mason, e. Sept. 3, 1864 ; dis. at end of service Sept. 

9, 1865. 
Conrad, Jacob, Volinia, e. Feb. 20, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1860. 
Eggleslon, Harvey, Porter, e. Aug. 11, 1862; vet. Dec. 26, 1863 : 

dis. by order Sept. 30, 1865. 
Franklin; Samuel W., Mason, e. Jan. 29, 1864 ; died of disease 

at DuvhII's Bluff, Ark., Oct. 21, 1864. 
Salyer, James, Mason, e.; died of ilisease at Duvall's Bluff, Ark., 

Sept. 24. 1864. 

Company I. 
Second Lieut. John C. Welch, Dowagiac, com. July 3, 1864 ; 

prom. 1st Lieut, (^o. A, Jan. 7, 1865. 
Allen, Israel M., Pokagon, e. Sept. 2, 1864; Ah. at end of 

service, Sept. 9, 1865. 
Aumack, Jacob, Pokagon, e. Sept. 2, 1864; dis. at end of service. 

Sept. 9, 1865. 
Cole, William L., La Grange, e. Jan. 17, 1864; m. o. Feb. IJ, 

1866. 
Corin Robert, Ontwa, e. Sept. 2, 1864 ; trans, to 5th U. S. Coloreil 

Infantry, April 1, 1865. 
Curtis, Thomas J., Mason, e. .\ug. 31, 1864; died of disease at 

Duvall's Bluff. Ark., Nov. 1, 1864. 
Fisher, John, Pokagon, e. Feb. 21, 1865; m. o. Feb. 15,1866. 
Hayden, Edward W., e. Dec. 25, 1861 ; dis. for disability July 

26, 1862. 
Iloyt, Henry, Ma.son, e. .\ug. 31, 1864; dis. at end of service, 

Sept. 9, 1865. 
Johnson, Uriah, died of disease at Decatur, Mich., June 1, 1862. 
Johnson, Egbert, Mason, e. Aug. 31, 1864 ; died of disease at 

Washington, Ark., July 1, 1866. 
Leader, Nathan H., Pokagon, Sept. 2, 1864 ; dis. by order .May 6, 

1865. 
Horton, William, Jr , Dowagiac, e. Dec. 11, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 25, 

1863 ; .Sergeant, prom. 2d Lieut. Co. I. 
Knapp, Bruce, Silver Creek, e. Feb. 24, 1864 ; dis. for dis- 
ability Aug. 23, 1864. 
Tuttle, Royal J., Silver Creek, e. Feb. 1864; died of disease at 

Duvall's Bluff, Ark., Aug. 12, 1864. 
McMichael, Albert, Ontwa, e. Feb. 24, 1862; vet. Feb. 26, 1864: 

m. 0. Feb. 15,1866. 
Nye, Isaac, Jefferson, e. Sept. I, 1864; dis. at end of service, 

Sept. 9. 186... 
On, Adam, .Mason, e. .\ug. 20, 1864; dis. at end of service, Sept. 

9, 1865. 
Searles, Henry M., Mason, e. Feb. 24. 1861 ; vet. Feb. 26, 1864; 

m 0. Feb. 15, 1866. 



HISTORY OF CASS rOPNTY, MinilTGAN 



.Smith, Hiram, La Grange, e. Aug. 20, 1864 ; dis. al end of ser- 
vice, Sept. 9, 1865. 
Stephenson, Harvey, I'okagon, c. Sept. 1, 18lU; dis. at end of 

service, Sept. il, 186-5. 
St. Joljn, John, Pokagon, Sept, 3, 1864 : dis. at end of service, 

Sept. 9, 1865. 
Tibbits, Nathan, Porter, e. Dec. 15, 1863 ; died of disease :it 

Hunlersville, Ark., .July 2, 1864. 
Treat, Horace .1., Silver Creek, e. Oct. 10, 1861 ; died in action at 

Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862. 
Vawkey. Amos, Howard, e. March 7, 1864; m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Vetter, .loshua T., vet. Dec. 29, 1863. 
Willard, William, iefferson, e. Dec. 3, 1863 ; died of disease at 

Duval's Bluff, Ark., .Tan. 6, 1865. 

Company K. ^ 
Second Lieut William E. Stevens, Mason, c. Oct. 22, 1861 ; vet. 

Dec. 25, I860 ; Sergeant Co. A, com. April 2, 1865 ; m. 0. Feb. 

15, 1866. 
Bidlack. Charles E., Porter, e. Oct. 14, 1864; dis. by order, Oct. 

27, 1865 
I'randall, Lewis, Wayne, e. Feb. 22, 1864 ; ni. 0. Feb. 15, 1866. 
Drake, Lnri-nzo, dis. hv onler. Aug. 12, 1865. 
Karnham, Erastus S., e. Dec. 9,1861 ; dis. at end of service, Sept. 

7, lfS65. 
French, Noah, Sergeant, e. Dct. HI, 1H61 ; dis. by order, .July 19, 

1862. 
Hardy, Robert, Milton, e. Oct. 21, 1861 ; dis. by order, Oct. 17 

1862. 
Nostrand, .lohn .1., Silver Creek, e. Nov. II, 1861 ; dis. at end of 

service, .Ian. 7, 1865. 
Kawson, Charles W., Volinia, c. Sept. 7, 1864; dis. at end of 

service, Sept. 9, 1865. 
.layers, James, Pokagon, e. Feb. 24, 1863; dis. by order, June 1, 

1865. 
Shepard, Caleb, Howard, e. Dec. 28, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 29, 1863 : 

dis. by order, Aug. 12, 1865. 
Tappan, Harlow, Marcellus, e. Feb. 25, 1864; m. n. Feb. 15, 

1866. 
Weatherwax, John G., Porter, c. Feb. 13, 1864: died of dis- 
ease at Little Rock, Ark., June 13, 1864. 
Webber, Geo. W., Ontwa, e. Feb. 29, 1864; m. 0. Feb. 15, 1866. 

THE NINETEENTH MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Gompany A of this regiment, Joel H. Smith, 
Captain, was compose<i almost wholly of Cass County 
men, and there were many in other compjinies of tlie 
regiment. The First Lieutenant, George T. Shaffer, 
of Calvin, arose to the position of Colonel. The 
Second Lieutenant was Reuben B. Larzelere. The 
company was organized in Dowagiac, in September, 
186-2. 

The Nineteenth Regiment was assigned to the Sec- 
(iinl Congressional District to be recruited in the 
counties of Branch, St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Kala- 
mazoo, Van Buren and Allegan. Recruiting was 
commenced July 15, 1862. The camp of the Nine- 
teenth was at Dowagiac, and the Hon. Henry C. Gil- 
bert was its commandant and charged with the 
organization of the regiment. The regiment broke 
camp September 14, and in command of Col. Gilbert, 
took its route To Cincinnati, its strength being W:'> 
officers and men. It was attached to the first division 



of the Army of the Ohio, and was stationed in Ken- 
tucky October, November and December. On the 1st 
of January, 1868, the regiment was stationed at Dan- 
ville, and belonged to Col. Coburn's brigade, Baird's 
division. Army of Kentucky. This army having 
been transferred to the department of the Cumberland 
as a " reserve corps," the Ninetenth moved with its 
brigade to Nashville, where it arrived February 7, 
proceeding thence to Franklin. On the 4th of March, 
with 600 Ciivalry and 200 additional infantry, it took 
part with its brigade in a reconnaissance in force. 
After a march of four miles, skirmishing began with 
the enemy's scouts and advanced pickets, but the 
rebels retiring the brigade encamped, the Nineteenth 
having lost in the skirmish one wounded. The march 
having been resumed, the enemy was met upon the 
following day in force, at Thompson's Station, nine 
miles from Franklin. The Nineteenth with others 
fought stubbornly, against iintnense odds, repulsing 
attack after attack, struggling bravely but without 
hope. Defeat being inevitable, they finally surren- 
dered. The engagement was sanguinary. At times 
the contest was severe and the fighting terrific. Three 
charges were made by the enemy and gallantly 
repulsed. In one charge the Nineteenth captured the 
colors of the Fourth Mississippi and several prison- 
ers The surremler did not occur until after five 
hours of fighting. The rebel force proved to be the 
entire cavalry force of Bragg's army, 18,000 strong, 
under Gen. Van Dorn. The Nineteenth went into 
the action with 572 officers and men, of which num- 
ber 11-3 were killed and wounded. Such was the 
"baptism of fire" which this regiment received. 
The regiment was re-organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, 
and on the 8th of June, 1863, left Columbus, arriv- 
ing at Nashville on the 11th. It took part in the 
advance on Tallahoma in June. On the 28d of July, 
the regiment was ordered to Murfreesboro, and went 
upon garrison duty in the fortifications. From this 
time on till the close of its service, the Nineteenth 
took part in the following engagements : Nashville iV 
Chattanooga Railroad, Tenn., October 5, 1863; 
Resaca. Ga., May 15, 1864 ; Cassville. Ga., May 
10, 1864: New Hope Church. Ga., May 25, 1864; 
Golgotha, Ga, June 15, 1864; Gulps Farm, (Ja., 
June 22, 1864; Peach Tree Creek. Ga., July 20, 
1864; siege of Atlanta, Ga., July 22 to September 
2, 1864; Savannah, Ga., December 11, 18, 20, 21, 
1S64; .\verysborn, N. C, March 16, 1865; Benton- 
ville, N. C, March 10, 1865. 

The entire membership of the regiment was 1,288. 
of which it lost 237 men, as follows : 4 officers and 50 
men killed in action ; 3 officers and 38 men <lied of 
wounds, and 142 of disease. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



FIELD AND STAFF. 

.Surgenn William E. Clarke, Dowagiac, Sui-geon 4th Mich. Infantry, 
trans. Surgeon to 19th Infantry Aug. 12, 18H2; resignefl 
July 18, 1863. 

Asst. Surgeon Leander D. Tompkins, Cassopolis. com. .\ug. I'J. 
18H2 : resigned for disability Sept. 7, I7H8. 

NON COMMISSlllNEll STAFF. 

i,;uariermaster Sergt .lohn M. Myers, Cassopolis, c. ,\ug. '.i, 1862: 
appointed 1st Lieut, and Quartermaster ; m. o. .lune 10, 1865. 

I'ommissary Sergt. George S. Larzelere. Silver Creek, com. .Jan. 
14, 186.3: ni. o. .June J5, 1865. 

Principal Musician Kxekiel Owen, La Grange, e. Aug. 0, 1862; 
m. 0. June Id, 1865. 

COMPANY A. 

('apt. Joel H. .Smith, Dowagiac, com. July 22, 1862; resigned 
July 11. 1864. 

Capt. George T Shaffer, Calvin, com. May 15, 1864 ; promoted 
Maj. 28th Mich. Inf.; wounded in action June 22, 1864. 

First Lieut. George T. Shaffer, Calvin, com. August 2, 1861 ; pro- 
moted Capt. 

First Lieut. Henry J. Ohls. Marcellus, com. May 8, 18ii5 ; Sergt. 
Aug. 8, 1862; m. o. June 10. 1865. 

.Second Lieut. Reuben B. Larzelere, Dowagiac, com July 28, 
1862; resigned Aug. 7, 1863. 

Sergt. Isaac '/.. Edwards, Pokagon, e. Aug. 6, 1862: promoted 2d 
Lieut. Co. E. 

Sergt. Norman B. Farnsworth, Silver Creek, e. .Vug. 2, 1864 ; dis. 
for disability Sept. 2, 186-3. 

Sergt. John S. Gritfis, Wayne, e. .\ug. II, 1862 ; killed at Resaca, 
Ga., May 5, 1864 

Sergt. Barker F. Rudd, Newburg, e. Aug s, 1862 ; dis. for wound 
Oct. 23, 1863. 

Sergt. George S. Ltrzelere, Silver Creek, e. Aug. '.•, 1862: ap 
pointed Commissary Sergt. 

Corp. George H. Batten, Penn, e. Aug. 9, 1862; died of disease 
at Murfreeshoro, Tenn., Aug. 29, 1863. 

Corp. Zach Aldrich, Newburg, e. Aug. .\ug. 9, 1862: prom, sergt. 
dis. for loss of an eye Feb. 9, 1864. 

Corp. John Manning, Marcellus, e. .\ug. 13, 1862; dis. forwnund, 
lost hand, .May 9. 1863. 

Corp. Alexander Kirkwood, Wayne, c. .\ug. 9, 1862: prom. Ist 
Lieut. Co. I. 

Corp. .\mos D. Stocking, Pokagon, e. Aug. 2. 1862; dis. for dis- 
ability Feb. 1, 1863. 

Corp. Albert T. Cobb, Wayne, e. Aug. 5, 1862 : dis. for disability 
Feb. 8, 1863. 

Corp. William Slipper, Penn, e. Aug. 2, 1862; m. o. Sergt. .lune 10, 
1865. 

Corp. James S. Ciego, Silver Creek, e. Aug. 7, 1862: m. n. Sergt. 
June. 

Musician Ezekiel Owen, La Grange, e. Aug. 9, 1862; prom Prin- 
cipal Musician Sept. 1, 1863. 

.Musician Franklin It, Sherman, Pokagon, e. July 31, 1862; m. o. 
June 22, 1865. 

Wagoner Isaac Hamlin, Pokagon, e. July 20, 1862: died of dis- 
ease at Washington, D C, Feb. 17, 1863. 

TRIVATES. 

Allen, Loren A., Pokagon, c. Aug. 16, 1862; m. o. June 10, 

I860. 
Allison. George W., Pi)kagon. e. .\ugust 7, 1862; m. o June 

10, 1865. 
\llisnn, Henry C., La Grange, e. Aug. 3, IS64: m. u. May I'.i, 

186--.. 
\nderson, Jacob M., Newburg, e. Aug. 22, 1863; trans. |o V^i. 

Hes- Corps. 



died of disease at Nicho 



' Baker, .Albert, Mason, e. Aug. 

lasville, Ky., Dec. 5, 1862. 
Bell, Simuel D., Silver Creek, e. Aug. 8, 1862; m. 0. .lune 10. 

1865. 

Benton, Elic, Pokagon, e. ; m. o. June 10, 1865. 

Bend, Thomas F., Wayne, e. Aug. 6, 1862; dis. for woun^l April 

28. 1865. 
Bowerman, Addison, Newburg, e. Aug. 27, 1863; died of disease 

at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 25, 1864. 
Bridge, Daniel G., Marcellus, e. Aug. 8, 1862; m. 0. June 10, 

186.5. 
Corbit, James. Penn, e. Aug. 8, 1862: killed on picket before At- 
lanta, Ga.. July 23, 1864. 
, Corwin, Amos B., Penn, c. Aug. 8, 1862; m. o. June 10, 1865. 
[ Cooper. Harley R., Jefferson, e. Dec. 15, 1863: m. 0. May 26, 

1865. 
Crawford, George, Pokagon ; e. Aug. 8, 1862 ; Sergt.; lu. o. June 

10, 1865. 
Crocker. Milford, .Silver Creek, e. Dec. 16. 1864 ; m. 0. June 

10, 1»65. 
Fos.lick, Franklin H., Penn, e. Feb. 27, 1864; .lis. for ilisabiliiy 

June 27. 1865. 
Danahy, Timothy, Silver Creek, e. Aug. 9, 1K62 : died of wounds 

at Resaca, Ga., May 25, 1864. 
Davis, Norman, Pokagon. e .-Vug. 7, 1862; dis. for disability Feb. 

8, 1863. 
Davis, Reason, Newburg. e. Aug. 13, 1862; m. o- June 10, 1865. 
Davis, William, Penn, e. Aug. 9. 18. i2; m. 0. June 10, 1865. 
Edwards, Henry, Pokagon, e .\ug. 9, 1862; m. o. June 10, 

1865. 
Evans, John, Pokagon, e. Aug. 9. 1862; m. 0. June 10, 1865. 
Freeman. .\din. Silver I'reek, e .Vug. 2. 1862; killed in action at 

Thompsons Station, Tenn., March 5, 1863. 
Fuller, Oren A., Penn, f . Aug. 7, 1862 ; dis. for w..unds May 20,. 

1863. 
Fuller, William R.. Wayne, e. Aug. 6. 1862; m. 0. June 10, 

1865. 
Garwood, Levi. Volinia, e. .4ug. 8, 1862; dis. for disability .Vug. 

21, 1863. 
George, Stephen L., Silver Creek, e. Aug. 9, 1862; dis. for dis- 
ability Jan. 14, 1864. 
Gilbert, Jeremiah B., Penn, e. Feb. 27, 1864; m. 0. June 10, 

1865. 
Gillon, Patrick I., Pokagon, c. Aug. 9, 1862; m. 0. June 10, 

1865. 
Gleason, Charles H., P.ikagon, e. Aug. 9, 1862 : m 0. June 10, 

186.5. 
Grinntll. Sylvester M., Penn. e. Feb. 27, 1864; m. 0. .lune 10, 

1865. 
Hagerman, Noah D., Penn. e. .\ug. 9, 1862: m. o. June 10, 

1865. 
Hamilton, .lohn P., Wayne, e. -Vug. II, 1862; died in action at 

Thompson's Station, Tenn., March 5, 1863. 
Hannah, James -V., La Grange, e. Vug. 9, 1862 ; died in action at 

Thompson's Station, Tenn., March 3, 1863. 
Hawes, Jerome B., Pokagon. 0. Aug. II, 1862; m. 0. June 10, 

1865. 
Hoover, Calvin, La Grange, e. .Vug. 8, 1862; m. June 10, 1865. 
Hungerford, Homer M., Wayne, e. .-Vug. 9, 1862: missing in ac- 
tion near Dalton, Ga., I8l'-4. 
I.aylin, Oren, Wayne, e. Aug. 6, 1862; lu. o. June 10, 1865. 
Lilly. Aaron. Wayne, e. Aug. .s, 1862; m. 0. June 10, 1865. 
Lundy, Ira C, Penn. e. Aug. S, 1862; in. 0. June 10, 1865. 
Lun.ly, Robert. Penn. e. Aug. 11. 1862; .lis. for disability Feb. 8, 

1863. 
Lundy, Thoniiu), Penn. e. .\ug. 8. 1S62 ; died of dise^eat Annap. 

olis. Md., April 13. 1863. 



II 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MTCHIftAN. 



l.ylle. William M., Marcellus, c. Jan. I. I»ii3; dis. for wound 

Nov. 12. iw;i. 
Mearl, Smilh. Silver Creek, c. .\ug. 2. 18ii2; in. o. .lune 10. lxiir>. 
Means. Andrew. Pokagun. e. .\ug. S, I8il2; dis. for disability 

Aug. IS. \HiV.i. 
Muncy. Nioirod. Wayne, e. Aug. 2. I.''il2; m. o. .lune HI. IKii:;. 
Nicholas. Kzra W . .Marcellus. e. .\ng. 9, ISr,2; died of wounds at 

Vining's Station. Ga., Sept. 4. lS(i4. 
Nich(d8. William H., Marcellus, e. .Ian. 1. I81I8; died of wounds 

at Chattanooga. Tenn.. June 20, 1804. 
Parker. Haynes <i.. Calvin, e. Aug. 8, lHi>2; died of ilisease at 

Nashville. Tenn., July 13, 18li4. 
Parker. Roniaine. Pokagon, e. Aug. 4, 18ii2; ni 0. June 10. IWir). 
Parker. Thomas S.. Calvin, e. Aug. 8. lHti2; ni. 0. June 10. ISii.l. 
Peters. John. Silver Creek, e. Dec. 22, IWi.S; died of wounds at 

Chattanooga. Tenn.. .lune 20. 18t;4. 
T'otter. Thomas, Jefferson, e .\ug. 7, lHi'i2; dieil nf disea.se at 

Lexington. Ky.. Nov. 13. 18(12. 
Reams. Caleb M.. Penn. e. Aug. 2i;, 18ti2; m. o July 10. ISiii. 
Reams. Isaiah G.. Penn. e. Sept. 12, 18ii2; m. 0. July in, 18(i5. 
Reams. Silas G.. Penn, e. .\ug. 31, ]8ii3: m. 0. May 24. 18(15. 
.'lavage. Henry B.. Marcellus. e. Aug. 12. 18(12; died in action at 

Thompson's Station. Tenn.. March 5. 18(13. 
Schideler. John. Silver Creek, e. Aug. 7. 18(12; ilied in rebel prison. 

at Richmond. Va.. March — , 18(13. 
Schideler. Robert. Silver Creek, e. Aug. ", 18(12; dis. f'lr disability. 
Shawl. Madison. Silver Creek, e. July 25. 18(12: m. 0. June 10. 

18(15. 
Shepard, Purley, Silver Creek, e. Aug. 2. 18(12; dieii of disease 

at Lookout Mountain. Tenn., Oct. 26, 18(14. 
Sherman. C. C, Pokagon. e. July 23, 1862; m. 0. June HI, 1865. 
Spaulding. Joel. Xewburg. e. Aug. 9. 1862; m. 0. May 10, 1865. 
Spencer. E.lward. Wayne, e. Aug. 9. 1862; m. o June 10. 1865. 
Siedman. Livingston, Pokagon, e .\ug. 8. 1862; m. 0. June 10. 

18(16. 
Stuart. Salmon, Silver Creek, e. Aug. 9. 1862; m. 0. June 10, 

1865. 
Suits, Jacob, Wayne, e. Aug. 9, 1862 ; m. 0. June 10, 1866. 
Suits. Solomon A., Silver Creek, e. Aug. 9. 1862; m. 0. June 10, 

186.5. 
Sullivan. Solomon .\.. Wayne, e. Aug. 4, 1862; m. 0. June 10. 

1865. 
Taylor, John. Pokagon. c. Aug. 4. 1862; m. 0. June 10. 18(15. 
Thompson. Francis M.. Wayne, e. Aug. 11. 18(12; ni. o. June 10. 



Underwood. Enos. Newburg. e. Aug. 9. 18(12; 



lune 10. 



L'nderwood. Stephen W.. Penn. e. Aug. 9. 1862; in. 0. July 11. 

1865. 
Wickham, William C. Silver Creek, e. .\ug. 13, 18(12; died of 

ilisease at Danville, Ky.. Dec. — . 1862. 
Wiggins. George E., Wayne, e. .\ug. 11. 1862; died of wounds at 

Richmond. Va.. March — , 1863. 
Wiggins. Lorenzo R.. Wayne, e. .-Vug. 7. 1862; died in rebel 

prison. Richmond. Va.. .March — . 1863. 
Winchell, Seneca W.. Pokigon. e. Aug. 2. 18(12: ra. 0. June 10. 

18(15. 

('l)MrANT <.'. 

Phillips. John II . Newburg. clan. 17. 18(14; m 0. July 19. I,sil5- 

COMI-ANV D. 

Second Lieut. Isaac Z. Edwards. Pokagon. trans, from tlo. E July 
27. 1863; prom Ist Lieut. June 1. 1864; resigned as 2d 
Lieut. Aug. (1. 18(14. 

Ilarrigan. Willi.im. Mnnellus. e. Sept. 15. 1864; in. 0. June 23. 
1865. 

Wright, Giles, Newburg, c. Sept. 5, 1863; ni. o. July 19, 1865. 



Company E. 
Second Lieut. Isaac 7,. IMwards. Pokagon, com. May I. 1863; 

trans. 2d Lieut, to Co. D. 
Ashley, William H , e. Aug. — , 1862; confined in Libby Prison; 

died at Annnpolis, Md.. April II, 1863. 
Basley. Hiram E., .lefferson. e. Deo. 16, 1863, in 10th Infantry. 
Hollister, Albert E , Penn, e. Sept. 29. 1864. in lOlh Infantry. 
Mahey. Martin. Silver Creek, e Dec. 22, 1863. in loth Infantry ; 

(rans. to lOth Michigan Infantry. 
Martin, George H., m. 0. Aug. 3, 18(15. 
Miller. (Charles 7... c. Aug. — . 18(12; died at Nicholasville, Ky., 

Dec. 13. 1862. 
Qwiy. William II., Newburg, e. .Ian. 23, 18(14; died of disease at 

-Nashville. Tenn.. March 21. 1864. 
Quay, Edward L.. Newburg, e. Dec. 21, 1863 ; m. 0. .luly 19, 1866. 
Welch. Thomas C.. .lelferson. e. Dec 15. 18(13; m. o. July 19, 



White. Knos H., Pokagon. e. No 



luly 



18(15. 



Beaman. Alonzn P. Newburg. e. Jan. 5. 1864; m. 0. July 19, 
1865. 

Boghai-t. Peter C. Newburg. e. Jan. 5. ISH4; in V\b Infintry ; 
died of disease March 3. 1864. 

Madden, Michael. .Silver Creek, e. Dec. 23. 1863; m. o. July 19, 
1865. 

McCoy. John, .Silver Creek, e. Dec. 23. 1863; m. o. July 19. 1865. 

Reams. Erastus. Dowagiac. e. Sept. 12. 1862 ; m. o. June 10. 1865. 

Reed. Henry S.. Newburg. e. Jan. 5. 1864 ; died of disease at Chat- 
tanooga. Tenn.. June 30. 1864. 

Reed. William T., Newburg. e. Jan. 5. 1864; died of disease at 
Chattanooga. Tenn.. \ug. 7, 1864. 

Trattles, Daniel, Newburg. e. Aug. 11. 1862 ; m. 0. June 10, 1865 

IIOMPANT II. 
Bair. Myron M.. New6urg. e. Jan. 20. 1864; m. 0. June 10. 

1865. 
Hawkins. Isaac. Dowagiac. e. .\ug. 13. 1862; m. 0. Jun6 10. 

1865. 
Musician George N. Rosebrock. Ontwa. e. .A.ug. 13. 1862; died 

of disease at Covington. Ky., Oct. 21. 1862. 
Teagen. Samuel. Porter, e. Aug. 13. 1862; dis. for disability 

July 6. 1863. 

First Lieut. Alexander Kirkwood. Wayne, com. Nov. 11. 1864; 

m. 0. June 10. 1865. 
Bultrick. William, Wayne, e. Jan. 4. 1864; m. 0. June 24. 1865. 
(Jarroll. Thomas. Wayne, e. Dec. I". 18(13: m. o. July 19. 1866. 
(hooper, .\9bury. Jefferson, e. Dec. 15. 1863. in lOth Infantry; 

trans, to lOth Michigan Infantry. 
Havens. .Vdam. Wayne, e. Jan. 4. 1864. in 10th Infantry; trans. 

to 10th Michigan Infantry. 
White. William L.. Wayne, e. Dec. 4. 1863: trans, to Vet. 

Res. (^orps. 



THK FIRST RKGI.MKNT MICHKiAN CAVALRY. 

Company M, of this organization, was from this 
county, and there were a considerable number of Cass 
men scattered through the regiment. 

The First Cavalry commenced recruiting August 21, 
1861, at Camp Lyon, near Detroit, the work of organ- 
ization being carried on by Thornton F. Broadhead, 
afterward Colonel of the regiment. The First was 
mustered into service on the 13th of September, 1861, 



128 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHlfiAX. 



with 1,144 officers and men on the rolls. On the 
29th, it left Ciirnp Lyon, under orders to proceed to 
Washington ; lay in camp at Frederick, Md., a 
considerable portion of the winter, and its principal 
service following was in the Shenandoah Valley, in the 
Upper Potomac Valley and near the eastern slopes of 
the Blue Ridge. The regiment engaged with the 
enemy at Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862 ; Middle- 
town, Va., March 25, 1862 ; Strassburg, Va., March 
27. 1862; Harrisonburg, Va., April 22, 1862: Win- 
chester, Va., May 24, 1862 ; Orange Court House, 
Va., July 16, 1862 ; Cedar Mountain, Va., August 
0, 1862 ; Bull Run (second). Va., August 30, 1862 ; 
Occoquan, Va., February — , 1863 ; Thoroughfare 
Gap, Va., May 21, 1863 ; Greenwich, Va., May 30, 
1863. After a winter of grand guard duty in front 
of Washington, the First was assigned to the Mich j 
igan Cavalry Brigade, of which the gallant Custer 
was Commander, and its services were from that time 
chiefly rendered with the brigade. I 



Sergt. Maj. .lames S. .VloEllieay, Dowagiac. e. Aug. lo. l.sill ; 

prom. 2d Lieut. Co. G. 
Hosp. Steward James R. Leader, I'okagon ; uj. o. Ucl. lxn:i. 

Company A. 
First Lieuc. .Sidney G. Morse. Cassopolis. oum. June 18i'i2; 1st. 

Sergt. Co. M. May 12. 18ii2; killed in battle at Second Bull 

Run. Aug. 80, ISr,2 
First Lieut. John H. Simmons, Dowagiac, com. March 7. 18ii.5 ; 

m. 0. Nov. T, 18ii5. 
Private Richard L. Crawford. I'eiin. e. Feb. 4, l<sii4; m. o. Jan. 

23, 18(16. 

Co Ml A .NY B. 

Capt. KoUin C, Deiiisou. Dowagi.ic, Iraus. from Co. M, (>ct. 18(11 ; 

trans, to Co. M. November ISill. 
Capt. William Heazelil, Dowagiac. Irans. from Co. K. ,luly IS. 

18(;2: m. o. Oct. 30, 18(i4. 
Second Lieut. John .'>immons, Dowagiac, prom. Ist Lieut. Co, X. 

March 7. ISC-a 

COMI'ANY C. 

Kaidall. Wesley C, .letferson. e, March ]■:. IsCo ; m. o. May 1'.), 

ISdC. 

Company I), 
Bugler, (Jeorge Krupp. I'ok.agon. e. Dec. 30. I»(i?. ; m. o. March 

2.5, ISiiii. 
Shanafels, George. Calvin, e. Feb. li. I8(io; in. o. Dec. '), IHCa. 



First Lieut. John Munson. Volinia. com. March 7. !8iij; 2d 
Lieut. Dec. 4, l.S(;4; m. o. trans, to Co. G. .March 10. 18(16. 

Company G. 
First Lieut, James .S. .McKlhony. Dowagiac. com. .May IS. ISd.!; 

2d Lieut, Nov, 12, 18(12: killed in action at Monterey. Md,, 

July 4, 18(13. 
First Lieut, John Munson. Volinia. Irans. from Co. D. Ist Lieut. 

March Id, ISil."): m. o. March 10, 18(1(1. 
Trivate Warren Simpson, Jetterson, e, Feb, 8. 18(15; ni. o. Di-i- 

5, 18(15, 



Company K, 
Capt, William M. Hazelet. Dowagiac, com. Nov, 12, 18(12; L'd 
Lieut, Co, M ; wounded in action at Gettysburg July 3, 18(13 : 
and at Cold Harbor June 1, 18(i4 : trans. Capt, to Co. B : m. 
o. Oct. 30, 18(14. 

PRIVATES. 

Apted. William, Volinia, e. Feb. 15. 18(15: m. o. Dec. 5, 18(15. 
Conner, Isaac B., Volinia, e. Feb. 17, 18(15 : trans, to Co. G. 
Fonger. William. La Grange, e. Nov, 30, 18(13. 
Hanna, Hezekiah. Volinia. e. Nov. 2(1, 18(13 : died at Washington. 

D. ('., July 11. 18(14. 
Herbert. William 1'., Corp.. Volinia. e. Dec, \o. l.S(13 ; m. o. .March 

10, 18(15. 
James, Lewis, Volinia, e, Dec. Id. ISI13: m. o. March 10. ISdti. 
Kenny. James, blacksmith, Volinia. e. Nov. oO, 18(1.!: m. o. Jan. 

10, 18(15, 
Munson, John, saddler, Volinia. i-. Nov :io, isii:?: prom. 2d Lieut. 

Co. D, Dec, 4, 18(14. 
.Myers. James W„ Jefferson, e. Feb. 7. Isdo: m. o. Dec. s, 18(15. 
Sweet. George W.. Volinia. c. Dec. 1(1. ISd:; : m. u. .Inly 1(1, I8(l.">. 
Welcher. Nelson, Volinia, e. Nov. 3(l. IS(13 ; died .1 Detroit. Mich.. 

Oct. 27. 18(14. 
Winegarden. Abram S.. Voliua. e. Nov. .;o. 18d:i : dis. by order 

July 7. 18(15. 

COMI'AXV L. 

Corp. Albert Vincent. Volinia. e. Aug. 20, l.sdl ; died in rebel 

prison. 

Ivooiise. Herbert. Mason, e. Jan. 2d, 18(14; m. o. .Sept. 25, 18(15. 
Kedman, ,1. W.. .Mason, c. Feb. 2(1. I.S(15 : m. o. Dec. 5. lsi.5. 

Company M, 
Capt. Kollin C. Deuison, Dowagiac, c im. .\ug 12, isdl ; resigned 

April 23, 1863. 
Capt. David W.Clemmer, Dowagiac, com. May 2, 1863; mounded 

in action at Gettysburg, I'enn., July 3, 1863 ; m, o. Dec. 1 I, 

1864, 
First Lieut. Charles H. Sprague, Dowagiac, com. .Vug. 12, 1861 ; 

prom, Capt. Co. A. 
First Lieut, David W. Clemnier, Dowagiac, com. Nov. 12, 1862; 

prom. Capt. May 2, 1863. 
Second Lieut, David W. Clemmer, Dowagiac, com. .M.iy 12, ISdJ ; 

prom. 1st Lieut. Nov. 12, 1862, 
Second Lieut. William M. Ileazlit, Dowagiac, com Aug. 12, 1861 ; 

prom. Capt. Co. K, Nov. 12, 1862. 
First .Sergt. David W. Clemmer, Dowagiac, c. .\ug. 12, 1861 ; 

prom. 2d Lieut. May 12, 1862. 
.Sergt. Sidney G. Morse, Cassopolis: 1st Sergt. May 12, 18i)2 : 

Commissary Sergt. Aug. 16, 1801 : prom. 1st Lieut. Co. A. 
Sergt. William Dickson, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; prom. 2d 

Lieut. May 12, 1862: dis. for disability January, 1864. 
•Sergt. .loseph L. Tice, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 22, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 21, 

1863; dis. by order Aug. 1, 1865. 
Sergt. John H. .Simmons, Dowagiac; prom. 2d Lieut. Co. D. 
Sergt. Matthew B. Dopp, Dowagiac, e. Aug. lit, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 

21, 1863; m. o, March 25, 1866, 
Sergt, Gilbert Vincent, Volinia, e. Aug. 20, 1861 : dis. for dis- 
ability Nov. 1, 1862; 
Sergt. .lohn W. Robinson, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 22, 1861 ; vet. Dec. 

21, 1863; in. o. March 25, 18(i6. 
Corp. James S. .McElheny, Dowagiac, c. Aug. 15, 1861 : prom. 

Sergt, January, 1862; Sergeant Maj, October, 1862. 
Corp. Charles Allen, Dowagiac e. .Vug. 16, 1861 ; prom, Sergt. 

October, 18(12; died in rebel prison at Florence, Ala. 
Musician .lohn H. Simmons, Dowagiac, e. Aug. Id, 1861 : vet. 

Dec. 21, 1863; promoted. 
Musician (ieorge W. Pierson, Dowagiac, c. .\ug. 1(1, l.Sdl ; vi^t, 

Dec. 2'.i, 1863; m. o. July 29, 18(1.".. 



HISTORY OF CASS COrXTY. MICHIGAN 



Kanier Aliriiin K. Sigcrfoos, Uowagiac, c. Aug. 19, 18iil ; vcl. 

Dec. 21. IH6:?: m. o. July 31, lS(;r>. 
Wagoner Daniel Kummell, Dowagiac, e. Aug. Ifi, 18G1 ; vcl. Dec. 

•Jl. 1S63: m. o. Aug. S, 1865. 

I'ltlV.MES. 

.lames K. Leailer, Tokagoii c. Aug. 20, ISOl ; pronioled llnsiiilal 



vartl. 



Aug. IG, 1801 : dis. for disaliilily 



Henry W. Ellis, Dowa 

Not. 1, 1862. 
Cliarlcs ('. Wilco.\, Uow.-igiac. c. .\ug. 16, 1861 ; prom. Sergt.: ili; 

at eud of service. 
.)i)lin II. Simmons. Dowaginc, c. Aug. 16 1861 ; prom. .'^ergt. 
Albert II. Lewis, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 16, 1861 : vel Dec. 21, 186:; 

m. o March 2'.', 1866. 



,\1. 



vet. Dec. 21. 1868; 



.\nglc, Philip, Wayne, e. .Vug. l'•^ 
0. March 25. 1866. 

liarualiy. .Vlvin 1'., Voliniii, c. .Ian. 2o, IHiU; dis. by order May 
8, 17I-.5. 

liarney, William W.. I,a lirange. e. Feb. 1-5. 1864: died of disease 
Aprils, 1S64. 

Becraft. William F.. Dowagiac. e. Aug. 20. isiil; vet. Dec. 21, 
ISCS; dis. by order May Ml. 18ii5. 

Itentley. Pardon F., Pokagon, e. Aug. 13, Isnl : vet. Dec. 21, 
I8i;3: died at Alexandria. Va. Nov. 22. lsr,4. 

Bilderback. John. Silver Creek, e. Aug. 20. 18r,l ; vet. Dec. 21, 
lS(i3 ; prom. Sergt.: trans, to Co. D. 

I'.ulhand, Joseph L.. Kdwardsburg. e. Aug. 22, 18iil : vet. Dec. 21, 
ISiiS: m. 0. March 2'), 1H6(;. 

Cables, Jerome I., Volinia. e. Aug. 17, 18i;l : vet. Dec. 21. lf<63: 
m. 0. Aug. 7, 1865. 

Chatterson. Joseph. Silver Creek, c. .\ug. Hi, 1S61 ; vet. Dec. 21, 
ISC,:!; m. o. Nov. 24, lsc,5. 

Clock, Miles A., Porter, e. ; m. o. .Uig. 7, lsii5. 

Colby. Frank. Penn, e. Feb. 2, I8c,4: vet. Dec. 21. 18ii:i; m. o. 
July 10. 1865. 

Cook, .\lbert H., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 21. Isfil ; dis. at end of serv- 
ice, Sept. 24, 18114. 

Crawford, Charles!'.. I'enn, e. Feb. 16, 1861: died in action Wil- 
derness, Va.. May 6. 1864. 

Day, James E.. I'orler. e. Feb. H. 1S64: m. o. March 25, ISiiii. 

Dewilt. Isaac A.. Dowagiac, e. Aug. 19. ISlil ; vcl. Dec. 21, lH(i:3 ; 
m. 0. March 2.'), I8i;i;. 

Urunimond, Alcius, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 22. IStil ; dis. for disability 
April 10, 186.3. 

Ellsworth, Andrew J.: ni. o. March 2'). iscc. 

.Ensign. Leroy. Pokagon, c. Aug. 13. IWil : died in battle at Win- 
chester. Va.. May 24, 1«62. 

fiates, Henry C, Dowagiac. e. Sept. 5, I81II ; died of disease at 
Alexandria. Va., Sept. 24. 1S62. 

Crush. John, Volinia, c. .\ug. 16. IS61 ; vet. Dec. 21. 1863: ni. 0. 
March 25, lHi;i;. 

Ilutson, Edward R.. Dowagiac, e. Aug. 12, I8I1I : dis. for dis- 
ability. 

Hull', Franklin, Dowagiac. e. Aug. 22, 1861 : vel. Dec. 21,IMii3: 
dis. at end of service. .Vug. 22. 18114. 

King. John R., e. Oct. 10. 1X62: died in rebel prison, Richmond, 
Va., Feb. 3, 1X64. 

Labadie. A. C, Dowagiac. e. Aug. HI, I81II ; dis. lor disabilily 
April 3, 18113. 

Laniphere. Elias, Dowagiac. e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; dis. for disability 
April. 1862. wounded. 

liillie, (ieorge, Dowagiac. e. Aug. 17. ixdl ; dis. fordisabilily .Ian. 
13, 1863, wounded. 

Lyons, John. Dowagiac. e. Aug. 16, 1861 ; dis. for disability Sep- 
tember. 1S(12. 



McCreevy, Hiram. Dowagiac. e. Aug 17. 1861: vet. Dec. 21, 1863 . 

dis.by order July 31, 18ii.5. 
.Meacham, Charles, Dowagiac. c. .Vug. Di, 18'11 ; vcl. Dec. 21 ■ 

1863 ; m. 0. March 25, ISilH. 
Morland, Joseph, Volinia, e. Jan. In. I,s(i4 ; ni. o. March 25, 

IXHIi. 
.Norton, Cassius M., Dowagiac. e. Oct. 21, 1S62; dis. by order 

June 19, 1865. 
Niver, William C. Ontw.i. e. Vug. 22, isnl ; die.l of disease at 

Annapolis, Mil., Oct. 3, IS112. 
Ornt. Eli, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 22, 18(11 ; dis. at end of service. 
Olney, Darwin, Dowagifto, e. Aug. 19, 18111 : yet. Dec. 21, 1X63: 

killed in battle at Gettysburg, Penn.. July 3, 1X(13. 
Oyler, John. Dowagiac, c. Aug. 22, I811I : dis. for disability .luly. 

Peck, Coleman C, Cassopolis, e. Aug. 19, 1X61 : dis. at end of 

service. 
I'eltigrew, William M., Uowagiac. e. Aug. 22, ixr.l ; vet. Dec. 21, 

1X63; m. 0. .May 11. Is6ii. 
Pierce, Thomas P., Dowagiac. e. Aug. 16. 1X61 : died of disease at 

Richmond. Va. 
Reimer. Henry, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 16. 1X61 : dis. for disabilily 

Nov. 29, 1862. 
Robinson. Richard M., Dowagiac. c. .Vug. 22. 1861 ; vet. Dec. 21, 

1X(13; m. 0. Aug. 22, 1864. 
Roberts. Luman C, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 12, 1861: vel. Dec. 21, 

1863: m. 0. Nov. 24. 1865. 
Rose, Alexander, La Grange, e. Dec. 21, 18il3 ; in. o. Aug. s. 

1X65. 
Rutter, Benjamin II., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 20, 1x61 : dis. iit end of 

service, Sept. 6, 1X64. 
Rutter. Henry C, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 17. ix-il : died of disease 

.Vpril. 1862. 
Serrine. Ezra, Dowagiac. e. Aug. Hi. 1x61 : dis. fordisabilily May, 



1862 



Dec. 



Dec. 



Stulls. Seth S., Dowagiac. e. Vug. 26. 1861 

Sergt.: trans, to Co. F. 
Shrackengast, George W., Dowagiac, e. .Vugust 22, 186 

21. 1X63. 
Shaw, John N., Corp., Dowagiac, c. Aug. 16, 1861 : ilis. at end of 

service. 
Simons, Joseph R. ('., Dowagiac. e. .Aug. 22. 1861 : vet. Dec. 21. 

1863: died at Ft. Bridger, Utah, Nov. 18, 1S6">. 
Smyth, Daniel, Dowagiac, e. .Vug. 22. 1X61 : dis. for disability 

Jan. 14. I8fj3. 
Spillman, Jacob, Dowagiac, e. .Vug. 26, IXol ; dis. by order. 
Stone, George. Corp., Jefferson, e. Feb. 7, 1865; m. o. March 25, 

1866. 
Snydam, William II., Silver Creek, e. Dec. 36, 1X63; dis. by 

order Vug. 3, 1865. 
Taylor. Ilalbert R. Wayne, e. Dec. 28, isr,:!; m. o. .Much 25, 

1866. 
Thomas. Cassius. Porter, e. Feb. 19. IsiU ; died of yellow lever 

May 6. IX(i4. 
Tinkler, George W.. Dowagiac.' e. .Vug. 16. IXiil ; dis. at end of 

service. 
Tice. Myron C. Dowagiac. e. Aug. 19. Isr.l ; ni. o. .Inly I i. 18115. 
Watson. Joseph H.. Dowagiac, e. Aug. 21. IXill ; taken prisoner 

in aation at Kobh's Tavern. Va. 
Wilber. Oscar, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 22, IxiU ; died of disease .Vug. 

29. 1X112. 
Wiley, James P.. Dowagiac. c. Aug. 17. 1861 ; vet. Dec 21. 1X113 ; 

m. 0. March 25. 1866. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MTCHTGAX. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



■ASS roU.NTY IN THK WAR OF THE RRBELLION. 

(CONTINUKD) 



<jiiarterma3ler Sergl. S. .1. W. Thomas, e. 1862 ; killed at battle of 
Bear Rivei-, Feb. 29, 18fi3. 



Andrews, James H., Mnson, e. Aug. 27, 18fi4: dis. by order .lu 
.3, 1W5. 



.sei-oiid, Thiril, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Eleventh Cavalry— First Barker, John C 



.ight Artillery— Fourteenth Biittery--Inf:iiitry Organizations— The 
Ninth. Kleventh, Thirtpnnth. In\irtpeiith, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, 
Spvpnteonth, Twenty-foin I h, 1 «r)ity-nftli, Twenty-eight and Thir- 
tieth— Tlic One Hundred ami Se'oinl r. S. Colored Infantry— Cass 



e. Ilcl. 



1865. 



•A. Kes. Corps. 
1864; ni. o. Aug. 



ion at Mossy Creek, 
t>, 1864 : m. o. Aug. 



IN the foregoing chapter have been given the rosters 
of ail of the full companies from Cass County, to- 
gether with very brief histories of the regiments to 
which they were assigned. In the present chapter 
appears the roster of Cass County soldiers in miscella- 
neous organizations of the infantry, cavalry and artil- 
lery service. Great care has been exercised in the 
compilation of this roster. It contains every name 

and fact procurable from the Adjucant Generals office, Griffith, John W., e. Sept 
at Lansing. The lists have also been verified in all 
cases where it was practicable by members of the com- 
panies to which they have reference. If the roster as Hewitt. Henry W., e. Sept, Kl, 1861 ; dis. for disability May :iO, 

here presented is incomplete or inaccurate (as it '*"'-^- 



Burns, Lawrence, c. .Sept. 14, ISfil ; 

action in Alabama Oct. 7, 18K4. 
Burns, Roger, e. Sept. 14, 1861 ; vet. , 

186.5. 
Carlisle. William, e. .Sept. 14, 1861 ; I 
Dailey, Hiram, e. .Nov. 14, 1861 ; ve 

17, 18<i5. 
Kisele, Felix, e. Sept. 24, 1K61 ; died 

nee. 27, 186:1. 
Kisele, Martin, e. Sept. 24. 1861 ; vet 

17. 1SH.5. 
Goodrich, J. T., e. Nov. 1, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 5, 1SH4 



, 1864 , m. 0. .Vug. 
1. :<, 1864; died in 
864; m. o. Aug. 17, 



an. 6, 1864; m. o. Aug. 
186.5. 
Hanson, John, e. Sept. 16. 1861 ; dis. at end of service Oct. 22, 

1864. 



doubtless is in some degree), the fact is attributable to 
the neglect of officers, whose iluty it was to return 
full and complete lists to the Adjutant General. 

SECONli REUIMENT MICHKJAN VOLUNTEER CAVALRY- 
Fellows, Austin 1'., Milton, Nov. 8, 186:^ ; m. o. Aug. 17, 18C,.-, 



Kelchnm, Alonzo,c. Sept. 14. IStil ; vet. Ja 



1864 ; m. o. Aug. 



Furrier, .John H. Ashley, .Mason, e 

order June 20, 1865. 
Rix, Alfred, Mason, e. Aug. 24, 18ii4 

Creek, Ala., Nov. 5, 1864. 
Stephens, George, Mason, e. .Vug 24, 

20, 1865. 



Aug 24, 1864; dis. by 
taken prisoner at Shoal 
1861; dis. by order .lune 



ora. Au 



24, 1861 : resigned 



First Lieut. Andrew J. Fi 

Aug. 31, 1862. 
First Lieut. John H. hution, com. Sept. 9, 1862; 2d Lieut. Au 

24, 1861 ; resigned for disvhility April 0, 1864 
(Juirtermaster Sergt. William P. Thomas, e. Sept 12, 186 

died of disease at Corinth, Miss., .lune 25, 1862. 
Sergt. .lay Blodgett, e. Sept. 16, 1861 ; dis f .r <lis=ihiliiy Sept. 



I.ayton, James L., Newhurg. m. o. Aug, 17, 1865. 
Loveland, Andrew J., e. Sept. 21, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 5, 1864. 
Lowry, William S., e. Sept. IX, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 5, 1864; dis. by 

order June 4, 1865. 
Lyhacher, I'orter, Mason, e. Aug. 14, 1861 ; m. o. July 5, 1865. 
Mallory, Marquis D., e. Oct. 1, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Oct. 

22, 1864. 
.Manco, Theo., e. Sept. LS, 1861; vel. Jan. 5, 1864; in. o. Aug. 

17, 1865. 
Mann, George H., Mason, e. Aug. 14, 1862; m. o. Aug. 17, 1865. 
Mannering, W. H., e. Oct. lo, 1861 ; dis. for disability Aug. 16, 

1862. 
Marshall, .lames M., Mason: c. Aug. Ml, 1862; dis. for disability 

Dec. 6, 1862. 
Moore, Lorenzo D., e. Sept. 24, 1861 : vet. Jan. 5, 1864 ; diedo f 

wounds at Shoal Creek, Ala., Dec. I, 1864. 
Nelson, Edgar, e. Sept. 16, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 5, 1864 ; dis. by order 

May I'.l, 18155. 
I'arker, Chandler, e. Nov. 1. l.Hiil ; vet. Jan. 5, 18(i4 ; m. o. Aug. 

17. 18(i5. 
Shockley, Alfred, e. Sept. 14, 1861 ; vel. Jan. 5,1864 ; m. o. Aug. 

17, 1865. 

18iil ; dis. at end of service Oct. 22, 



'orp. John K. Slark. e Sept. 17.18 

14. 1862. 
^)rp. Harvey L. Drew, e. .Sepi. 16. 1 

2, 1861. 
.'orp. Albert I'. Anderson 



Smith, Henry, e. Sept. 

18114. 
Smith, Waller, e. Sept. 17, ISiil ; dis. at end of service Oct. 22, 

18114. 
Siark, Edward, e. .Sept. 24, ISill ; dis. for disability Oct. 20, 18il2. 
Stilson, Hiram, mason, e. Aug. 14, 18il2; trans, lu Vet. Res. 

Corps Feb. 15, 18ii5. 
Sept. 14, 18111 ; died of wounds Stilson, John, Mason, e. Sept. I, 18il4; m. o. Aug. 17, I8ii5. 



for disability Aug. 
ms. to au Cav. Nov. 



near Boonville .Miss., July 3, 1862 
Corp. William H. Todd. e. .Sepl. 16, 

Dec. VI, 1862. 
Corp. Samuel .Maxham, e. Sept. 18, 

Dec. 6, 1862. 
Corp. Vbner I'. Slimp40u, e. Sept. I I, 1 

m. o. Aug. :10, 1865 
Wagoner Robert Lingrell, e. Sept 8, 

prom. Sergt,; m. o. .•Vug. 17, 1865. 



Slillson. Willi; 



C, Ma 



e. Aug. 24, 18H4: 



0. Aug. 



18111 



dis for disability 
dis. for disability 



Welling, Jacob, dis. for disability March 25, ISilo. 

^Villiams, Richard J., e. Sept. 14, ISHl ; vet. Jan. 5, 18il4; dis. 

for promotion Sept. 20, 18114. 
Williama. TUeodoie. e, Sepl. 18, 1861 ; killed by guerrilla-s at 

Madisonville, Tenn., March 7, 18il4. 
Wooden, Timothy, e. Sept. 16, 1861 ; died of disease at St. Louis. 

Mo., Jan. 31, 1862. 



HISTORY OF CAS? rOT'NTY. MICHIGAN. 



THIRD RE(UMENT MirHIGAN VOMJNTKER CAVALRY. 

COMPANV A. 



Smith, George W ., Vi 



Feb. 1ft, 18d4 ; m. o. Fch. 12, 186li. 



Sccoml Lieut. Morrel Wells, La tirange, e. Seyl. M), I8fil. corp , 

vet. .laji. 19, 1864; sergt ; prom. 2<l Lieut, i'o. F; |iroin. 

1st. Lieut ("0. 1, Nov. 17, 18f,4: m. o. Feb. 12, ISfili. 
Second Lieut. Robert H. Carr, nowagiac, e. Sept. 26, ]St;i; 

Corp., scrgt.. 2d Lieut, .luly 4, 1861 ; m. u. as sergt., Feb !"2, 

1866. 

Beebe, BcDJaniin, F., Volinia, e. Feb. 24, ISill ; died ol' disease 

Duval's Bluff, Ark., .lul.y 29, 1864. 
Vance, William. I., Volinia, e. .Ian. 19, 1864; m. o. Feb. 12, 1866 
Wallace, .lohn I., Dowagiac, e. Sept. :'>i), 1861 ; dis. for prom., 

.lunc 2(1. 186.5. 

Company I. 
First Lieut. Morrel Wells, La Grange, com. Nov. 17, 1864; in. u. 

Feb.' 12, 1866. 

CdMI'.^NV M. 

Foster, David, Pokagon, c. Dec. 29, 1868; m. ». Feb. 12, 1866. 

FOURTH REGIMENT .MICHIGAN VllLUNTEKR CAVALRY. 

Company A. 
McManus, .lohn. La Grange, e. Nov. .">, 1863 ; m. o. Aug. l-'i, 
1865. 

Company C. 
McCoy, William, D. P. R., Aug. 1. 1862; m. o. .luly 1, 186-5. 
Partridge. Edwin l>. Pokagon, e. Dec. 5, 1863; m. o. Aug. \o, 

1 865. 
Kiggs, Rensselaer, P iter. e. Aug. 18 1864; ni. «. .luly 1, 1865. 
Shoemaker, .John H., Maroellus, e. .luly 15, 1862; ni. o. .July 1, 
186.-.. 

Company G. 
Cowles, David B., Howard, e. Nov, 3, 1863 : trans, to Veteran 
Reserve Corps, Aug. 17, 1864. 

Company I. 
Bedwell, George W., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 11, 1862 ; in. o. .July 1, 

1865. 
Corp. Brown, Preston W., Dowagiac, e. .luly 29, 1862; ni. o. .luly 

1, 1865. 

Driskel, Noah, Porter, e. Aug. 11, 1862; dis. for disability April 

2, 1863. 

Eaton, Frank P.. Dowagiac, e. .\ug. 11, 18ii2; dis. for disability 

March 3, 1863. 
Fetterly Charles, Dowagiac. e. Aug. 2, 1862 ; ni. o. .luly 1, 18t;5. 
.loy, Franklin D., Penn, e. Aug. U, 1862 ; m. o. May 3, 1865. 
Kennedy, David A.. Penn, e. Aug. II, 1862; m. o. July 1, 1865. 
Powers, Samuel (I., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 11, 1862; died of disease 

at Nashville, Tenn.,. Ian. 12. 1863. 
Uober.son, .lohnathan S., corp.. e. .Vug. 2. 1862 ; trans, to \'et. 

Res. Corps Sept. 1. 1863. 
Matthews. William. Penn. e. Aug. 11. l.';r,2; sick at Nashville 



First Lieut, lliram F. Heals, Dowagiac. com. .Aug. l:'.. 18ii2. 
(.iuartci master Sergt. William H. Davis. Dowagiac. c. .luly 26, 

18112; dis. by order May 19, 1865. 
Commi-sary .Sergt. .lames W. .Vrgo. e. .July 2L I8ii2; m. o. .luly 

1. 1865. 
Scrgl. .lames D. Dawson, e. .Vug. II. 18i;2; dis. fur disiibiliiy 

.luly 8. 1863. 
Sergt. Edward Peaice. Wayne, c. Aug. 15. lKi,2; ni. o. .luly I. 

18(15. 
t'orp. Truman P.ind. VVaync. e. Aug. 2. 1862; died of disease at 

Louisville. Ky.. Oct. 27. 1 862. 
Corp. George .Scott, Volinia, e, Aug. 5. I8il2; dis. for ilisahilily 

.Ian. I. 1863, 
Corp. .lohn Fo.\. Milton, e. Aug. 7, 1862; dis. by order May I'l. 

18(15. 
Corp. Elias Ingling, Dowagiac. c. Vug, 9. 18112; m, o, .luly 1. 

18(i5. 
Corp. .lohn W. Bowles. Volinia. e. .\ug. 7, 18(12; absent sick at 

m. o. 
Farrier Henry Cooper. Dowagiac. e. .\ug. 13. 1862; m. o. ,luly 

1. 1865. 
Teamster (.'harles D. Northrup, Dowagiac. e. Aug. 5. 1862; m. o. 

.luly 1. 1865. 
Wagoner, .Josiah I pes. e. Vu;.'. 2. 18(12 ; m. o. .luly I. I8(;5. 



disability 



Morton, Charles L.. Porter, e. Aug. II. 18(12; 

Feb. 27. 1863. 
Sigerfoos, Albertus. Porter, e. Aug. II. I8il2: sick at Na.shvillc 



Scrgt. Witherell. Ileury A.. Pokagon. e. Vug. II. 1862; died of 
disease at Nashville. Tenn.. April, 9. 1864. 

Lewis, .lames. Newburg, e. Vug. 11. 1862; killed in aelioii .it 
Stone River. 

Lewis. Franklin B., e. .Vug. 11, 1S(12 ; died of digease at Nash- 
ville. 



.\bbott, Hiram, .Milton, e. Aug. 16, 1862; m, o. .luly 1, 1865 
Aldrich, James M., e. Aug. 12, 1862; died nf oisease at Lebanon. 

Ky., Nov. 18,'1862. 
Arnold, Alvin, Newburg, e. .Vug. 13. 1862; trans, to Vol. Res. 

Corps. 
Arnold, Robert, Volinia, e. Aug. II, 1862; m. o. .luly 1, 1865. 
Baldwin, Thomas, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 5, 1862; ni. o. July 1, 1865. 
Dunbar, George W., Milton, e. Aug. 13, 1862; m. o. July !, 1865. 
Finch, .Mathew, Volinia. e. Aug. 10, 1862; dis. for disability May 

1, 1863. 
Ferris, Albert P., Volinia, e. Aug. 11, 1862; dis. by order .May 3, 

1865. 
Garwood, Levi J., Volinia. e. Aug. 2, 18(i2; dis by order .luiie 
29, 1865. 
i Higgins, George W., Dowagiac, e. .luly 26, 1862; ui. o. July 1, 
I 1865. 

I Haight, Horatio, Marcellus, e. Aug. 7, 1862; m. o. July 1, 1865. 
! Hoyt, Henry, Dowagiac, e. .Vug. 2, 1862 ; died of disease at Nash- 
i ville, Dec. 26, 1862 

I Huft\ Simon, Volinia, e. Aug. 15, 1862; m. o. July I, 1865. 
j Humiston. Perry, e. Aug. 8, 1862; m. o. July 1, 1865. 
j Jaquays. William, Volinia, e. Aug. 15, 1862; transferred lo 
Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 15, 1K64. 
Little, .lohn H., Volinia, e. Aug. 6, 1S62; dis. for disability Feb. 
I 11, 18113. 

Northrup, Freeman G., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 6, 18(12 ; died of disease 

at .Mitchellville, Tenn., Nov. 22, I8(i2. 
Parks, James, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 6. 1862; dis. by order .Vpril 2s, 
j 1865. 

' Pond, Wesley D., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 9, 18(12; ni. o. July I. IN(15. 
Quick, Robert I., Dowagiac, c. Vug. (l, IS(l2; dis, for di-iahility 

Feb, 4, 18113. 
Rankin, John E,, Dowagiac, e. Aug, 12. 1X62; ni, o. July I, 1.S65. 
Shanahan, Henry, e, Aug, 12, 18112; m, o, July 1, 1x65, 
Southworth, George M,, Volinia, e. Vug. II, l.X(i2; ni. n, .luly I, 

LSdu. 
.Sweelland. James ,M,, Dowagiac, c. ,Vu!;, 7, 1862; dis, lor ili.sa- 
l)ility Jan, 7, 1863, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MTOHIGAX 



Swcetland, John B., Edwardsburg, e. Aug. 12, lm2 ; dis. by order 

to appointment as I'nited States .Medical Cadet Sept. 20, 1W3. 
Taylor, Nelson, m. o. .July 1, M'lO. 
Thompson, Benjamin F., .Milton, e. Aug. 15, lS(i2; prom, to Corp. 

1863, after the battle of t-tone River; dis. for disability 

Xov. 11, 1K(14. 
Tharp, John L., Penn e. Aug. '.•. 18ii2; dis. for disability March 

25, lK(i4. 
Van Tuyl, John, Dowagiac, e. Aug. hi, 18112; ni. o. July 1, 18115. 
Vaughn, Dewitt C, t'alvin, e. Aug. H, 1K(12; died of disease in 

Indiana March Is, 1,H(13. 
Welch, Michael, La Grange, e. .\ug. o, 1X62; died in rebel prison, 

Richmond Va.. Dec. 18, 1W12. 
Welcher. -Sherman B., Volinia, e. Aug. H, 18r,2; died of disease at 

Woodsonville. Ky.. Dec. — , 18ii2. 
Wilson, Samuel, Dowagiac, e. Aug. H, 1,hii2; m. o. July 1, 18115. 

RECRIITS — UNASSIONEII. 

Brown, Simeon, Wayne, e. Nov. 18, 18(13. 
Day, Robert B., Wayne, e. Dec. 21, 18(13. 
Rigin. Thomas, Mason, e. Nov. 3, 18(13. 
Ross, William, Silver Creeli, e. Dec. 23, 18(13. 
Randall, Charles, Silver Creek, e. Aug. 30, 18(14. 
Shoemaker. Franklin ('., Penn, e. Dec. 23, 18(l3. 
Williams, Leonard W.. Penn, e. Xov. 3, 18(13. 

FIFTH REOIMENT MICHWAN VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. 

PlELl) ANO STAFK. 

Surg. Sylvester L. Morris, Dowagiac. Oct. 23, IK(13; A3«istau 
Surgeon Sept. 3, 18(13; resigned July 28. 18(14. 



Dean. Kdw.ird, La (irange, e. Jan. 23, 18(15; transferred to Isl 

Michigan Cavalry. 
Randall. Wesley C, Jefferson, c. .March 13, 18(15; m. o. May 1'.), 

iKdd. 
Shilling, Lemuel C, Voliiiia, e. March 15, 18(15; in. o. Jan. D, 



Ci>Ml 



King. Franklin T., La Grange, c. Jan. (1, 18(15; tiansferred to 

Ist Michigan Cavalry. 

('0Mr\.\v K. 
Iluyck, Alva H., Volinia, e. March 15, IK(15; transferred to 7lh 

Michigan Cavalry. 

ClIMCANV M. 

Harrington, Silas. Silver Creek, e. Feb. 17, 18(15; transferred (o 
7(h Michigan Cavalry. 

.SIXTH KEdlMENT MICHIHAN VOLl'NTEER ('AV.ALKY. 

COMI'.A.NV K. 

Savage. Frank'', Marcellus. e. .March -11, 18(15: ui. o. Feb. 1(1, 
1866. 

lll.MCA.NY G. 

Branch, Arthur K. Silver Creek, c. .March 7, 1865; m. o. Feb. 

16, 1866. 
Nearpass, Ira N, Newberp, c. .March 31, 1865; in. n. May 16, 

1866. 

Cn.MCASV K. 

Potts. Janice II., Silver Cicek, e. March 10. 1865; in.... March 
31, 1866. 

('OMl'ANV L. 

Bliss, Edwin S.. Newberg. o .Ian. 26, 1864; m. o. May :10. 

18115. 
Dewey, Orlando, Marcellus; in. o. March 25. 1866. 
Kilmer, George P., I'enii, e Feb 11, 1864; m. o. .Iiine 24. 1865. 



Mathers, William, Silver (reek, e. Feb. 17,1865; m. o. March 
10, 1866. 

CO.MI'ANY M. 

Cole, Hiram G., JeHerson, e. Feb. 6, 1865; m. o. Feb. 8, 1866. 
Deline, Frank H., Calvin, e. Feb. 6, 1865; died of disease at St. 
Louis, Mo., June 24, 1865. 

SEVENTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. 

Co-MCANY A. 
.\lexander, ."^amuel, Jefferson, e. Sept. '.(, 1862; missing in ac- 

ti..n. 
Crocker, William A., Jefferson, e. Sept. 0, 1862; tri^ns. to Invali.l 

Corps Sept. 10, 1863. 
(Jollins, Joseph E., Pokagon, e. Sept. 12, 1862; died at .\lexan- 

dria, Va., J.an. 12, 1864. 
Foster, Zaoh ; trans, to Isl Mich. Cav. 
Harrison, Jesse, Jefferson, e. Sept. 'J. 1862; trans, to Vet. Res. 

Corps, April 10, 1864. 
Henderson, William, Milton, e. Dec. 20, 1862; m. o. June 7, 1865. 
Huyck, John. 

Maloy, Thomas, Pokagon, e. Sept. 29, 1862; m. o. Dec. 15, 1865. 
Vlilliman, Samuel, Pokagon, e. Sept. 18, 1862. 
i Nels.m, Walter, Pokagon, e. Sept. 29. 1862 ; died in battle at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Peck, George P., Jefferson, e. Sept. 9, 1862; dis. for disability 

Nov. 25, 1862. 
Richardson, Varnum, Pokagon, e. Sept. 15, 1862; dis. for dis. 
i ability March 28, 1863. 

I Smith, Thomas J., Milton, e Dec. 25, 1862; m. o. July 6, 1865. 
I Stout, John, Milton; m. o. Dec. 15, 1865. 
i Wortler, George A., Milton, c. Dec. 27, 1862. 



Irwin, .Vndrcw ; m. o. Dec. 15, 18(35. 

NINTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. 

FIKLO AND STAFF. 

Chaplain John Fletcher, Edwardsburg, Aug. 23, 1864 ; m. o. July 

21, 1865. 

Company L. 
('apt. George Miller, Pokagon.'Nov. 3, 1862; resigne.l March 12, 

1864. 
Commissary Sergl. James F. Prater, Wayne, e. Dec. 12, 1862; 

prom Regimental Commissary Sergt. May I. 1864 ; m. o July 

21, 1865. 
Sergl. Henry L. Barney, Wayne, e. Dec. 1, 1S62; prom, in U. S. 

Cav. Troops. 
Sergt. (lagon Dunham, Volinia, e. Dec. 28, 1862; ni. o. June 30. 

1863. 
Corp. Martin Ijuinlan, Volinia, e. Jan. HI, 1863; m. o. .luly 21, 

1865. 
Teamster John Oyler, Pokagon. e. Nov. 12, 1862; m. o. Dec. 5, 

1865. 
Barrett, George, Wayne, e. Dec. 28, 1862; m. o. June 13, 1S65. 
Blackman, Jerome, Dowagiac, e. March 24, 1863 ; in. o. July 

21, 1865. 
Brownell, William, Wayne, e. Dec. 27. 1862; m o. May 27. 1865. 
Ellsworth, Daniel, Howard, e. Jan. 1.1863; dis. for .Usability 

June 9, 1865. 
Elliott, Franklin, Jefferson, c. .Ian. 1, 1863: died in rebel prison 

at Richmond, Va., Feb. 17, 1864. 
tiarrigan, John, Volinia, e. Dec. 18, 1862: died in rebel |iris..n 

pen. Andersonville, Ga., June 19. 1864. 
Kelly. E.lgar D.. Waynf. e. Dec. 13. 1862: m ... July 21, 1865. 
Rose, .lolui H.; D.>wagiac, e. April 28, 1863: dis. for disability 

June 9, 1865. 



I 



aiSTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Smiih, JuJson, Wayne, e. Jan. 12, 18H3: m. o. July 21, 18ii5. 
.Siiiilli, Henry, Silver Creek, e. Jan. 12, 18i;:?; died of disease in 

Tennessee, Dec. 27, 18i;8. 
Travis, I'lzekiel, Wayne, e. Nov. 11, 18i;2: m. o, Dec. •">, 18i',.5. 
Oveiheck, Augustus, Volinia, e. .Ian 8, ISr,:!; died at Dandridge, 

Tennessee, Dec. 15, 18f,3. 
Willi.ims, James A., Corp., Venn e. Dec. 2!l, 18(;2 ; in. o. July21, 

18(15. 

Davis, M. Barney. 
Willis Barney. 

ELEVENTH REOIMKNT .MICHIOAN VOLITNTEER CAVALRY. 

I'OMl'.KXY (.i. 

Canning. George. Marcellus. e. Nov. ,'), 18(5.'? ; m. n. N'ov. 2, 1865. 

COMI'ANY I. 

Allen, William H., I'enn, e. ,>^epl. Ui I8i',.3; m. o. May 17, 1805. 
Canning, Tlionins, Miircellus, e. .Sept. Ifl, 18113; ni. o. Aug. 24, 



I.etlick, Wil 



La Grange, e. Dec. 7, 18113 ; ni. o. Sept. 22, 18(15. 



Company K. 
•Sergl. Horace ft. Brown, Ontwa, e. Sept. 22, 1.^(18; died of dii 
ease at Le.\iDgtiin, Ky., Jnly 8, 1,S(14. 



Blackburn, Thomas, Ontwa, e. Nov. 2, 18(13; 



22, 



Blue. Krwin, Ontwa, e. Nov. 2, IWi : killed by accident at Shel- 
by ville, Ky., July 17, 18114. 

Brown, Carlton, Ontwa, e. Sept. 30, 18i!3; ni.o. July 18, 18(1.-). 

Lofand, Joshua, Ontwa, e. Sept. 1, 18(13; ni. o. Sept. 22, 18(15. 

Farrier William W. Marr, Ootwa, e. Sept. 22, 18(13; m. o. Seiil. 
22; 18(16. 

Saddler .\lbert H. Raymond, Ontwa, e. Oc(. !), 18(13 ; m. o. Sept. 

Shideler, George, Ontwa, e. Oct. 2(1. 18(13; m. o. .Sept. 22. 18(15. 
Shiar, .\lonzo S., Ontwa, e. Sept. 22, 18(13 ; died of disease at 

Ashland, Ky., July 11. 18(14. 
Stark, Edward, Silver Creek, e. Sept. 10, 18(1.!; m. o. Oct. 9, 

18i>0. 
Steele, John S. Ontwa, e. Oct. 14, 18(13 ; m. o. Sept. 22, 18(15. 
Farrier Wieling, .lacob H., Silver Creek: e. Sept Id, 18(13; ni. 

0. .Sept. 22, l.H(15. 



FIRST MICHIGAN LIGHT ARTILLERY. 
Battbkv .\. 
Second Lieut. George J. .Nash, Vulinia, March (1, 18(l.'i; m. o 

28, 18115. 
(lanning .Samuel ; m. o. July 28, 18(1). 
Ilickox, William If., La Grange, e. Dec. 30, 18(13; m. o. 

28, 18(10. 
Mesler, William, La Grange, e. Dec. 25, 18(13; m.o. July 28, 
(dy28, 18 



Willianis. Levi P., I', 



, Feb. •\, 18(13 



Battkhy I'.. 
Abliolt, .Seneca W., Ontwa, e. Sept. .■>, 18(14 : ni. o. Aug. 30, 



Norris, Webb ; m. o. .\I« 



G. 



Smith, Horace, .Sergl., Adamsville, e. Nov. 23, 18(11 ; dis. f« 

ability Aug. 25, 18(1;;. 
Wickerly, David, e. Dec. 15, IHd 

1802. 



. for disability July 



FOURTEENTH BATTERY. 

I'BIVATES. 

Armstrong. Benjamin F., Fokagon, e. .Sept. 17, 18(13; dis. for dis- 
ability .May 15, 18(1.5. 
Arnold, Kdward R., Corp , Volinia, e. Oct. !(, 18(18 ; m. o. July 1, 

1805. 
Barney, Myron F., Newberg, e. Sept. 7, 1803; m. o. .Inly I, 

1805. 
lilanchard, George L., I'okagon, e. Sept. 6, 1804; m. o. .luly I, 

18(1.'T. 
Burnham, Charles M., Jetferson, e. Dec. 31, 1803 ; ni. o. .luly 1, 

1805. 
Canfield, Washington B., .Mircellus, e. Sept. 17, 1803; .lis. for 

disability Jan. 12, 1805. 
Crane, Judson J., I'okagon, e. Sept. 3, 1804 ; m. o. .July I, 1805. 
Day, Alexander P., Volinia, e. Sept. 3, 1804 ; m. o. July 1, 1805 
Davis, Charles J., Newburg, e. Sept. 7, 1803; m. o. July 1. 

18(15. 
Drake, George S., Newberg, e. Oct. 3, 1803: m. o. July I, 1805. 
j Goff. William 11., Penn, e. Sept. 4, 1803 ; m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Goff, Stephen C, Peun, e. SepL 3, 1804; m. o. July 1, 1805. 
j Golf, Sylvester J., Volinia, e. Sept. 3, 1804; m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Goodrich, George, Pokagon, e. Sept. 5, 1804; m. o. .luly I. 

1805. 
Harwood, William M., Penn, e. Aug. 2!l, 1804; m. o. July 1, 

1805. 
Holloway, Charles, Newberg, e. Sept. 12, 1803; m. o. Julyl, 

1805. 
Holloway, William, Penn, e. Aug. 25, 1804 ; m. o. July 1 , 1805. 
Hutchings, William W., Newberg, e. Sept. 2(1, 1803; dieil of dis- 
ease at Washington, I). C, March 21, 1804. 
Lemon, John F., Penn, e. Sept. 1, 1804; m. o. July I, 1805. 
Martin, Robert N., Penn, e. Sept. 6, 1803; dis. for disability Nov. 

23, 1804. 
Murphy, William, Jefferson, e. .Ian. 2, 1804 ; m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Patrick, Christopher, Corp., .Marcellus, e. Sept. 7, 1803; mo. 

July 1, 1805. 
Pembcrton, Eliphalet, Marcellus, e. Oct. 3, 1863 ; m. o. July 1, 

1805. 
Pound, Isaac S., Pokagon, e. Sept. 1. 1804; m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Rudd Baruk L., Newberg. e. Sept. 9, 1803; m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Shoemaker, Frank C, Pokagon, e. Aug. .30, 1804; m. o. July 1, 

180.-.. 
Skinner, James R., Marcellus, e. Oct. 2, 1803; m. o. July 1, 

1805. 
Skinner, Harrison H., Marcellus, dis. for disability Dec. o. 1804. 
Tompkins, .Melvin R., Newberg, e. Sept. 20, 1863; ra. o. July I, 

1805. 
Turengo, Andrew, Jefferson, e. ,Ian. 4, 1804: m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Vincent, Henry, Volinia, e. Oct. 2, 1803 : m. o. July 1, 1805. 
Wetherell, Smith D., Corp., Volinia. e. Nov. 5, 1803 ; m. o. July 1, 

1805. 
Wilsey, Erasmus, Marcellus, e. Sept. 10, 1804; m. o. July 1, 



FIRST REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

COMI'ANY F. 
Sergt. Frank Upson, Howard, e. July 17, 1801 ; died in aedon at 
Gaines' Mills June 27, 1802. 

SECOND REOIMENT MIOHIGAN VdLlINTEKK INFANTRY. 

COMI-ASY E. 

Corp. .loel (Juwgill, Calvin, e. May 25, 1801 ; (rans. to Vet. 

Res. Corps July I, 1803. 
Sergt. Johns. Gliddou, e. .May 21. 180! ; vet Dec :'.l, l.so:: ; .lis 

by order Sept. 15. 1804. 



l:u 



HTSTOIlY OF CASS COUNTY. MlCIlTCAN. 



rrivate William Jackson, Jefferson, e. May 2r., l?in : vet. Bee. 

Dec. 31, 18i;3 ; in. o. July 28, ISti.i. 
Sergt. Benjamin F. Lee, Ontwa, e. May 25, 18K1 : died May, 18, 

I8ii2, of wounds received at Williamsburg. 
Corp. Henry Meacham, Ontwa, e. May 25, ISHl : trans, to Vet. 

Res. Corps Feb. 15, 18i>4. 

CO.MP.*.NY 1. 

Coleman, Franci.* A., Wayne, e. Feb. 21, IMtio ; dig. by order June 
15, 18ti5. 

FIFTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company A. 
Haigh, William, e. Aug. 28, ISHl ; vet. Dec. 15, 18i)8. 

Co.Mi-.\!«v l). 
Stamp, F,. M., Porter, e. Sept. 18, 18112; m. o. June .3, 18i;.".. 

SEVENTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

.\asistant Surgeon Cyrus Bacon, Ontwa, enrolled June HI, 18111, 
at Fori Wayne (near Detroit), Mich ; mustered in Aug. 22, 
18111: resigned May il, 18ti2; appointed Ass't Surgeon of 
Regular Army July :J, 18il2; died .Sept. 1, 18(18. 



TENTH RKGIMENT MICIIIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

(lOMPANT C. 

.\yers, Tliuinas B., Porter, e. Oct. 27, 1864; m. o. July 19, 18il5. 
Barker, Peter, Marcellus, e. Oct. 31. 18114; m. o. July 19, 18115. 
Brown, William A., Calvin, e. Nov. 2, 1864: m. o. July 19, >8il5. 



Baer, Westell, Marcellus. e. Oct. 2il, 18tl4: 



July 111, 1811.-.. 



Com p.* XT K. 
Philips, John, NewI.erg. e. Jan. 17, 18K4; m. o. July 19, 18ij5. 

ELEVENTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER IN- 
FANTRY (old). 
Company C. 

.\ngle, John A., Wayne, e. -•Vug. 24. 18H1 : died of disease ai 
Bardstown, Ky., March 20, 18H2. 

Beardsley, Elisha L., e. Nov. 22, I81II ; died of disease at Bards- 
town. Ky.. June 31,181.2. 

Birdgeit, John, e. Aug. 24. I81U : dis. for disability Sept. 15, 
1862. 

Parnham, John B., Ontwa, e. Ang. 24, ISill ; died of disease at 
Bardslown, Ky., Feb. 6. 18t;2. 



EIGHTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company A. 
Grant, William, Pokagon, e. Dec. 21, 18t;3 ; died in aition near 

Petersburg, Va., June 27, 1864. 
Lane, Thomas, Milton, e. Dec. 22, 1863; m. 0. July 30, 18i;5. 

NINTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

COMPASV A. 

Ayres, Sylvester B.. Howard, e. Oct. I. 1804; dis. by order June 
20. IH115. 

CoMPASV B. 

Uougherly, Thomas, Howard, e. Sept. 29, I8G4: ilis. by onler 
June 20, 1865. 

Medger, Charles W., Pokagon, e. Feb. 9. 1^06; m. 0. Sept. 15, 
1866. 

Kelly, Ethan, La Grange, e. March 17. 1865; dis. by onler Aug. 
10, 1865. 

Mater, John, e. 1861 ; dis. 1862; re-e. in same company, and fi- 
nally dis. Sept. 26, 1863. 



Fisher, Franeis. Porter, e. Oel. 1, 1864; ni. 0. June 20, IS65. 

Company It. 
Bender, .Joseph D., Newberg, e. April 5. 1865; m. o. .Se)U. 15, 

1865. 
Hendricks, Clark, Pokagon, e. Sept. :l, 1864 ; m. o. June 20, 1865. 
II iggins, Charles J.. Pokagon, e. Sept. 3, 1S(I4; m. o. .hine 20, 

1865. 

Company 0. 
Cole, Brayton M., La Grange, e. March 25, 1865, in. 0. Sept. 15. 

1865. 
Myers, William, ."silver Creek, e. October 4, 1864 : absent sick at 

Company H. 
i^altsgiver, Henry, Porter, e. Oct. 3, 1864; m. n. Sept. 15, 1865. 

COMP.VNV I. 

Thompson, John K., Howard, e. Sept. 30, 1864; m. o. June 20, 



Hathaway, Henry C., e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; absent sick at m. 0. 
Lucas, William H., e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; killed al Stone River. 
O(3onnor, Cyrus W., e. .\ug. 24, 1861 ; dis. al end of service 

Sept. 30, 1864. 
I'iiilips, William J. e. .Aug. 24, 1861 ; dis. at eud of service Sept. 

30. 1864. 

Company K. 
Corp. Ilavid Klase. 

PRIVATES. 

Baldwin, Daniel, e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; died of wounds near Atlanta, 

Ga.. Aug. 7, 1864. 
Blakely, Thomas L., e. Aug. 24. I8H| ; dis. for di.sabilily Aug. 4, 

1862. 
Booth, Zeivala, e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; ilis. al end of service Sept. 30, 

1864. 
Chamberlain, William L., e. Aug. 24. 1861 ; dis. al en.l of service 

Sept. 3t), 1864. 
Haines, James L., dis. at end of service. 

Latham, Kneeland, e. .•Vug. 24, 1861 ; dis. by order July I, 1863. 
Milliman Bryant, dis. at end of service. 
MiiHgn, Sidney S., e. .Aug. 24, 1861 ; dis. al end of service Sept. 

.30, 1864. 
Noilinghain, Jud.son, dis. at end of service, Sept. 30, 1864. 
Poorman, John, e. .■Vug. 24, 1861 ; dis. al end of service Sept. 

30, 1864. 
tjuay. George W., e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; died near .\llanta. Ga., of 

wounds, Aug. 7. 1864. 
Ryan, James X. C, e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Sept. 

30, 1864. 
.Schug, Emanuel, e. .Vug. 24, 1861 ; dis. at end of service .Sept. 

30, 1864. 
Schug, William F., e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, 

Nov. 15, 1863. 
.Shoemaker, Samuel S., dis. for ilisabilily. 
Smith, Cyrus, e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; dis. at end of service Sept. 3o, 

1864. 
Tayler, George, e. Aug. 24, 1861 ; died of disea.se at Bardslown, 

Ky.. Feb. 5, 1862. 
Thompson. Smith, e. Aug. 24. 1861 ; ,lis. for disability Sept.. 1861. 
Vanordslranil, John, e. Aug. 24, 1861; dis. at end of service 

Sept. 30. 18t,4. 



I 



HISTORY OV OASS rOUNTY, MICllKiAN 



Van \ alkeiibuig. Ben.iaiiiii>. e. Aug. J4, IMil ; clis. al eml nf serv- 
ice Sept. :^0, \SM. 

Vanordstranil. lerome 1'.. Sergl., e. Aug. "24, 1H61 ; dis. at end of 
service Sept. 311, l.Hr,4. 

CO.MI'ANV G. 

Bryan, .);imes, dis. at end of service Sept. 30, 1«S4. 

Br_v;iu, Moses, died of wounds at Chaltanoogn, Tenn., Sept. 1^, 

l.siiS. 
Granger, Chauncey, dis. for disability .June 8, 18(54. 
Haines, James L., dis. at end of service Sept. 36, 18t)4. 
Higgins, Thomas W., died of disease March 18, 1862. 
Nichols, Charles N.. dis. at end of service Sept. 30, l8t)4. 
Nichols, James 0., died at Cbickamauga. Tenn., Sept. 20, 186:1. 
Scott, Lorenzo H., dis. at end of service Sept. 3li, 1864. 
Skinner, Harrison H.. Corp., dis. for disability ; Feb. 15, 1.S62. 



Moody. I.oren. 1) 
m O.July 25 



v.igiao, f. Oct. -12. 
1865. 

Company G. 



("lendenning, James, e. Dec. 13, 18(11 ; dis. for disability Oct. 2'J, 
I 1863. 

I Roy. William G.. I'enn. e. Oec. 12, Isi.l ; vet. Jan. Is, lHi-.4; 
Sergt: ra. o. July 2'>. 1S65. 
Salter. James, e. Dec. 12. 1K61 ; vet. Feb. 13. l.siU: .lis. by order 
June 20. 1865. 
j Salter, Silas, e. Dec. 12, 1861 ; dis. for disability Sept. 12. 1862. 
i Weist, William F., Dowagiac. e. Oct. 22, 1861 ; dis. for disability 
Nov. 23, 1863. 

, nOMP.4NV H. 

Clampbell. Seth R.. Silver Treek, e. Feb. 2", 1.H65: ni. o. .luly 25, 

1865. 
Wrisrht, Gilbert. Silver Creek, e. Feb. 27. 1865; m. o, July 25, 



ELEVKNTH RKOIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFAN- 
TRY (NEW). 
Company E. 
Sergt. Joel Cowgill, Calvin, e. March '.I, 1K65; m. o. Sept. 16, 
1X6.5. 

Musician Charles E. Deal, La Grange ; Co. F; e. March, 

m. 0. Sept. 16, 1M65. 

.Musician Elaui Dacy, La Grange ; Co. F.; e. m. o. 

Sept. 16, 1,S65. 

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER 

INFANTRY. 

Company A. 

Beaman, .Marvin D., Penn, e. Feb. 29, 1864 : m. o. July 25, 1865. 

VVoliver, Philauder J., Marcellus, e. Dec. .^, IW,'. ; Corp; in. o. 



Wail, Byron. Jellerso 
ville, Ky., July 



of disease at L( 



FOURTEENTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER IN 
FANTRV. 
Company B. 
Austin. Harvey H., e. Nov. 25, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 4. 1864. 
Cope, Jacob, e. Oct. 5, 1861 ; dis. at end of service. 
Eaton, -\bner, e. Dec. 18, l!S6l ; dis. for disability .Ian. 10, 1863. 
Garner, Henry, I'orter, e. Nov. 28, isr.l ; vet. .(an. 4. I8i'.4: m. o. 

July 18, 1865. 
.Moore, Jared C, m. o. .luly 18. 1S65. 
Morse, Albert J., e. Jan. 2, 1862; vet. Jan. 4, 1864 : m o July 

18. 1865. 
Stewart, Jiuiiea A., vet. Jan. 4, 1864; m o July 18, 1865 



Blood, Charles H. Voliua, e. Feb. 26, 1864 ; m. o. July 25, 1865. 
Blood, George A., Volinia, e. Jan. 2, 186'J ; vet. Jan. IS, 1864; 

m. o. July 25, 1865. 
liailey, William S., Porter, e. Dec. 13, 1861 ; vet. Jan. 18, 1864 ; 

m. 0. July 25, 1865. 
11 aefner, Christian G., Volinia, e. Feb. 27, 1864: m. o. July 25 

1865. 
Jaciuays, Smith C, Volinia, Feb. 26, 1864 ; ilied of disease al 

Philadelphia, .May 20, 1865. 
Johnson, Heniy .\l., Porter, e. Dec. 13, 1861 ; .lied of liisease al 

Danville, Ky.. Nov. 2(1. 1862. 

Company K. 
Brown, William H., Pokagon, e. Feb. 2'.l, 1864 ; m. o. 
Caldwell, William W., Pokagon, e. Oct. 22, 1861 ; vet. Jan Is 

1864: m. o. July 25, 1865. 
Crego, Hilance J., Pokagon, e. Oct. 22, 1861 ; .1 

16, 1863. 
Fluallen, Simon K., Corp Sergt., e. Gel. 22, 1861 ; vei. Jan. 18, 

1864; m. o. July 25, 1865. 
llazeii, Charles, Dowagiac, e. Oct. 27, 1861; dis, for disability 

Sept. 20. 1862. 
lIuDgerford, Calvin A., Dowagiac. e. Oct. 22, 1861 ; vet. Jan. Is, 

1864; m. o. July 25. 1,S65. 
Iliingerford, Mason, Dowagiac. e. Oct. 22, 18(;i ; m. o. al end of 

service Jan 1(>, 18(i5. 
Ilutson. Edward R.. Dowagiac, e. Oct. 22. 1861 ; vet. Jan. Is, 

1864; m. 0. July 25, 1865. 
Kegley. William, Dowagiac, e. Oct. 22, 1861 ; vet, Jan. 18, 1864; 

m. 0. July 26, 1865. 
Lewis. Ephraiui, Dowagiac, e. Oct. 22. 1.861 ; vet. Jan. 18. 1864; 

m. o July 26, 1865. 



Calkins. I'liomas J., Porter, e. Sept. 27, 1864 ; m. o July IS, 1865. 

Company F. 
Wilson, John, m. o. .luly 18, 1865, 
Zimmerman. Michael, Porter, e. Sept. 27, 1865; mo July 18. 1865 

Company 1. 
Rogers, (jeorge. Porter, e. Sept. 27, 1864; m. o. July 18. 1865. 

FIFTEENTH REGIMEMT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFAN- 
TRY. 
Company A. 
Fiel.ls, Alonzo, Porter, e. .Sept. 27, 1864; .lis. by or.ler May SH, 

Company H. 
ler April B„el, Leon, Volinia, e. May 27, 1865: m. o, Aug. 13, 18C5, 

Leiti, Joel B, .Marcellus, e. Oct. 22, 1864; died of disease al 
Jan. 18, Alexandria, Va., June 3, 1805. 

Mowry, Jacob, Marcellus, e. Oct. 22, 1864; .lis. by or.ler Sept. 
11, 1865. 

Company C. 

Mice, John, Volinia, e. March 18, 1865; m. o. Aug. 13, 1865. 
Park, .John, (Mvin, e, Nov, ;{0, 1864; dis, by order Aug. 2, 1866. 
Parsons, E/.ra, Calvin, e. Oct. 22, 1864; m, o. Aug. 13. 1865. 
Kacey, Robert, Milt.ui, e, Oct. 22, 1864; dis. by or.ler June 25. 

1865. 
Sampson, .lolin, Calvin, Ocl. 21, 1864; m. o. Aug. 13, 1865 



Id. 22, 1864, m. o. Aug. LI, 1865. 
March 18, 1866; mo. Aug. 13, 1865, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Dunn, Anson L., Newberg, e. Nov. 4, 1861 ; ra. o. Aug. 13. 1865. 
Wagner, John, Calvin, e. Dec. 5, 1864; m. o. Aug. 13, 186-5. 

Company E. 
Descartes, Peler, (lis. at end of service Jan. 28, 1865. 
De Witt, James, Dowagiac, e. Dec. 23, 1861 ; dis. for disabilily 

May 19, 1862. 
Doherty, Charles, dis. at end of service Jan. 28, 1805. 
Ducat, Duffy, dis. by order July 21, 1865. 
Gee, Alexander, m. o. Aug. 9, 1865. 
Girirdin, Richard, dis. by order Sept. 9, 1865. 
Greenwood, Anthony, dis. for disability July 9, 1802. 
Johnson, Fred., Dowagiac, e. Dec 21, 18C1; vel. Jan. 25, 18i!4; 

dis. by order Aug. 5, 1805. 
KfUy, John, m. o. Aug. 1?., 1865. 
Liltlejohn, William, dis. for disability Aug. 3, 1802. 
Logan, John, dis. for disability Aug. 3, 1802. 
McTaggart, Archibald, dis. for disability Aug. 3, 18o2. 
Nephew, Anthony, dis. foi disability Aug. 11, 1802. 
Nye, Theo., dis. at end of service Jan. 28, 18ri5. 
Walustrand, Julius, Marcelliis, e. Oct. 22, 1804: m. o. Aug. 13, 

1805. 

Company G. 
East. Alva, Porter, e. Oct. 10, 1804: died of disease at Baltimore. 

Md., Feb. 21, 1805. 

Company H. 
Harder, James E.. Howard, e. March 18, 1805: m. o. .\ug. 13, 

1866. 
Honeywell, Newell, Howard, e. Oct. 6, 1804; m. o. Aug. 13, 1805. 
Howard, John F., Howard, e. .April 1, 1805; m. o. Aug. 13,1805. 
Hudson, William, Howard, e. April 1, 1805; m. o. Aug. 13, 1805. 
.lohnson, John S., m. o. Aug. 13, 1805. 
Koot, John W., V.iliniv, e. March 18, 1865; dis. by order Sept 20, 

1805. 

Company I. 
Bell, Edward 15., e. Feb. 5, 1802 ; .lied of .lisease at Griffith's 

Landing, Miss.. Oct. 3, 1803. 
Joslin, Hiram, Newhurg, e. Feh. 10, 1802; di^. for di^^ahilily Aug. 

25, 1802. 

I'llMPASY K. 

Hogeboom, Cornelius 1'.. m. o. .\ug. 13, 1805. 

SIXTEENTH REUl.MENT .MICHKi.W VOLUNTEER INFAN- 
TRY. 
Company C. 
Kapp. George. Volinia. e. Jan.. isi;'); m. n. Julys. l,si;5. 

Company K. 
I'rebanisky. Frank, Volinia. e. March 30. I8i;-. ; ra. o. July s. I.S05. 

SEVENTEENTH RE(U,MENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER IN- 
FANTRY. 
Company B. 
Hick. William M.. Howard, e. July 2. 1802; m. o. June 3. 1,S05. 
Doau. Tlionms R., Howard, e. .\ug. 3. 1802; killed on Mis.sissippi 

River by explosion .\pril 28. 1805. 
Earl. Levi F.. Howard, e. Aug. 2, 1802. 
Foote. John M.. Howard, e. Aug. 5. 1802; transferred to Vel. Res. 

I'orps Dec. 15. 1803. 
Harder. Tunis J.. Howard, c. Aug. 5. 180 >; m. o. June 3. 1,805. 
Kenyon. Varnum. Howard, e. Aug. 0, 18(;2; ilied of disease at 

Fredericksburg. Va.. Feb. 5. 1803. 
Kenyon. Jesse .\.. Howard, e. Aug. 0. 1.SI12; died of woumls at 

Washington Dec. 10. 1802. 
.Schell. (ieorge I* Ktnv>(rd. *• Aui^ 1 ls<;2: di* by oriler June 

10. 1805. 



Taylor. Fred. Howard, e. .Vug. 7. Isi;2; dis. for disability Dec. s, 
1802. 

TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY. 
Company A. 
Bowen. Henry H., Porter, e. Feb.'27, 1805; m. o. June 30, 1805. 
Goldsmith, Henry, Porter, e. Feb. 27, 1805: m. o. June 30, l.Hi;5. 
Hunt, Henry H., Porter, e. March 9. 1805; m. o. June 30. 180.5. 
Luhbow, William, Porter, e. March 7, 181)5; m. o. June 30, 1805. 
Powers. William, Porier. e. March 1, 1805; m. o. June 3(», 1805. 
Preston. Winfield S.. Porter, e. March 5. 1805; m. o. June 30, 

1805. 
Rinehart. Nathan, Porter, e. Feb. 27. 1S05: m. o. .lunc 30, 1805. 
Stearns. Warren S., Porier. e. Feb. 27. l-iio; m. o. .lune 30. 1805. 
Stnry. Milton, Porier, e. Feb. 27, 1805; m. o. June 30, 1S05. 
Slory, William A.. Porier, e. Feb. 27, 1805; m. o. June 30, 1805. 
Sloul. Stephen S., Porier, e. March 9. ]8r,5 ; m. o. June 30. 1805. 
Sutton. John W., Porter, e. Feb. 28, 1805; m. o. June 30, 1805. 
Sulton, Joshua L., Porter, e. Feb. 27, 1805; m. o. June 30. 1865. 
Weaver. William H., .Milton, e. March 15, 1805; m. o. June 30. 

18li5. 
Williams, Charles H.. Porter, e. Feb. 27, 1805; m. o. June .30, 

1805. 

Company B. 
Bell, John P., Milioii. e. Aug. 25, 1804; ra. o. .lune 30. 1805. 



Avery. Charles, Porier, e. March 5. 1805; m. o. June 30. 1805. 
Calkins, Henry H.. Porier, e. Feb. 21, 1805; m. o. June 30. lsi,5. 
Hilton. Hiram, Porter, e. Feb. 27, 1805; ni. o. .lune 30, ISO.", 
Jessup, A. H.. Porter, m. o. June 30. 1805. 
Kyle. J. C, Porter, ra. o. June 30. 1805. 
Kyle. A. R., Porier. ra. o. June 30. 1805. 

Company E. 

Averill, Pliny T., Penn. e. March 10, 1865; m. o. June 30, 1805. 

Hlanchard. Bradford. Pokagon. e. .March 7. 1805; m. o. June 30, 
1805. 

Curtis. George, Ontwa, e. Sept. 5. 1804; died of disease al Chi- 
cago, 111., March 15. 1865, 

Kenyon. Hiram. Pokagon. e. March 10. 1805 ; m. o. June 30. 1805. 

.McKinstry, Charles. Pokagon, e. March 7, 1805; m. o. June 30. 
1 805. 

Parker. Augustus N., Pokagon. e. March 13. 1805; ra o. June 
30. 1865. 

Parker, William H.. Pokagon. e. March 7. 1805: m o, June 30, 
1805. 

Penrod, Nathan. Penn. e. March 10. 1805; m. o. June 30. IS05. 

Steinbeck, Morgan. .Milton, c Aug. Hi. 1804; in. o, .lune :.0 
1805. 

Wilherell. Diiane, Poka£on, e. March 7. 1805 : m. o. June 30, I8i;5. 



Van Tuyl. George 



June 30. 180: 



Company H. 
Hodges. Benjamin. Penn. e. March 10, 1805; ra. o. June 30. 180. 
Re I. John, Penn, e. March 10. 1805; m. o. June 30, 1805. 
Share. Edwin. Milton, e. .8i-pt. 12. ISOl: m. n. June 30. 18i;5. 



K. 



Ames, Bela, m. o. June 30. 1805. 

Meacham. Oliver (1.. Porier. e. Feb. 27, 1805; ra. o. Jii 



June 30, 1865 



1 



HIPTOHY OF (WSS COITNTY. MICIITGAN. 



Rceil. Dtis. m. o. June 30, I860. 

Reese, John M.. MiUon, e. Aug. 24, 1864; m. o. June 30, 1865. 

TWEXTY-FIFTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER IN- 
FANTRY. 
Company D. 
Sergl. Amos \V. Poorman, Maroellus, e. Aug. 9, 18112; (lied of dis- 
ease at Nivsliville, Tenn., June 13, 1864. 
Corp. Roswell Beebe, Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1802; killed at 
Tebbs' Bend, Ky., July 4, 18il3. 

PRIVATES. 

Babe, Bruce, Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 18(;2; m. 0. June 24, 1865. 
Musician Joseph Beck, Newberg, e. Aug. 16, 18G2 ; ni. o. June 

24, 1865. 
Musician Samuel P. Beck, Newberg, e. Aug. 15, 1862 ; dis. for 

disability Jan. 6, 1863. 
Beebe, Gideon, Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; dis. for disability 

March 4, 1865. 
Butler,- Ransom L., Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; dis. by order 

■July 26, 1863. 
Kent, Daniel, Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; dis. by onler March 

19, 1863. 
McKibby, Daniel, Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. o. June 24, 

1865. 
Messenger, Edward, Marcellus, e. .\ug. 11, 1864; dis. for dis 

ability Feb. 5, 1863. 
Nottingham, Horace M., Marcellus, e. Aug. 8, 18152; m. o. 
Nottingham, Oscar H., Marcellus, e. Aug. 8, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Bowling Green, Ky., March 14, 1863. 
Poorman, John A., Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. 0. June 24, 

1865. 
Root, Jacob, Marcellus. e. Aug. 12, 1862; m. 0. June 24, 1865. 
Shears, Martin V., Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; m 0. June 24, 

1865. 
Shoemaker, Samuel, Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. 0. June 28, 

1865. 
Taylor, Charles A., Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1865; m. o. June 24, 

1865. 
Taylor, Timothy A., Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1865; m. 0. May 13, 

1865. 
Young, Simon, .Marcellus, e. Aug. 11, 1865; trans, to Vet. Res. 

Corps Feb. 15, 1864. 

Company E. 
Bristol, Luther, Milton, e. Sept. 6, 1864; m. 0. June 24, lSi;5. 



Bows, William, Newberg, e. Aug. 21, 1.S62 : trans, to Vet. Res. 
Corps June 9, 1865. 

Benman, William II., Newberg, e. Aug. 22, 1862 ; m. 0. June 24 
1865. 

Bennett, John J., Porter, e. Aug. 12, 1862 ; m. o June 24, 1865. 

Bird, William, Newberg, e. Aug. 21, 1862; m. 0. June 24, 1865. 

Cook, Orlan P., Newberg, e. Aug. 22, 1862; dis. for disability 
Sept. 23, 1863. 

Crump, William, Marcellus, e. Aug. 22, 1862 ; died of disease at 
Lebanon, Ky., April 24, 1863. 

Kenney, Fernando, Newberg, e. Aug. 22, 1862; m. 0. June 24; 
1865. 

Neumann, Louis, Newburg, e. Aug. 13, 1862; m. 0. June 24, 1865. 

Stickney, Sidney M., Marcellus, e. Aug. 22, 1862; died of dis- 
ease at Louisville, Ky., Oct. 30, 1862. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY. 

FIELD AND STAFF. 

Lieut. Col. George T. Shaffer, Calvin, com. Dec. 10, 1864: Maj. 

com. Aug. 15, 1864. 
Brevet Col. and Brevet Brig. Gen. S. S. Volunteers, March 13, 

1866 ; for gallant and veritorious services at battles before 

Atlanta, Ga., and at Wise Fork, N. C. ; m. 0. June 5, 1866. 
Surg. Alonzo Garwood, Casaopolis, com. Aug. 15, 1864 ; m. 0. 

June 6, 1866. 

Company A, 
Sergt. Thomas J. Baunder, Voliuia, e. Sept. 1, 1864 ; m. o. June 

7, 1865. 
Schooley, Henry, Voliuia, e Sept. 8, 1864; m. 0. June 5, 1866. 

Company E. 
Avery, David C, Voliuia, c. Sept. 7. 1864 ; m. o. May 4, 1865. 
Baird, John, Howard, e. Oct. 18, 1864; m. 0. June 5, 1866. 
Baird, William S., Howard, e. Oct. 17, 1864 ; m. 0. June 5, 1866. 
Davis, Lowell, Pokagon, e. Sept. 3, 1864 ; m. 0. June 7, 1865. 
Emery, Robert, Volinia, e. Sept. 12j 1864; dis. for wounds, June 

30, 1865. 
Pope, Lyman A. m. o. .\ug. 16, 1865. 
Randall, William, MiUon, e. Sept. 3. 1864; m. 0. May 22, 1865. 

Company G. 
Blackman, David R., Volinia, e. Sept. 15, 1864; m. o. June 5, 



Company F. 
Bement, George, Ontwa, e. Aug. 13, 1862; m. o. June 24, 1865. 
Bradbury, Benjamin P., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 13, 1H62; died of dis- 
ease at Bedford, Ky., June 7, 186 !. 
Colby, Ira O.. Ontwa, e. Aug. 13, 1862; died of disease at Mum- 

fordsviUe, Ky., Jan. 1, 1863. 
Day, Perry U., Dowagiac, e. Aug. 9, 1862; died of wounds at 

Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 12, 1864. 
Goodrich, Levi C, Dowagiac, m. 0. June 24, 1865. 
Hastings, Justus H , Ontwa, e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. 0. June 24, 

1865. 
Loux, Edwin G., Ontwa, e. Aug. 13, 1862; m. o. June 24, 1865. 
Mcars, John, Dowagiac, e. Aug. 11, 1862; trans, to Vet. Res. 

Corps Feb. 15, 1864. 
Meredith, Nathaniel, Onlwa, e. Aug. 13,1862; m. 0. June 14, 

1865. 
McFaren, Henry, Ontwa, e. Aug. 13, 1862; m. 0. June 24, 1865. 
Nioletl, William E., Ontwa, e. Aug. 19, 1862 ; m. 0. June 24, 1865. 
Kozelle, Joshua C, Ontwa; e. Aug. 13, 1862 ; died of disease at 

Bowling Green, Ky., Feb. 2'i. 1863. 



Delong, Henry, Pokagon, e. Sept. 3, 1864; m. 0. June 5, 1866. 
Hill, Charles A., Jefferson, e. Sept. 29, 1864; m. 0. May 31, 

1865. 
Nichols, Tyler, Volinia, e. Sept. 5, 1861 ; m. 0. June 19, 1865. 

Company H. 
Bates, Buel H., Penn, e. Aug. 22, 1864; m. 0. May 29, 1865. 
Bogert Cornelius, Penn, e. Aug. 20, 1864; dis. by order May 27, 

1865. 
Clcndenning, H. M. T., Penn, e. Aug. 10, 1864; m. 0. June 8, 

1865. 
Deacon, Isaac, Volinia, Sept. 20, 1864; m. 0. June 5, 1866. 
Kinney, Nelson, Corp., Penn, e. Aug. 20,1864; m. 0. June 5, 

1866. 
North, Nathaniel, La Grange, e. Aug. 30, 1864; died of disease 

at Charlotte, N. C, June 7, 1865. 
North, Norman, La Grange, e. Aug. 30, 1864; m. o. June 6, 

1866. 
Patterson, James, 2d Lieut., Penn, e. Aug. 23, 1864; died of 

disease at Alexamlria, Va., Feb. 21, 1865. 



I3g 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Pemberton, Nathan, Peuu, e. Aug. 28, 1864; m. o. June o, 18(56. 

Robinson, Edmund, died of disease at Davids Island, N. Y., 
April 16, 1865. 

Tappan, William E., Penn, e. Aug. 29, 1864 ; died of disease at 
Alexandria, Va., Feb. 4, 1865. 

Trill, George, Pokagon, e. Sept. 1, 1804; died of disease at Alex- 
andria, Va., Feb. 12, 1865. 

Company I. 
Bryant, James, Milton, e. Sept. 16, 1864; m. o. June, 5, 1866. 
Freeman. Miles, Howard, Oct. 18, 1864; m. o. May 30, 1865. 
Mitchell, Alonzo J., Milton, e Sept. 14, 1864 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 
1866. 

COMP.\NI K. 

Harris, Benjamin S., Poltagon, e. Feb. 10, 1805 ; m. o. May 30, 

1805. 
Smilh, Carlton, Pokagon, e. Feb. 16, 1805; m. o. Feb. 19, I860. 



THIRTIETH REGIMENT MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER IN- 
FANTRY. 
Company H. 
Harwood, Henry W., Ontwa, e. Dec. 2, 1864; m. o. June 30, 

1865. 
Harwood, Jacob W.. Jefferson, e. Dec. 6, 1864; m, o. June 30, 

1865. 
Hirons, Oliver C, Jefferson, e. Dec. 2, 1864 ; ni. o June 30, 1865. 
Massey, Robert D., Sergt., Ontwa, e. Nov. 28, 1864; m. o. June 

30, 1865. 
Massey, Peter, Corp., Ontwa, e. No. 28, 1864; m. o. June 30, 

1865. 
Shaw. Edwin O., Corp., Ontwa, e. Nov. 30, 1864; m o. June 30, 

1865. 
Smith, Frank A., Corp., Ontwa, e. Dec. 2, 1864 ; m. o. June 30, 

1865. 

FIRST REGIMENT MICHIGAN SHARPSHOOTERS. 

Company B. 

Allen, Nathan S.. Penn, e. Aug. 19, 1864 ; m. o. July 28, 1865. 

Company E. 
Second Lieut. Winfield S. Shanahan, Cassopolis, March 7, 1865; 
Corp. March 6, 1863 ; m. o. July 28, 1865. 



Company I. 
Beach, Myron W., Volinia, e. Sept. 7, 1863; dis. for disability. 
Bedford, William, Pokagon, e. Aug. 3, 1863; m. o. July 28. 1865. 
Fessenden, Clement, Volinia, e. Sept. 21, 1863; dis. for disability 

April 7, 1865. 
George, David L., Silver Creek, e. Aug. 25, 1863 ; died of wounds 

received at Wilderness May 6, 1864. 
Huff, Asher Silver Creek, e. Aug. 24, 1863 ; dis. by order Deo. 

28, 1864. 
Huff, Isaac, Volinia, e. Sept. 7, 1803 ; missing in action before 

Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. 
Nash, Charles, Volinia, e. Sept. 21, 1803; m. o. July 28, 1805. 
Nash, Theodore, Volinia, e. Sept. 21, 1863 ; died near Petersburg, 

Va., June 20, 1804. 
Waterman, Charles, Silver Creek, e. July 28, 1803; died near 

Petersburg, Va., June 28, 1864. 

Company K. 
Johns, Dftvid, La Grange, e. Jan. 27, 1865; m. o. July 28, 1865. 



S.) 



Bibbins, Charles, Ontwa, e. April 13, 1863; missing in action 

at Cold Harbor June 12, 1864. 
Nichols, Alexander, Ontwa, e. April 12, 1863 ; m. o. July 25, 

1865. 
Wyant, George, Ontwa, e. March 6, 1863 ; m. o. Aug. 7, 1865. 

Company F. 
Reigar, Daniel H., Sergt., Ontwa, e. May 4, 1803; m. o. July 28, 
1865. 

Company G. 
Jackson, Henry H., Pokagon, e. Aug. 12. 1863 ; died of disease 

at Chicago, 111., Oct. 3, 1863. 
McNeil, William B., Ontwa, e. Aug. 12, 1863 ; dis. for disability 

March 9.2, 1864. 
Smith, Wight D., Dowagiao, e. July 4, 1863 ; m. o. July 28, 1865. 

Company H. 
Northrop, William B , (Mvin, e. Feb. 26, 1864; died of wounds in 

General Hospital. 
Northrop, Marion A., Penn, e. Feb. 20, 1864 ; died of disease at 

Chicago, III., April 17, 1864. 



FIRST MICHIGAN (ONE HONORED AND SECOND 
COLORED INFANTRY. 
Company A. 
Hood, Philander, Pokagon, e. Aug. 17, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1805. 

Company B. 
Alexander, Jacob, Howard, e. Oct. 1, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Brown, John, Calvin, e. Oct. 20, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Brown, Stuart, Calvin, e. Oct. 20, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Butcher, David, Calvin, e. Oct. 21. 1863; m. o Sept. 30, 1865. 
Callaway, Giles, Porter, e. Oct. 21, 1863 ; m. o Sept. 30, 1865. 
Coker, James, Calvin, e. Oct. 10, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Coker, Michael, Calvin, e. Oct. 18, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Curtis, George H , Calvin, e. Dec. 4, 1863; m o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Dungie, John, Calvin, e. Oct. 7, 1803; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Gibbins, William, Jefferson, e. Aug. 24, 1804 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Harris, Charles W., Howard, e. Oct. 1, 

1865. 
Hawley, William, Calvin, e. Oct. 22, 1803 

26, 1804. 
Howard, William, Calvin, e. Oct. 5, 1864 ; 
Limus, John. Pokagon, e. Oct. 10, 1863 ; ; 
Little, Stewart, Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1864; 
Mathews, Allison L., Calvin, e. Sept. 23 

at Orangeburg, S. C, Aug. 6, 1865. 
Newman, William H , Calvin, e. Oct. 7, 1863 ; m. 

1865. 
Seton, Joseph, La Grange, e. Oct. 18, 1803 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Stewart, George W., Calvin, e. Nov. 20, 1863 ; died of disease at 

Beaufort, S. C, July 27, 1864. 
Stewart, James M., Calvin, e. Oct. 18, 1863 ; 
Stewart, John T., Calvin, e. Oct. 21, 1863 ; 
Wade, Berry, Corp., Calvin, e. Oct. 7, 1863 

Beaufort, S. ('., Aug. 22, 1864. 
Williams, George W., Calvin, e. Oct. 21, 1863 ; died of disease at 

Columbia, S. ('.Aug. 12, lf<65. 
Wood, John W., Calvin, e. Oct. 19, 1863 ; m. 0. Sept. 30, 1865. 



1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 

dis. for disability May 

m. 0. Sept. 30, 1865. 
n. 0. Sept. 30, 1865. 
m. 0. Sept. 30, 1865. 
1864; died of disease 

Sept. 30, 



m. 0. Sept. 30, 1865. 
1, 0. Sept. 30, 1865. 
died of disease at 



Company ('. 
Ford, William, La Grange, e. Feb. 17, 1865 
Hill, Dennis R., Howard, e. Oct. 1, 186^; 
Redman, Willis, Howard, e Oct. 1, 1864; 
Wallace, James H., Ontwa, e. Sept. 5, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Wilson, Nathaniel, Calvin, e. Oc(. 18, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 



m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
0. Sept. 30, 1865. 
0. Sept. 30, 1805. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Company D. 
Artis, George, Calvin, e. Nov. 5, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Barrister, Guatavus, Howard, e. Oct. 1, 1864; m. o, Sept. 30, 

186.5. 
Calloway, Creed, Porter, e. Nov. 18, 1863; m. o. Sept. 80, 1865. 
Hunt, Jordan P., Calvin, e. Oct. 23, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Mattock, Henry, Pokagon, e. Feb. 16, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Simons, William H., Calvin, e. Nov. 17, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 

I8i;5. 

Vaughn, James, Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1.S65. 

Company F. 
Brown, John, Howaid, e. Dec. 19, 1863; died (if disease Jan. IT, 

1864. 
Bowden, John, La Grange, e. Nov. 28, 1803 ; died of disease at 

Beaufort, S. C, Nov. 14, 1864. 
Boyd, Anderson, Howard, e. Dec. 12, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

186-.. 
Conner, William F., Sergt., Penn, e. Dec. 11, 1863; m. o. Sept. 

30, 1865. 
Dungil, Wright, Penn. e. Aug. 22, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Ford, Edward, Milton, e.; died of disease at Beaufort, S. C, Jan. 

14, 1865. 
Harrison, Milford, Howard, e. Dec. 12, 1803; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Hays, Arick, Penn, e. Aug. 24. 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Hays, William H., Calvin, e. Oct. 4, 1864; absent sick at m. o. 
Henry, Martin V . Penn, e. Dec. 2, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Hill, Anthony, Pe-n., e. Sept 1, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Howard, Ezekiel, Porter.e. Oct. 3, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Lett, Zach.,Corp. Penn. e. Dec. 14, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Mathews. Henry A., La Grange, e. Sept. 5, 1864 ; m o. Sept. 



Plowden, William P., Howard, 



Dec. 



0. Sept. 30, 



Kamsay, Joseph, Penn, e. Dec. 11. 1803; m. o. Sept. .30, 1805. 
Roberts, John, Penn, e. Aug. 18, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Van Dyke, Lewis, Sergt., Penn, e. Dec. 11. 1803; m. o. Sept. 30, 
1865. 

COMPANV G 

Ashe, Joseph C, Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1804 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865- 
Bricey. George, Howard, e. Dec. 19, 1803; dis. for disability May 

26, 1864. 
Boyd, Lawson, Calvin, e. Dec. 29, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Bird, James M., Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1804 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1806. 
Bird, Turner, Calvin, e. Sept 23, 18t;4 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Farrar, Alfred, Corp., e. Dec. 21, 1803; absent sick at ra. o. 
Heathcock, Bartlett, Porter, e. Dec. 29, 1803; died of disease 

in Michigan April 5, 1864. 
Heathcock, Berry, Porter, e. Dec. 29. 1863; dis. for disability 

May 28, 1866. 
Hill, Jackson, Penn, e. Sept. 1, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Huston, John. Silver Creek, e. Dec. 26, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Jefferson, Thomas, Pokagon, e. Dec. 30, 1803; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Lawrence, Alfred, Howard, e. Dec 12, 1803 ; m. o Sept. 31), 1865. 
Russell, Henderson, Pokagan. e. Dec. 30, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1866. 
Russell, Jacob, Pokagon, e. Dec. 30, 1863; dia. for ilisability 

June 8, 1865. 
Russell, John, Pokagon, e. Dec. 30, 1863; dis. for woumls June 

8, 1865. 
Stewart, John £., Calvin, e. Feb. 28, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30. 1866. 
Stewart, Sylvester, Ontwa, e. Dec. 28, 1863; dis. for disability 

May 30, 1865. 
Thornton, Henry, Calvin, e. Sept. 29, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 



Windburn, George, Howard, e. Sept. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Wines, Ebenezer, Howard, e. Sept. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 

Company H. 
Corp. Aquilla R. Corey, Howard, e. Dec. 24, 1804 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 
1805. 

PRIVATES. 

Cousins, Ely, Porter, e. Dec. 26, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 

Cousins, David, Penn. e. Dec. 4. 1863 ; absent sick. 

Dorsey, James W., Howard, e. Dec. 24, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Gibson, Marquis, Penn, e. Aug. 19, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1866. 
Griffin, Solomon, Penn, e. Dec. 21, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Hill, Allen, Penn, e. Sept. 1, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1866. 
Sanders, Peter, Porter, e. Dec. 9, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
White, Henry, Calvin, e. Dec. 13, 1K63; died of disease at Beau- 
fort, S. C, Aug. 7, 1804. 
While, Wright, Li Grange, e. Feb. 17, 1865; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Washington, George, Dowagiac, e. Dec. 18, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 

30, 1865. 
Sergt. James Wheeler, Wayne, e. Dec. 29, 1803 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1805. 

Company I. 
Anderson, Amos, Porter, e. Sept. 17, 1864; m. o. Sept. .30, 1865. 
Anderson, Jefferson B., Porter, e. Jan. 11, 1804; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1805. 
Gillan, Andrew, La Grange, e. Dec. 31, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 

1865. 
Morton, Henry, Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Sharpe, Joseph, Silver Creek, e. March 16, 1865 ; dis. by order 

Oct. 28, 1866. 
Wilson, Joel, Howard, e. Dec. 24, 1803 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 

Company K. 
Sergt. Abner R." Bird, Calvin, e. Jan. 10, 1804; m. o. Sept. 30, 

186-5. 
Harris, William, Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1804 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 
Murphy, Percival, Calvin, e. Jan. 16, 1864; dis. by order Nov. 

13, 1865. 
Stafford, James K., Porter, e. Aug. 24, 1801 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1806. 
Talbot, William H., Porter, e. Oct. 5, 1804 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. 
Wilson, Giles B., Calvin, e. Sept. 23, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1805. 

FIRST REGIMENT ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. 

(Company C. 

Dickerson, Albert, died of disease at Louisville. Ky.. Feb. 24, 1804. 

Peachey, Aaron, Marcellus, e. Aug. 23. 1804; died of disease at 

Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 21. 1804. 

Company D. 
Gaines. Franklin. Pokagon, e. Dec. 29. 1803; m. o. Sept. 22, 1805. 
Little, John H., Mircellu^, e. Aug. 23, 1804; dis. by order June 
li, 1806. 

Company F. 
Williams, Isaac N.. Penn, e. Aug. 21, 1804 ; dis. by order June 0, 
1805. 

Company G. 
Cramplon, Abel, Pokagon, e. Dec. 16, 1808; m. o. Sept. 22, 1805' 
Gait, Freeman H.. Pokagon, e. Deo. 15. 1803; died of disease at 

Ringoold, Ga., Aug. 6. 1804. 
Rogers. Lucius, Ontwa, e. Jan. 4. 180.4 ; dis. by order June 0, 

1805. 
Stanley, James S., Ontwa, e. Jan. 4, 1S04; ra. o. Sept. 22, 1806. 
Van Tassell, David, Ontwa. e. Jan. 4. 1804; died of disease Feb, 
10, 1804. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUiNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Cu,M£-ANi- K. 

Isham. William, Silver Creek, e. Dec. 21, 1803; m, o. Sept, 22, 

1805. 
White, William It., Silver Creek, m, o. Sept, 22, 18i;.5. 

MICHIGAN PROVOST GUARD. 
Mershon, Andrew, dis. by order July 2, 1863, 

FIRST UNITED STATES SHARPSHOOTERS. 
Company K. 

Fir.^t Lieut. Charles W. Thorp, Nicholasville, Nov. 27, 1803 ; Sec- 
ond Lieut. Oct, II, 1862; Corp., Aug 12, 1861; dis. for dis- 
ability May 24, 1864. 

Christie, Walter T., Marcellus; die I of wounds at Washinglon, 
D. C., May 12, 1863. 

Goodspeed, Edwin C, 

Beebe, George S. 

McClelland, William. 

Thoop, Sylvester A. 

Company I. 

Lieut. William Stesart, Sept. 1, 1802; m, o, at end of service at 
end of war, Jan. 1, 1865. 

Corp, Samuel Inling, Newberg, e. Sept, 1, 1802; trans, to 5th 
Mich. Inft.; m o. 

SIXTY-Sl.XTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
Company U. 
Beekwith, Henry L . e. Feb. 22 1864; vet. recruit; m. o. July 
7, 1865. 

TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company H. 
Graham, S. J., Mason, e. April, 1861 ; dis. for disability 1861. 

FORTY-NI^fTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

Company E. 
Graham, Sidney J., Mason, re-enl. Sept., 1861 ; vet. Feb. 1864 ; m. 

o. May 20, 1865 ; wounded in left arm at Rocky Ridge, May 

9, 1865. 

FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT INDIANA VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY. 
Company F. 
Williams, Henry, Mason. 



OHIO INFANTRY. 



Tompkins, Newberg. 



TWENTY-FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 
Graham, Sidney J , e. April 17, 1861, in Co. H ; re-e. in (.'o 
E, 49th Ohio Vol. Inft. (See above). 



CPIAPTER XX. 

THE PIONEER SOCIETY. 
Its Organization— Constitution and ii.v-Laws— Annual Picnics— List of 
Olflcers from 1873 to 1881 Inclusive— An Incident of the Meeting of 
18«1— Roster of Members— Age, Nativity and Date of .Settlement— 
I'Mourishini; Condition of the Society. 

WE make no apology for presenting a very full 
history of the Cass County Pioneer Society. 
Very nearly 600 names have been subscribed to its 
constitution, and we say no more than what is obvious 
to every reader when we state that its membership 



exceeds, by a considerable number, that of any organ- 
ization in the county. It is moreover the largest and 
most flourishing pioneer society in the State of Mich- 
igan, and the interest which is felt in its affairs is 
attested by the immensity of the attendance at the 
annual re-union picnics. 

The society was organized on the 9th of October, 
1873, at a meeting, held in Cassopolis pursuant to 
call, at which about 200 persons were present. This 
was a large attendance, and indicated quite a remark- 
able degree of interest. Over seventy pioneers put in 
an appearance at the morning session. Hon. George 
Newton, of Volinia, was made temporary Chairman, 
and Hon. A. B. Copley, of the same Township, was 
chosen as Secretary. Joseph Smith, of La Grange, 
moved the appointment of a committee, consisting of 
one gentleman from each township, to report on rules 
of organization and order of business, and the follow- 
ing were elected, viz. : A. B. Copley, of Volinia; 
P. B. White, of Wayne ; J. A. Ruddick, of Silver 
Creek ; Uzziel Putnam, Sr., of Pokagon ; Joseph 
Smith, of La Grange ; John Nixon, of Penn ^ B. F. 
Rudd, of Penn ; George Meacham, of Porter ; Amos 
Northrup, of Calvin ; George B. Turner, of Jefferson ; 
Joseph L. Jacks, of Ontwa and David R. Stevens, of 
Mason. The Townships of Marcellus, Milton and 
Howard were not represented. In the afternoon, when 
the attendance was increased to 200, the committee 
reported for permanent Chairman Uzziel Putnam, Sr., 
of Pokagon (the first white settler of the county) and 
for Secretaries C. C. Allison and William H. Mans- 
field. They also recommended that a committee of 
one be appointed from each township, with leave to 
sit during the winter, and adopt a constitution and 
by-laws, which' they should report at a picnic to be 
held in June of the following year, at the fair grounds 
at Cassopolis. Subsequently, this action was amended, 
it being moved that the committee should report 
at an adjourned meeting to be helil four weeks later. 
The following gentlemen were appointed, viz.: Abijah 
j Huyck, of Marcellus ; Reuben Henshaw, of Volinia ; 
P. B. White, of Wayne ; J. A. Ruddick, of Silver 
Creek ; Uzziel Putnam, Jr., of Pokagon ; Daniel S. 
Jones, of La Grange; John Nixon, of Penn ; E. H. 
Jones, of Newburg ; Horace Thompson, of Porter ; 
George T. Shaffer, of Calvin ; George B. Turner, of 
Jefferson ; William H. Doane, of Howard ; William 
H. Olmstead, of Milton ; I. G. Bugbee, of Ontwa ; 
D. R. Stevens, of Mason. A committee was also 
appointed to gather the history of the county, and, 
after some interesting remarks by Uzziel Putnam, Sr., 
in which he related his experience as a pioneer, the 
meeting was adjourned. 

The adjourned nipoting was held November G. The 



HISTORY OF CA'SS COUNTY, MICHTOAN. 



Ul 



committee on organization, appointed at the previous 
meeting, through its Chairman, Hon. George B. 
Turner, reported a constitution, which, after sundry 
amendments had been made, was adopted, as follows: 

COSTITUTION. 

PREAMBLE. 

The UDiiersigneil, residents of Cass County, being among the 
eiiiliest settlers of Southwestern Michigan, in order to perpetuate 
the facts, circumstances, recollections and anecdotes connected 
with the early settlement of that part of the State, and particu- 
liir y of Cass County, do make and establish this constitution for 
the government of a society this day organized by us, to be called 
•■The Society of the Pioneers " of Cass County, Mich. 

.Article 1. — The officers of this society shall be a Presilent, 
Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, to 
be elected by ballot at each annual meeting by a majority of the 
members present and voling. 

AiiT. II. — The President shall preside at all meetings of the 
society; countersign all orlersforthe payment of moneys from 
its funds. In case of his absence, or at his request, the Vice 
President shall perform such duties. 

Art. Ill — The Secretary shall have charge of and keep ihe 
records of the society, and shall also keeji the minutes of all 
meetings of Ihe same. 

Art. IV.— All books, papers, documents, mementoes or arti- 
cles illustrating the physical geography of the county oY its state 
and condition prior to 1S40, shall be deposited with the Secretary 
and remain in his keeping until his successor is elected or ap- 
pointed, to whom the same shall be delivered over. 

Art. V. — The Secretary in person or by his assistant, .shall 
keep his books and all things appertaining to his office, at Cass- 
opolis, where only records, articles, or mementoes, deposited for 
the use of the society may be copied or examined by any resident 
of the county, under such rules as the Executive Committee may 
adopt. He shall sign all orders for the payment of moneys from 
Ihe funds of this Society. 

.Vht. VI. — The Treasurer shall receive all moneys paid to or 
for Ihe use of the society, and shall pay out the same only on the 
order of Ihe Secretary, counter.signed by the President. 

Art. VII. — The officers and committee elected under the con- 
stitution sliall hold their respective offices until the firs' annual 
meeting of the society, which shall be held on the third Wednes- 
day of June, 1X74. 

Art. VIII. — An Executive Committee, consisting of one from 
eai-li township, shall be elected annually (viva voce), by a major- 
iiyofthe members present and voting, and the President and 
Secretary of this organization shall be ex officio members of said 
Executive Committee. 

Art. IX. — The Executive Committee or a majority of those 
present shall h.ave power to make such by daws rules and regula- 
tions for the convenience and government of the Society as they 
may deem proper, not inconsistent with this constitution ; and all 
powers necessary to carry out the objects of this society, not 
delegated to other officers named, may he exercised by the Execu- 
tive Committee. 

.Vrt. X. — All members of the Society who came into or resided 
in (^888 County prior to 1840, shall be deemed " Pioneers of Cnss 
County." 

Art. XI.* — Every person (male or female), residing in this 
county prior to 18.'>0, may become members of this society by 
subscribing to this constitution, and the payment of 25 cents, 
either in person or by proxy, and every person so becoming a 
member shall be deemed a voter, and be entitled to all the privi- 



ciirrcd Id the article. 



tity ■ 



leges of the society, and that hereafter all persons having resided 
in Ihe county twenty-five years shall in like manner become 
members 

Art. XII. — A majority of the voters present at an annual 
meeting may alter or amend this constitution, notice thereof to be 
filed with the Secretary six weeks prior to said annual meeting. 

Under this constitution, and upon the same day it 
was adopted, the first officers of the society were elected 
as follows: President, Uzziel Putnam, Sr. ; Vice 
President, George Meacham ; Secretary, A. B. Cop- 
ley ; Assistant Secretary, John Tietsort ; Treasurer, 
Joseph Smith. Executive Committee — Abijah Huyck, 
of Marcellus ; Georgt! Newton, of Volinia ; Philo B. 
White, of Wayne ; Daniel Blish, of Silver Creek ; 
Uzziel Putnam, Jr., of Pokagon ; Daniel S. Jones, 
of La Grange ; William Jones, of Penn. ; J. R. 
Grennell, of Newberg ; Horace Thompsoft, of Porter ; 
George B. Turner, of Jefferson ; William H. Doane, 
of Howard ; Richard V. Hicks, of Milton ; Israel G. 
Bugbee, of Ontwa ; James H. Graham, of Mason ; 
and George T. Shaffer, of Calvin. 

At a meeting of the Executive Committee, held on 
January 21, 1874, the following by-laws were 
adopted : 

BY-LAWS. 

Article 1. — Elections under this constitution shall be held at 
11 o'clock A. M., on ihe third Wednesday of .June, in each year, 
in the court house at Cassopolis. or some other convenient place 
t ) be designated by the Secretary or his assistant. 

Art. 2. — The Secretary or his assistant shall give receipts for 
all books, documents, relics, or other articles contributed or de- 
posited in the museum of the society. He shall cause to be pub- 
lished in the newspapers at the county seat an acknowledgment of 
such contributions from time to time, and. in connection with the 
Treasurer, make arrangements for a suitable place to deposit all 
colleclionH for the museum, and make out semi-annually, a cata- 
logue of Ihe same for publication. 

Art. 3. — Thi- members of the Executive Committee are severally 
charged, in their respective townships, with procuring and fir- 
warding names for membership, and the fees thereon, to the 
Treasurer ; collecting books, maps, pictures, relics, and all articles 
or things of interest for the museum, and forwarding the same to 
the Secretary. They shall also carefully prepare manuscript 
statements from the early settlers, in their respective towns, in 
regard to the early settlement and progress of Ihe town previous 
10 the year 1840. and report the same to the society at its annual 
meciings in each year. 

Art. 4. — The Executive Committee shall make suitable ar- 
rangements for holding Ihe annual meeting of the Pioneers on the 
third Wednesday of June in each year. They shall arrange for 
taking proper care of Ihe Pioneers from abroad, while attending 
such meetings, procure speakers, take up collections to aid in de- 
fraying the exjienses of the society, if deemed nece,ssary. and 
extend invitations to persons out of the county who have long 
been residents of the State. 

Art. .1 — At the time of Ihe election of officers, the outgoing 
officers shall make their annual reports, and file the same with 
their successors. 

Art. ii — All the laws or regulations necessary for the govern- 
ment of this society shall be made, altered or amended by the 
Executive Commiliec at any regular meeting thereof 

Art. 7. — The Secretary or his assistant, with the Treasurer 



142 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



and President, may call a meeting of the Executive Committee 
whenever demanded by the interests of the society. 

Art. 8.— The Execulive Committee shall appoint one female 
assistant in each township to aid them in the discharge of their 
duties. 

The first festival or picnic of the Pioneer Society 
was held on the fair grounds at Cassopolis on the 17th 
of June, 1874, and was a largely attended and very 
enjoyable affair. Vice President George Meacham 
occupied the chair, the President being indisposed. 
The Cassopolis Band was present, and played enliven- 
ing airs during the day. The substantial pioneer 
dinner was supplemented by a feast of reason and a 
How of soul, and that in turn by the most enjoyable 
social converse. Hon. James Ashley delivered a 
spirited address, and remarks were made by Uzziel 
Putnam, Jr., of Pokagon, Dr. I. G. Bugbee, of Ontwa, 
Hon. George B. Turner and Joseph Smith. 

Officers for the ensuing year were elected viva voce, 
and all of those who had served the preceding year 
were retained. The Executive Committee was consti- 
tuted as follows : Abijah Huyck. of Marcellus ; 
Milton J. Gard, of Volinia ; John S. Gage, of Wayne ; 
William Bilderback, of Silver Creek ; Uzziel Putnam, 
Jr., of Pokagon ; Daniel S. Jones, of La Grange ; 
John Nixon, of Penn ; Edward H. Jones, of New- 
berg; Hiram Meacham, of Porter; George T. Shaffer, 
of Calvin ; Hiram R. Schutt, of Jefferson ; William 
H. Doane, of Howard ; James M. Truitt, of Milton ; 
J. Boyd Thomas, of Ontwa ; David R. Stevens, of 
Mason. 

In 1875, the society had another large picnic meet- 
ing upon the 16th of June, on which occasion the 
chief address of the day was delivered by the late Hon. 
F. J. Littlejohn, of Allegan. An original poem on 
pioneer life, was read by Edwin Barnum, of Paw Paw, 
Van Buren County, and short addresses made by E. 
0. Briggs, of the same place ; by George B. Turner ; 
J. R. Monroe, President of the Van Buren County 
Society, and others. Many interesting relics were 
exhibited, and many reminiscences related. 

The officers elected this year were : President, 
Uzziel Putnam, Sr. ; Vice President, John Nixon ; 
Treasurer, Asa Kingsbury ; Secretary, John T. Enos ; 
Assistant Secretary, W. H. Mansfield ; Executive 
Committee — John C. Bradt, Marcellus ; R. Henshaw, 
Volinia ; L. Atwood, Wayne ; John Swisher, Silver 
Creek ; Joseph E. Garwood, Pokagon ; G. B. Turner, 
La Grange ; J. E. Bonine, Penn ; Anson L. Dunn, 
Newberg ; Harvey Hitchcock, Porter; Beniah Tharp, 
Calvin ; James Loman, Sr., Jefferson ; E. C. Smith, 
Howard ; U. Enos, Milton ; M. H. Lee, Ontwa ; 
J. H. Burns, Mason. 

In 1876, the pioneers were addressed by the late 
Hon. John J. Bagley, then Governor of Michigan. 



who delivered a very interesting and appropriat® 
speech. Other speakers on this occasion were John 
Jenkins, of Indiana ; George Redfield, of Ontwa, and 
Royal T. Twombley. The meeting was held at the 
fair grounds (as have been all of the other annual pic- 
nics of the society) and the number of people assembled 
was larger than on former occasions, the society 
receiving many accessions to its roll of members. 

The annual election of officers resulted in the choice 
of those who had served the year before, with the 
exception that John Tietsort was made Treasurer. 
The Executive Committee was constituted as follows : 
John C. Bradt, Marcellus ; Reuben Henshaw, Volinia ; 
John Green, Wayne ; A. Conklin, Silver Creek ; 
James E. Garwood, Pokagon ; G. B. Turner, La 
Grange ; J. E. Bonine, Penn ; A. L. Dunn, Newberg ; 
H. J. Hitchcock, Porter ; L. J. Reynohls, Calvin ; 
James Lowman, Jefferson ; E. C. Smith, Howard ; 
John Barber, Milton ; M. H. Lee, Ontwa ; James 
Ashley, Mason. 

The annual picnic of 1877 was held on the 20th of 
June. The attendance was variously estimated at from 
3.500 to 5,000. The meeting was called to order by 
Hon. George B. Turner, the President being unable 
to preside. Mr. Turner made a very happy speech 
of welcome, and the exercises of the day consisted of 
the customary readings, music and brief addresses, 
there being on this occasion no set speech delivered. 
The following officers were elected : President, Uzziel 
Putnam, Jr., ; Vice President, John Nixon ; Secre- 
, tary, Lowell H. Glover; Assistant Secretary, John 
T. Enos; Treasurer, John Tietsort. Executive Com- 
mittee — John C. Bradt, Marcellus ; John Struble, 
Volinia ; T. M. N. Tinkler, Wayne ; John T. Swisher, 
Silver Creek ; Robert J. Dickson, Pokagon ; H. S. 
Hadsell, La Grange; Ebenezer Anderson, Penn; 
Anson L. Dunn, Newberg: George Meacham, Porter ; 
James H. Graham, Mason ; B. A. 'L'harp, Calvin ; 
W. G. Beck with, Jefferson; James Shaw, Howard; 
John M. Truitt, Milton; Joseph L. Jacks, Ontwa; 
Daniel Blish, Dowagiac. 

The fifth annual picnic was held June 19. 1878, 
and the following officers were elected for the year, 
viz. : 

President, Uzziel Putnam, Jr ; Vice President, 
John Nixon ; Secretary, Lowell H. Glover : Assistant 
Secretary, William W. Peck ; Treasurer, John 
Tietsort. Executive Committee — George W. Jones, 
Marcellus ; James Wright, Volinia ; James Laporte, 
Wayne ; William Bilderback, Silver Creek ; Robert 
J. Dickson, Pokagon; H. S. Hadsell, La Grange; 
D. M. Howell, Penn ; Anson L. Dunn, Newberg ; 
Lucius Keeler, Porter; Herman Strong, Mason; B. 
F. Beeson, Calvin: William Weaver, Jefferson; 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



143 



Rodney Van Ness, Howard ; Hiram Rodgers, Milton ; 
M. H. Lee, Ontwa; Daniel Blish. Dowagiac. 

The principal speaker was the Hon. Salathaiel C. 
Coffinberry, of Constantine. Remarks were made by 
Rev. E. P. Clisbee, Hon. George Meacham, Hon. E. 
Shanahan, Maj. Joseph Smith, A. D. Lothrop and 
A. B. Copley, and the pioneer necrology was read by 
C. W. Clisbee, Esq. 

The sixth re-union and picnic was held June 18, 
1879. At this meeting, L. H. Glover introduced res- 
olutions in memory of Uzziel Putnam, Sr. and William 
W. Peck, the President and the Assistant Secretary 
respectively of the society, both -of -whom had passed 
away since the last annual meeting. The orator of 
the day was the Hon. Levi Bishop, of Detroit, who 
made an admirable address. LTpon its conclusion, the 
whole society joined in singing to the tune of •' Old 
Hundred," an anthem composed by Mr. Bishop. This 
meeting was a very large one, and very enjoyable. 
The officers elected were : President, George B. 
Turner ; Vice Presidents, Joseph L. Jacks, George 
Meacham, John Nixon, George Redfield and Milton 
J. Gard ; Treasurer, John Tietsort ; Secretary, Joseph 
Harper ; Assistant Secretary, Irving V. Sherman 
(Mr. Glover continued to serve as Secretary, the Sec- 
retary elect not assuming the duties of the office). 
Executive Committee — Abijah Huyck, Marcellus ; 
Elias Morris, Volinia ; George Laporte, Wayne; 
Henry Keeler, Silver Creek ; Henry Michael, Do- 
wagiac; Robert J. Dickson, Pokagon ; Jesse G. Beeson, 
La Grange ; Nathan Jones, Penn ; Anson L. Dunn, 
Newberg ; James H. Hitchcox, Porter ; D. R. Stevens, 
Mason ; Eli Benjamin, Ontwa ; David T. Truitt, 
Milton ; William H. Doane, Howard ; E. Shanahan, 
Jefferson ; Jefferson Osborn, Calvin. 

On the occason of the seventh annual picnic held 
June 16, 1880, the chief address was that by the 
President, Hon. George B. Turner. The election of 
officers resulted as follows : President, George B. 
Turner; Secretary, Lowell H. Glover; Assistant 
Secretary, Irving V. Sherman ; Treasurer, Jolin 
Tietsort. Executive Committee — Abijah Huyck, 
Marcellus ; Milton J. Gard, Volinia ; George La 
Porte, Wayne ; Henry Keeler, Silver Creek ; Henry 
Miciiael, Dowagiac; Robert J. Dickson, Pokagon; 
Jesse G. Beeson, La Grange ; John Nixon, Penn ; 
Jerry R. Grinnell, Newberg ; J. H. Hitchcox, Porter ; 
Jefferson Osborn, Calvin ; J. N. Marshall, Jefferson ; 
Mason Doane, Howard ; James H. Beauchamp, Mil- 
ton ; R. D. May, Ontwa ; D. R. Stevens, Mason. 

Largest of all the meetings of the Cass County 
Pioneer Society was that of June 1"), 1881 — the 
eighth annual meeting. Estimates of the attendance 
place it as high as ten thousand. At 3 o'clock in the 



afternoon, men were posted at the gates of the fair 
ground, who counted the teams and people who passed 
out from that time until the grounds were entirely 
vacated at night fail. They counted 1,327 teams and 
5,796 persons, and it was estimated that of the former 
300 had passed out, and of the latter over 1,500 before 
the count was commenced. It is probable that the 
actual number of persons on the ground was 7,500 or 
upward. We give the foregoing figures to show by 
indisputable authority the great size of the gathering. 
It was undoubtedly the largest assemblage ever known 
in Cass County. That so numerous a throng could 
be gathered togetlier, speaks volumes of praise for the 
wise management of tlie officers of the society. It is 
remarkable, that while contemperaneous societies in 
adjoining counties have retrograded the Cass County 
Pioneer Society has steadily accumulated strength, 
the interest in its object developing from year to year. 
Its annual meetings have exceeded in size and in 
merit those of any other similar organization in the 
State, and it is to be hoped that the spirit of its mem- 
bers will not be less when it becomes an historical 
ratiier than a pioneer society (as it inevitably must 
at no very distant day). The address on the occasion 
of which we have just spoken was delivered by Gov. 
David H. Jerome, and was an unusually eloquent and 
interesting one. He paid a high tribute to the pio- 
neers, and urged the youth of the land to emulate 
their many sterling qualities. This meeting of the 
society was the last which the pioneer of Cass County 
— Uzziel Putnam — attended. A few weeks later, he 
was laid away to rest, but at this meeting the old man 
— almost fourscore years and ten — sat on the platform 
by the speaker, and was much moved by his words. 
One of the local newspapers, in closing its account of 
the meeting, and of Gov. Jerome's address, gave the 
following paragraph. 

«■ * * We cannot forbear to mention an episode which took 
place on the stand at the conclusion of his speech. Uzziel Putnam, 
the first white settler of Cass County— the man who turned the 
first furrow in her virgin soil and chopped the first tree in its 
limits, so far as is known— had been listening with deep interest 
to the G ivernor'g remarks. As he closed, the old pioneer, bent 
with many years of toil and hardship, arose to his feet, tears 
streaming down his wrinkled face, and tottering up to the Gov- 
ernor, grasping him by the hand, thanked bim fervently for the 
g.)od words he had spoken for the pioneers, and. above all. for the 
sound advice he had given the young. This scene, witnessed by 
but few on the crowde.l stand, made a marked impression upon 
those who did witness it. 

The officers elected in 1881 were: President, Jo- 
seph Harper; Secretary, Lowell H. Glover; Assist- 
ant Secretary, C. C. Nelson ; Treasurer, John Tiet- 
.sort. Executive Committee— .\bijah Huyck, Marcel- 
lus ; M. J. Gard, Volinia ; Lafayette Atwood, Wayne; 
W. M. Frost, Silver Creek ; Robert J. Dickson, Po- 



144 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



kagon; B. W. Schermerhorn, Dowagiac; George B. 
Turner, La Grange; W. E. Bogue, Penn; W. H. H. 
Pemberton, Newberg; James H. H. Ilitchcox, Por- 
ter; B. F. Beeson, Calvin; H. B. Davis, Jefferson; 
Jerome Wood, Howard ; J. H. Burns, Mason ; R. D. 
May, Ontwa; J. 11. Beaucharap, Milton. 

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 

In conclusion, we give the full list of the members 
of the Cass County Pioneer Society, together with 
their ages at the time of signing the constitution, their 
places of residence and nativity and date of settle- 
ment (or of birth, as the case may be). It will be 
noticed that prior to 1877, the year in which different 
membeis registered their names and age is not given, 
and this fact should be borne in mind by the reader 
who examines the list. Otherwise, apparent discrep- 
ancies will appear in the column headed "age." The 
record has been made with great care from the jour- 
nal of the society. 



A. B. Copley .51 Volinia.. 

.Joseph Harper .. 
D. M. H .well .... 
Ichabod Pierson. 

G. W. Jones 49 

Lueinda Atwood. 

Abijah Huyck 5') .Marcellus . 

Lila Huyck 44 Marcellus . 

F M. Tinkler (i3 Wayne. 

Robert Watson 71 Dowagiac 

N. Bock 7.S Dowagiiic . 

.\rlhur Graham 61 Dow.igiac . 

Silas A. Piicher "1(1 Wayne 

Adam Smith ',1 Silver Creek., 

.Justus (i:igc ii'i Howagiac 

Jacob Hurtle 1; I Downgiac 

J. A. Barney liii Dowagiac 

S. T. Read.." ..VJCassopolis .... 

Orson Rudd li l'a.«sopolis 

William Sears Ofjt 'assopolis 



York.. 



nnsyl 



George Redfield 77|ontwa 

Uzziel Putnam, Jr 48;Pokagon... 

George M'acliam 75 Porter 

Peter Shatler 88 Calvin 

Henry Tielsort ifi La Grange 

John Tietsort 47 Cassopolis. 



Connecticut.. 

Pokagon 

.\ew York.... 
Virginia 



CtVPenn 
70|Cassopolis. 

66|l'eiin 

(i4iVolinia ... 



Ohio 

Ohio 

Xew York 

North Carolina. 

.^orth Carolina. 

North Carolina.. 

La Grange Ilmliana 

Calvin lohio 

.I.lTiTsoii Delaware 

I ussnj, ,!is Virginia 

I '^i-^.-^'il'iilis I'ass County 

Latinu.gr Ohio 

Jfrterson JNew York... 



William Jones 

Elias B. Sherman... 

John Nixon 

Reuben Henahaw... 

Abijah Henshaw 

Mrs. C. .Messenger | 

George T. Shafter 1 

E. Shanahan i 

Joseph Smith 

L. D. Smith 

D. S.Jones 

G. B. Turner 

Julia Fisher (wife ofl [ 1 

Henry Tiet«orl ) 1.51 La Grange lOhio 

H. Meicham pW;Porter jCnss County... 

J. R. Grenell 14!) Newberg (New York 

Correl Messenger j65iLa Grange Connecticut . . 

G. J. Carmiehael (wife I 

of Geo. T. Shatter). 4.5 Calvin ilhio 

Charlotte Turner JSS Jefferson iTnunton, Eng.... 

Esther Ni.xon j.5!l Penn Ohio 

Miss Hannah Ritter...|5.5JLa Grange 'Indiana 

James Boyd jrt7lLa Grange iNew York.... 

Lafayette Atwoud IQlWayne New York...., 

Sarah Miller (wife of| 

Clias. Kingsbury).. .144 Cassopolis jOhio 

Charles W. Clisbee 4(1 Cassopolis jOhio 

R. V. Hicks |54!Milton lEngland. 

Philo IS. White 162^ Wayne 'New York 

A. D. Northrup j.51|C,ilvin iVerraont 

.■\mo8 Northrup 74 Calvin IVermont 

Moses H. Lee j41 Ontwa New Hampsh 

Henry L. Barney ISA Ciiasopolis Ohio, 

.Tames E. Boninc |56Penn Ind 

Maria 0. Jones i4!1 Penn |New York 

Samuel Graham t7(;|Ca8sopolis jl'enn.sylvania 

John Strublc •50[ Volinia jl'enn.sylvania 

.laseph U. Graham 40Miison Ohio 

SiUxa Marwood |45JNewberg INew York, 



18:i4 
1826 
18-26 
1828 
1828 
1828 
182H 
1820 
1880 
1830 
1830 
1831 
1832 
18.32 
1832 
1832 
18.33 
1836 



18.34 
1834 
183-! 



1843 
18.30 

1828 



183H 

1836 
1838 
1841 
1841 
183.-< 
1846 
18^6 
1837 



James Oxen 

Pleasant Norton 

Rachel Norton 

Richard B. Norton... 

James Tiwnsend 

EzraB. Warner 

L. D. Wright :, 

Nathan Jones 

Isaac Bonine 

Lowell H. Glover 

Thos. J. Casterline.... 

Asa Kingsbury 

Eli Green 

Samuel Squires 

Leander Haskins 

Maria M, While 

L. S. Henderson 

I'heodore Stebbios .... 
Mrs. Theo. Stebbins.. 

John S. Gage 

Mrs. John S. Gage.... 
Mrs. Lucretia Gage ... 
Mrs. Thomas Tinkler. 

Chester C. Morton 

Mrs. C C. Morton 

E. 0. Taylor 

Mrs. E. O.Taylor 

Ebenezer Copley 

George Whilbeck 

Mrs. Geo. Whitheck... 
Mrs. Ebenezer Copley. 

William G. Blair 

.lonathan Olmstead.... 

Horace Vaughn 

Chauncey Kennedy ... 

John S. Juchs 

Horace Cooper , 

David Bemenf 

(jharles Haney 

B. F. Wilkinson 

Charles Morgan 

William R. Sheldon .., 

H. H. Bidwell.... 

R D. May 

Satnuel H. Lee 

John M. Brady 

Noah S. Brady 

.John Gill 

Valentine Noyes 

I. G. Bugbee 

Elizabeth H. Bugbee.. 
Aaron Shellhammer.... 

John Shellhammer 

James II. Hitchcox 

Horace Thompson 

Mr.s. Horace Thompson 

Joshua Brown 

Lucius Keeler 



Penn Ohio 

Jefferson 1 ) 1 1 i " 

Marcellus Ohio 

W.ay n e 1 M iohigan 

New York 

Pennsylvania . 

New York 

Ohio 

Belgium... 

i^cotland 

Ohio 

New York 

New York 

On the ocean.. 

Pennsylvania . 

New York 

Vermont 

Pennsylvania. 

Ohio..". 



Calvin 

Jefferson 'Virginia . 

Jefferson Tennessee 

Jefferson ...Ohio 

Penn lohio 

La Grange New York 

La Grange 

Penn 

Penn 



Penn 

La Grange.. 

Dowagiac .. 

Wayne 

Dowagiac .. 

Dowagiac . 

Dowagiac .. 

Dowagiac .. 

Dowagiac .. 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

"ayne 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa , 

Jefferson 

Onlwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Onlwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

60 Onlwa 

Oniwa 

Porter 

Porter 

Porter 

Porter 

Porter 

Porter 



Ohio 

Ohio 

Indiana 

New York 

New Y'ork 

Massachusetts .. 
Cass Co., Mich.. 

Kentucky 

New York 

iohio 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

Ohio , 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

Massachusetts . 
Cass Co., Mich.. 

Ohio 

Connecticut 

Baden, German V 

New York .". 

Ohio 

Connecti' ut 

New Y'ork 

New York 

New Hampshire 
New York.... 

Vlichigan 

"e of Man. 
New York..., 

Vermont 

Dartmouth, Eng 
Pennsylvania , 
Pennsylvania . 

New York 

Massachusetts... 
New York.;, 
iaua 



Porter INew York,. 







HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 




145 










DBtf of 

Settl'mt 








Date ol 
Settl'mt 

Caw" Co. 
(or of 
birth). 


NAME. 




RtSlPENCE. 


WllEl.E BOIIN. 


ra^'Vo. 


NAMK. 


Resiiiesck. 


WUEEE BOEN. 




i 






(or of 
birth). 




1 




Willifira Trftltlcs 


61 


I'orter 


England 


1838 


George Evans 


50! 


EngloTxi 


1846 


Mrs. William Tratlles. 


51 


Porter 


Canada East 


1836 


James M. Dyer 


40lNewberg 


New York 


1834 


.\hel Ueebe 


nf. 


Porter 


New York 


1840 


PhebeC. Dyer 


39Newberg 


New York 


1849 


Mrs. .\belBeebe 


(it 


Porter 


Pennsylvania ... 


1840 


Rebecca Jones 


64Newberg 


New York 


1837 


.lames Motley 


lih 


I'orter 


England 


1 836 


M..ry Driskell 


46Newberg 


Ohio 


1828 


Mrs. James Motley 


m 


Porter 


New York 


1836 


Dennis Driskell 


>4|Newberg 


Ohio 


1829 


George Whiled 


31 


Porter 


Michigan 


1842 


Edward H. Jones 


ISNewberg 


New York 


1837 


Mrs. George Whited... 


24 


Porter 


Cass Co., Mich. 


185(1 


Samuel Everhart 


62:Newberg 


Pennsylvania ... 


183<i 


Mrs. Betsey Whited . . 


65 


Porter 




183) 


Mary Everhart 


16|Newberg 


New York 


1837 


Hall Beardsley 


44 


Porter 


'\ii'ch.', Cass Co; 


1838 


Thomas W. Ludwick.. 


KiNewberg 


Pennsylvania... 


1845 


Mrs Hall Beardsley... 


38 


Porter 


Ohio 


1840 


Julia A. Ludwick 


46lNewberg 


Ohio 


1835 


Henry Lang 


48 


Porter 


Massachusetts .. 


1844 


Amos Cowgill 


60 La Grange 


Ohio 


\no 


Edward Lang 




Porter 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1843 


Mrs. E. E. Cowgill 


53 La Grange 


New York 


1836 


Oscar Lang 


HI 


Porter 


Massachusetts .. 


1844 


Mrs. M. A. Bucklin... 


>5|La Grange 


Ohio 


1836 


Mrs. Oscar Lang 


■)7 


P.rter 


New York 


1837 


Laura S. Henr-erson... 


5' Wayne 


Vi^gi-ia 


1834 


A. H. Ling 




Porter 


.Massachusetts .. 


1838 


Lewis Kinehart 


66!Porter 


Virginia 


1829 


Mrs. .-v. H. Lang 




Porter 


New York 


1837 


Anna Rinehart 


61 Porter 


Ohio 


1830 


.Incob Rinehart 


7() 


Porter 


Virginia 


1820 


LeRoy Curtis 


60il>enn 


New Ynik 


1837 


Mrs. .Iftcob Rinehart.. 


lit) 


Porter 


Germany 


1842 


Hardy Langston 


72 Berrien County. 


North Carolina.. 


1830 


.\lbert Thompson 


■iS 


Porter 


Indiana 


1850 


Mary Langston 


59 Berrien County. 


Virginia 


1830 


.Sa'uuel Rinehart 


(J4 


Porter 


Virginia 


1829 


Washburn Benedict... 


53 La Grange 


Massachusetts... 


1846 


Mrs. Sam'l Rinehart.. 


53 


Porter 


Ohio 


1830 


L. Curtis 


eOiPenn 


New \ork 


1837 


Ahram Rinehart 






Virginia 


1829 


Albert Jones 


46NewberK 


New York 


1837 


Mrs. Abram Rinehart. 


49 


Porter 


New York 


1836 


H. D. Shellenbaiger.. 


45 Porter.. 


Ohio 


1845 


T. A. llitchcox 


44 


Porter 


Ne.v York 


1831 


Sarah Shellenbarger... 


35 Porter 


^'i^l'ig'"-: 


1839 


(iideon Hebron 


42 


Porter 


England 


1883 


William Renesten 


781 La Grange 


Pennsylvania... 


1830 


.Mrs. Gideon Hebron .. 


... 


Porter 


England 




C. C. Grant 


61 Mason 


New York 


1831 


Marcus McHuran 


an 


Porter 


Cass Co., Mich. 


""1841 


Margaret Davidson 


59 La Grange 


^"g'--' 


1832 


Mis. Marcus MoHuran 




Porter 


Cass Co.. Mich. 





Sarah Hebron 


iw;!penn 


North Carolina.. 


1830 


.lohn M. Fellows 


.Vg 


Calvin 


Pennsylvania... 


1829 


Nathaniel Black. uore.. 


■"idOntwa 


New York 


1828 


Amos Huff. 


75 


Voliuia 


New York 


1833 


John Main, Jr 


'"La.i.ange 


Michigan 


1833 


James M. Wright 


53 


Volii.ia 


Ohio 


1831 


Jesse G. Beeson 


(KiLatiiange 


Indiana 


183U 


Mrs. J. M Wright 


48 


Volinia 


Ohio 


1828 


Mary Beeson 


59 


La Grange 


Pennsylvania... 


1830 


Elizabeth Squires 


72 


Volinift 


Pennsylvania... 


1831 


Isaac A. Huff 


74 


La Grange 


Kentucky......... 


1830 


George 8picer 


50 


Volinia 


Kngland 


1847 


Isaac N. Gard 


46 


Volinia 


Indiana 


1829 


Mrs. George Spicer .... 


58 


Volinia 


Ohio 


1837 


Divid Hain 


70 


La Grange 


North Carolina.. 


1831 


George Newton 


(i4 


Volinia 


Ohio 


1831 


Leander Osborne 


48 Penn 


Indiana 


1835 


Esther Newton 


55 


Volinia 


Ohio 





Harrison Strong 


56;Mason 


New York 


1844 


Milton J. Gard 


50 


Volinia 


Ohio 




•Fidelia A. Strong 


55 Mason 


New York 


1844 


JavRudd 


48 


Penn 


Vermont 


" 18.36 


.Margaret Stevenson.... 


51 Mason 


New York 


1849 


J.K. Riller 


45 


Cassopolis 


Berrien County. 


1829 


Samuel Patrick 


64|Jifferson 


Ohio 


1845 


Henry Shanafelt 


50 


La Grange 


Ohio 


1835 


Mos.sN. Adams 


r.lOnlwa 


Vermont 


1837 


Mrs. H Shanafelt 


40 


La Grange 


Pennsylvania... 


1844 


Elenora E. Stephens.... 


47 Mason 


New York 


1841 


E. R. Warner 


63 


Cassopolis 


New York 


1846 


We-ley Hunt 


(lOCalvin 


Vermont 


1836 


Mrs. D. M. Warner.... 


52 


Cassopolis 






H.A. Wiley 


57 Oik wa 


Ohio 


1836 


(• Z. Termilleyer 


50 


Volinia ; 


bhio;;;;;;;;;;;;:;; 


"■ls62 


S C. Olmsted 


iMOntwa 


Connecticut 


1836 


Joseph M. Truilt 


3H 


Milton 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1837 


W. 11. Hain 


34|La(iranj!e 


La Grange, Mich 


1840 


Margaret I". Truitl.... 


:l(; 


Milton 


Berrien County. 


1838 


Elmira Gilbert 


76! Porter.... 


Vermont 


1835 


Cliarlotte Morris 


v 


Volinia 


Pennsylvania... 


1836 


L. Dickson 


72|Dowagiac 


New York 


1828 


llattieC Bucll 


38 


Volinia 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1836 


CalestaStratton 


59lL.owagiac 


Ohio 


1832 


(i. J. Townsend 


4:; 


Penn 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1831 


Lucinda Davi,s 


63 Pennsylvania... 


Ohio 


1829 


!•:. 11. Townsend 


41 




Cass Co., Mich. 


1833 


David R Stephens 


51 Mason 


New York 


1835 


John H Rich 


44 


Volinia '.'.'.'.'.' 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1829 


Elias. Jewell 


<i3 Wayne 


New Jersey 


1837 


George Lyon 


54 


Penn 


Ohio 


1833 


I. A. Shingledeckef... 


5r|La Grange 


Ohio 


1846 


Selina Green 


54 


Penn 


North Carolina.. 


1831 


BarbiraShingledecker 


48| La Grange 


Ohio 


1846 


Tobias Riddle 


62 


Berrien Co 


Virginia 


1832 


William Weaver 


44|Jtffersi)n 


New York 


1841 


Asahel Z. Copley 


60 


Volinia 


New York 


1834 


Elizabeth Weaver 


39;.Iefferson 


Michigan 


1835 


Leonard Goodrich 


65 


Jefferson 


New York 


1835 


L. II. Gilbert 


30 Purler 


New York 


1835 


JohnSquiers 


45 


Volinia 


Ohio 


1831 


John (-.Chirk 


60' La Grange 


Ohio 


1838 


Joiin Rinehart 


60 


Porter 


Virginia 


1829 


James P. Doty 


'^''1 Grange 


New York 


1843 


Daniel Vantuyl 


78 


Jeffer.son 


New Jersey 


1835 


K. J. Dickson 


31 Pokrtgon 


Maryland 


18-28 


James East 


70 


Calvin 


Virginia 


1833 


Hannah B. Dickson... 


43iPokagon 


New York 


1847 


E. C Smith 


63 


Howard.;:!;::;;" 


New York 


1835 


Elizabeth Gaid 


70IVolinia 


Ohio 


1829 


Mrs. E. C. Smith 


63 


Howard 


.New York 


1835 


John Hain 


76|La Grange 


North Carolina.. 


18-^9 


Kavid Histcd 




Cassopolis 


New York 


1842 


Elizabeth Gilbert 


45|Porler 


England 


1836 


Charles Smith 


52 


Mason 


New York 


1845 


William Saulsbury 


JliJeffeison 


Ohio 


1833 


Harriet Smith 


51 


Mason 


New York 


1845 


Peter Huff 


72|Wayne 


'^-^n'oeky 


1831 


James Shaw 


61 


Howard 


New York 


1840 


Cool Runkle 


56lMilton 


New York 


1841 


I'eterSturr 


77 




New Jersey 1845 


Margaret Runkle 


54iMillon 


Pennsylvania... 


1841 


William Bilderbeclc .... 




Silver Creek 


New Jersey 1846 


Meriitt A.Thompson.. 


27|Vandalia 


Michigan 


1847 


.Sarah Bilderbeck 


57 


Silver Creek 


Ohio 


1845 


J. B.Thomas 


36()ntwa 


Penn jlvania ... 


1843 


lliram Rogers 


72 


Milton 


New Jersey 


1831 


Mrs. J. B Thomas 


34 0ntwa 


Ontwa, Mich 


1840 


S. M. GrinneU 


40 




New Yoik 


1834 


B. R. .Jones 


44!Nile8 


Ohio 


1833 


Jane A. Grinnell 


46 


Ncwberg;;;.;;;.; 


New York 


183.-. 


Isaac Wells 


44 La Grange 


Ohio 


1 8:'.2 


J. Ered Mertitt 


27 


Porter 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1840 


William J. Hall 


■■■9;Volinia 


Ohio 


1833 


Mary A. Merritt 


28 


Porter ,. 


Cass Co., Mich. 


1815 


B. F. Kudd 


•H Ncwberg 


Verm..nt 


1834 


Martha Warren 


.18 


Ncwberg 


New York 


18;;(i 


1.0 mis li. Warren 


47 Volinia 


New V..rk 


1837 


Nelson A. Hulchings.. 


41 


Newbcrg 


Ohio 


1836 


Orlcy Ann Warren 


42iVoliiiia 


Cass County 


1833 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Susan-vh Davis 

Reuben B. Davis 

John Barber 

Mrs. KateE. Barber... 

Leonard Koene 

Alsey Keene 

Ebenezer Anderson.... 

George Laporte 

Peter Youngblood 

John Rosebrough 

James W. Robinson.... 

O. L. Tiarp 

J. H. Thomas 

G. A. Meacham 

William Llark 

Edwin T. Dickson...... 

Lahan Tharp 

Lydia Tharp 

Sanford Ashcrafi 

Abigail .\shcraft 

R. Russell 

E.Russell 

B. Lincoln 

Acacha Lincoln 

William D. Brownell... 

James L.Glenn 

Hei ry Kimmerle 

M. J. Kimmerle 

D. A. Squier 

K. H. Wiley 

H. S. Rodgers 

M. A.Pullman 

Spencer Williams 

J. Wood....; 

0. C. Ellis 

H. M. Osborn 

Sleph' n Jones 

Elias P.ardee 

C. C.Allison 

Josi.ah Kinnison 

Henry Michael 

Hir.vm Lee 

David B. Copley 

Mrs. Abbey H.Copley 

H. A Chapi., 

P. W. Southwonh 

Mrs. J. A. Southwonh 

Asa Hnntingt.n 

Zeva A. Tyler 

William Allen 

Lyman B Spalding.... 
Mrs. M. S. Robinson.. 

David Gawihrop 

Henry W. Smith 

Mrs. Nancy J. Smith.. 
Eli Benjamin 



<\1 Ca'vin .. 

7-5 Pennsylvania . 

69 Wayne 

63|La Grange 

64 Jefferson 

48!Niles 

48 
68 
47 



Vanrtalia 

Mason 

Mason 

Calvin 

Berrien County 
eOJefferson 

Jefferson 

Penn 

Penn 

6.5|Penn , 

iSPenn 



...I Jefferson . 
...I Jefferson. 

^!i Milton.... 
:5.5 Milton .. 



, Calvin. 



Ohio 

Virginia 

Pennsylvania.. 

Michigan 

North Carolina. 

Ohio 

New Jersey 

Virginia 

Virginia 

Ohio 

Ohio 



Vermont 

New York 

North Carolina 

Indian.! 

Ohio 

Ohi.) 

Vew York 

New Vork 

■^ew York 



Niles.. 



La Grange... 

La Grange.... 

Dtcatur 

La Grange.... 

Volinia 

Milton 

Milton 

Howard 

Wayne 

Penn , 

52,La Grange 

tniPokagon , 

34'La Grange 

67lH..ward 

49iSilver Creek. 
57|Calvin 

I'enn 

Penn 



Niles 

Volinia 

Volinia 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Porter 

La Grange- 
Nile- 

:i!LaGr.mge.. 

-■iSVolinia 

43 Volinia 

54|Ontwa 



CaM Co. 
(or of 
birth). 



New York. 



N'ew Vork 

Pennsylvania . 



Micliigaii 
Michigan 
Michigan 



Pennsylvania . 

Delaware 

New Y'ork 

New Vork 

ndiana 

Ol.io 



Maine 

Ohio 

Tennessee 

New York 

New York 

Ma>sachuseiis. 

Vermont 

Vermont 

Vermont 

New York 

Ohio 

Li Grange 

Vermont 

Michigan 

Ohio.'. 

Ohio 

Massachusetts. 



NAM 

John M. Tiuiit 1.58 

Ann E. Truitt 47 

Z. Tinkham 72 

John T. Miller Ifi7 

W. H.Smith 60 

Robert D. Merrill 39 

Mrs Robert Merritt... 40 

Nathan Skinner 55 

Mrs. Nathan Skinner.. 53 

W. G. Beckwilh 67 

J.M.Jewell... 42 

Elias Jewell |66 

James L. Odell 47 

Mrs. John L. OdcU 30 

Mrs. W. H. Smith !4- 

John Williams !42 

Emmelt Dunning |45 

P. A. Tharp lo3 

Dyer Dunning |42 

Kmily Taylor l61 



KS APDKI) IN ■4 877. 

Milton Delaware 

Milton Delaware 

Pokagon New York 

Jefferson 'Pennsylvania . 

Volinia jOhio 

Porter Michigan 

Porter \Hchigan 

Porter Ohio 

Porter Ohio 

Jefferson JNew York 

W..yne Ohio 

Wayne New Jersey.... 

Porter Michigan 

Porter :Ohio 

^'olinia Ohio 

Jefferson Michigan 

Howard Pennsylvania. 

Calvin Ohio 

Milton |Pennsylvania . 

Wayne iNew York 



1834 
1840 
1861 
1840 
1832 
1832 
1833 
1883 
1832 
1832 



1854 

1840 



1863 
1863 
1834 
1815 
18.54 
183.T 
183! 
1837 
18^4 
1840 
18.33 
1836 
1831 
1836 
1837 
1847 
1829 
1844 
184- 



1835 
1835 



1836 
18.3 
1832 
18.36 
1854 



1831 
1835 
18.52 
18.30 
1832 
Life. 
Lifp. 
1845 
1815 
1836 
18«i 
1837 
Life. 
1842 
1836 
Life. 
183i 
1843 
1834 
1846 



C. M. Doane 

Emory Doane 

Green Allen 

Isaac Johnson 

Russell Cook 

Mrs. KussellCook 

M. Carpenter ,77 

Mrs. Eliza Carpenter...|7 

P.ter Truitt 78 

J. S. Shaw [50 

W. W. Smith 

H. A. Parker 

C. P. Wells 

James P. Smith.. 
Susan A.Smith.. 

J. E.Garwood 45 

Mrs. J. E.Garwood.... 38 

Joseph Kirkwood 66 

Harrison Adams 6f 

Mrs. Harrison Adams. 4-. 

Solomon Curtis 5 

Mrs. Louisa Curtis {56 

Ann Coulter 67 

Ann M. Hopkins.... 
Mrs. Norton Buckl 
Mrs. J. J. Ritter.... 
William R. Merritt. Jr.!43 
William Rot.bins.... 
Matilda P. Gr.ffith 
Lizzie E. Tewksbury...j48 



Howard 

Porter 

Calvin 

La Grange.. 
Pokagon... 



Milton 

Milton 

Milton 

Volinia 

La Grange 

Pokagon 

Pokagon 

Ontwa 

Ontwa 

Pokagon 

Pokagon 

Wayne 

Jefferson 

Jefferson 

Penn 

Penn 

Howard 

Ontwa 

Marcellus 

La Grange 

Porter 

Porter 

Milton 

Outwa 

Milton 

Milton 

U. Joseph Co , hd. 



Cass Co. 
(or of 
birth). 



Michigan 

iMichigan 

North Caroli: 



V irginia 

New York... 
New Hampshire 
Delaware.... 
Delaware.... 
Delaware.... 



Michigan. . 

Ohio 

New Y'ork. 
New Y'ork. 
New York. 
Michigan .. 

Ohio 

Scotland.... 

Maine 

Michigan... 
New York- 
New York.. 

Ohio 

Delaware... 
Pennsylvan 
Michigan.. 

Ohio 

■Michigan... 
Delaware... 
New York.. 



Michigan. 
Michigan 



NAMES ADDED IN 1878. 

Amos Smith J48Penn Pennsylva 

M illiam l,'ondon 62 Jefferson Ireland.... 

Mrs. L. Goodspeed J48JVolinia JNew Y'ork 

Daniel Blish 66 Dowagiac New Hampshire 

.Mrs. Julia Blish 58!Dowasriac New Y'oik 

Pennsylvania . 

New Y'ork 

New York 

New York 

New Jersey.... 

New York 

Connecticut. . , 

Vermont 

Michigan . 



I'atheiine Roof. 59'Porter... 

Hugh C. McNeil .55|Mason... 

Joseph Spencer 66|Wayne.. 

LauraSpenccr 64 Wayne... 

Samuel Decou ttfl'PeiMi 

li'abella Batchelor l6|Milton... 

, -V. A. Goddard i72|Mason... 

C. VI. Morse |5) Dowagiat 

L. B. Patterson |40jPokagon, 

Hannah M. Patterson.. 33'Pokagon 'Cass County 

William Hicks 56|Miltou England 

Jacob Tittle :57|Milton jOhio 

Henry Fred ricks fi6|Porter Pennsylvania ... 

Henry Harmon uSiPorter !Ohio 

Henry Bloodgood ■iOICnsfopolis New York 

Asa B. Wetherbee 54[Newherg New York 

Abram Fiero 5l|La Grange 'New Y'ork 

Hannah Henshaw Volinia Indiana 

Eli Bump •■)9 Penn Ohio 

James Pollock .'idiPenu iOhio...... 

Leandcr Bridges ol|Marc'llus iNew Y'ork 

Harriet A. Bridges*... 43 Newberg New Y'ork 

Mary J. Kenmerle 40La Grange La Grange 

Ira J. Putnam 51 Pokagon jCass County..... 

.lohn F. Dodge 66 Newberg New York 

Avril Earl fiSLa Grange iNew York 

(liimaliel Townsend.... 76 La Grange Canada West 

John Hain, Sr 78 La Grange North Carolina.. 

P. P. Perkins 55 Howard New York 

E. P. Clisbee .57,Oberlin jOhio 

I) lean Putnam 70LaGrange New York....... 

AureliaPutnam 62 La Grange New York..i..';^ 

.liimesA. Lee 62 Dowagiac New York....,.,j 

Patience Lee 61 Dowagiac New Vork 

John Bedford 73 Dowagiac England 

Nathan Phillips SSIPokngon New York 



The lirst y 



& child t>om in Newberg Township. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



George Rogers 49'Ontwn New York 

Abraham Rinehart 61 Porter Virjiinia 

Hannah E. Rinehart... 52 Porter 'New York 

John Lybrook 8 |La Grange Virginia 

Joseph Lybrook 33!La Grange Cass County... 

Ellen P. Hibrey IS.SiCassopolis 'Wales 

Adelia T. Merritt 66lBrislol, Ind New York 

Daniel Mcintosh 74,Penn Marylind 

Hugh P.Garrett -ISIU Grunge Ohio 

John MePherson .54 Jelferson |Ohio 

William Young Rl Howard iVermont 

John A. Jones oSCassopolis | Pennsylvania . 

Zora E. Jones 25;<'a?sopoIis 

Roderick L. Van Ness.. 33'Cassopolis Howard 

Julia E. Van Ness 26Ca*opoIis Volinia 

Joseph L.Jacks TSEdwardsburg ... Pennsylvania. 

Dr. C. J. Boughton....66|Wakelee 



birth). 



1844 
1829 
183H 
1823 
1846 
1835 
1830 
1829 
1848 
18'?9 
1831 
1846 

i'845 
18o2 
1829 
1836 



N 

Amos Jones 


AMES A1.DKD IN 18 

58 La Grange 

71 Jefferson 


79. 

Ohio 

North Carolina. 
Ohio 


1830 


William Reames 


1828 
1835 




48Edwardsburg.. 
55 Volinia 


Samuel Morris 


Ohio.. . . 


18''8 


David Beardsley 

Mrs. Mary Dewey 

Valentine Dyer 


55 
62 
54 

75 
52 
51 
3:^ 
69 


Mason 


Ohio 


1832 


Edwardsburg... 

Milton 

Purter 

Calvin 


New York 




Polly M. ."^hellhammer 
James W East 


Ohio 

Indiana 

.Marcellus 

New York 

Rho'e Island... 
Delaware 


1834 
1832 




Marcellus 

Newberg 




Archibald Dunn 


1835 




Milton 




George Smith 


68Milton 


1828 


William Lawson 

Ephraim Hanson 

Jonathan Colyer 

Sarah Atwo^d 

Catherine Colyer 


55 

46 
69 

65 
45 
16 
66 


Calvin 

Ontwa 

Jeflfersun 

Dowagiac 


North Carolina.. 

New York 

North Carolina. 
I'ennsylvani i ... 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania .. 

New York 

New Vork 

New York 

New York 


1853 
1835 
1831 
1831 
1832 


Uowagiac 

Dowagiac 

Howard 




Mary Jane Smith 

Salicia Emmons 


1837 
1822 






1834 




"OCalvin '... . 

eelCalvin 


Nathan Norton 


Ohio 


1H32 


John A. Reynolds 

Laura J. Koynolds.... 
Joshua Leaoh 


65 
61 
67 
53 
72 

in 


Jefferson 

Jefferson 

Penn 


New York 

New York 

Vermont 


1848 
1849 
1833 








Charity Rich 

U.S. Goodenough 

George Long^dnff.... 

Margaret Leaves 

George L. Stevens 

Elias Morris 

Charlotte Morris 








Volinia 


New York 

Pensylvania 

Mason 

VanBur.uCo... 
Pennsylvania ... 
Ohio 


1846 


63 
31 
47 
47 


Vandalift 

La Grange 

Mason 

Volinia 

Volinia 




Eliza Goble 


66 Dowagiac 

64:Wayne 

TliPorter 

69 Porter 


Ohio 




Levi Springstine 

Braddock Carter 

Caroline Carter 


New York 

New York 

Vermont 


lS3t> 
1844 
1844 










65 
64 








Mefaitable Ross 


Mason 


New York 

Michigan 

Indiana 


1829 








Elizabeth llilchcox 


38 Mason 


1848 


George BemenI 


37 
8H 
53 
53 
53 

i;9 

«5 
59 


Ontwa 


Mason 

New York 

Delaware 

New York 

Ohio 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 

New York 


1841 


Mrs. Betsey Gardner.. 

David T. Truitt 

A J. Gardner 


Mason 

Milton 

Mason 

Mason 


1832 
1831 
1832 


David Beardsley 

Mrs. Belinda Miller... 
Ann C Miller 


1833 
18.35 
1835 








Virgil Turner 

Arietta Van Ness 


Outwa 

Howard 


1851 
1845 



Elizabeth D. ICeeler ... 

Joshua Richardson 

Eveline E. Richanison. 

Thomas Slapleton 

Mrs. C. J. Greenleaf... 
Maryette H. Glover... 

Thomas Odell 

Henry J. Brown 

Sadie Huyck 

.Jacob B. Breece 

Sarah M. Bieece 

Aaron J. Nash 

Margaret R. Nash 



59 Porter 

1)0 Porter 

49 Porter 

45l(^as8opolis . 

...Dowagiac 

33(;assopolis. 

Porter 

Porter 

Marcellus . 

Jefferson ... 

Jefferson... 



>6: 



New York 

Ohio 

Michigan 

Ireland 

Dowagiac 

Cassoplis 

Porter 

Michigan 

Michigan 

P<>nnsylvania . 
Pennsylvania . 

New Vork 

New York 



William H. 01mstead..]57 

Sarah A. Olmsteail 50 

Jacob Suits 

Mary Reames 

John E. Reames 48 

Lovinia Reames 8 

Samuel Ingling jo 

Jane D. Ingling [4 

Jos. H. Burns 6' 

Ann E. Burns 5 

John Bilderback '3 

Cynthia Bilderback. ...:3 
Eleazer Hammond ... 
Reason S. Pemherton 
Margaret Pemberton 

Erastus Z. Morse 

Israel P. Hutton 

John H. Hutton '46 

Anne Moorlag 154 

Sarah Ann Moorlag.. .|20 

William Loupe 46 

Mary Loupe 36 

lantha Wood 53 

William H. Doane 71 

Lois A. Doane 158 



Milton jNew York 

Milton New York 

New Vork , 

Jefferson Ohio 

Jefferson Ohio 

Jefferson Kentucky 

Dowagiac Kentucky 

Dowagiac New York 

.Mason New York 

Mason New York 

Silver Creek Ohio 

Silver Creel! .Mi-liigan 

Milton New York 

Vandalia.. Indi.ina 

v'andalia Germany 

Berrien County. Pennsylvania . 

Penn Holland 

Penn Indiana 

Porter Pennsylvania . 

Porter [Michigan 

Howar' New York 

Howard New Vork 

Howard JNew York 



1838 
18.54 
1854 



1845 
1845 
1847 
18)4 
1845 



NAMKS Anl>Ell 

Gabriel Eby 63 Porter... 

Caroline Eby 54 Purler.. 

Hiram N. Wocdin 54 Mason .. 

Martha C. Wodin 47 Mason .. 

H. H Poorman 64!Marcell 



1881 



.Ohio 

. Germany.... 

. New York. 

, New Vork. 

. Pennsylvan 

Henry E. Hain J45| Edwardsburg.. ..Michigan.. 

William M. Has- 48'La Grange Illinois 

Nancy Simpson 57lPokagon Virginia ... 

J. M. Huff 47|Vollnia Ohio 

Josephine B Smith ...j47UMilton .Delaware.. 

Perry Curtiss 43 Silver Creek Michigan.. 

G. W. Smith SOMilton Delaware . 

Alfred Shockley 52 Milton Delaware .. 

11. B. Shurter 'Jefferoi. New York., 

Martin Stamp 35 Pinn Michigan.. 

A. D. Thompson 48 Milton Delaware... 

C. M. Odell 43;Howard Michigan .. 

Kinney Shanahan 27(Jntwa Michigan.. 

Samuel A. Breece 38 Newberg Michigan... 



Jacob Reese 

Marcus Sherrell 

H. D. Bowling 

Mrs. Mary Childs... 

A. J. Ditz 

William W, CarpcnK 
George W. Willii 



.59 Milt 

. 41 .lefferson lefferson. 

. 38 Pokagon Ohio 

. 33'Calilornia Indiana . 

.jt9| Mason .New York 

. 5IJMilton Delaware. 

.!42i Howard [Delaware. 

... Michigan . 



Jasper K. Aldrich l32'Milton .... 

Mrs. Emily Curtis [...JNewbcrg 

lOnos Roseliraugli '41'Jefferson Michigan. 

George Tharp 38.1efferson |.Michigan 

Peter Fox 42 Howard Delaware 

John Hess lOJefferson Ohio 

Henry D. Goodrich... 38 Jefferson Illinois ... 

.Inhn O. Pollock 51 Penn Ohio 

William 1). Kox 38 Howard Delaware.. 

Julia A. Parsons |33;Vlilton [Michigan.. 



1842 
1845 
1846 
1846 
1844 
1870 
1833 
1843 
1841 
1835 
1832 



1837 
1848 
1846 
1847 
1858 
1836 
1853 
1827 
1834 
1834 
1838 
1854 
1833 
18.56 
1845 
1836 
1837 
1854 
1842 
1834 
1840 
1849 
1847 
1847 
183tl 
1838 
1849 

18.39 
1842 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Nathaniel B. Crawford 61 



Byron H Cast 
George S. H:i- 
DaviiJ l». ilt;!'! 
Horace \V:„rr 
Harvey |i.-|h, 
George i;. i i;i 
Asher .1, SI,:,. 
Kohert, N\ Mmi 
John R. Everl 

Sarah Driscol Everhart 59 Porler 

John Manning 47 Porter Co., 

Richard M. Williams.. 40 L> Gr.inge. 




U Penn Michiga 

M Dowagiao Ohio ... 

Ml Penn Ohi( 

14 Newberg [Michigan 

■.4|Penn [New York 

'.-La Grange Ohio 

.1 Howard Michigan 

iVPenn Ohio 

57 Porler. Pennsylvania . 



. Ohi. 



18.37 
1851 
1855 
1847 
1861 
1832 
1829 



chigan 



The total number of naine.s registered is five hu 
dreil and ninety-one. 



CHAPTER XXL 

.AGRICULTURAL AND MISCELLANEOU.S SOCtKTlES. 

OrKanization of the Cass County Agricultural S.ciely in 1851— The 
First Fair Held— A Speech by llciuaii Keillield— Condition of the 
County Thirty Years Ago— HorscN, I ;,,i[, :iii,i si,,,|,— "Ten Tliou- 
snnd Things by 'Wolvenne Aii,i . , ~>>iiie "—Complete 

Premium List of the Fair of is,.i i. . i -, ,- ,,1 History of the 

Society— Cass County Bible Society or^.uii,:,,: m i.->.,l— County Med- 
ical Societies— Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company. 

TFJE Cass County Agricultural Society came into 
existence in the spring of 1851. and the first fair 
was held in the fall of the same year. The exact date 
of organization cannot now be ascertained (the records 
having been lost), but it was probably in March or 
April. The President was Justus Gage, and the Sec- 
retary, George B. Turner. 

IMay 13, the National Democrat made a strong ap- 
peal to the farmers of the county to become members 
of the society, and pay into its treasury the sum of 
50 cents each, thus enabling the society to make out 
a good premium list. 

On the 24th, the E.xecutive Committee held a meet- 
ing in Cassopolis, at which Judges were appointed for 
the ilifferent departments of the proposed fair, and the 
President, Justus Gage, was authorized to procure 
some suitable person to deliver an address, on the oc- 
casion. 

It was resolved thac the first annual fair be held at 
Cassopolis on the 18th day of September, 1851, pro- 
vided the citizens of the place would, at their own ex- 
pense, prepare the grounds, pens, etc.. and, in case 
they should not accede to this arrangement, it was pro- 
vided that the committee, having the matter in charge, 
should select some other place the citizens of which 
would be willing to make all of the necessary prepara- 
tions free of charge. 

The following committees of arrangements were ap- 
pointed : 



Gentlemen s Committee — Asa Kingsbury, G. B. 
Turner, James Sullivan, Joseph Smith, E. B. Sher- 
man. 

Ladies Committee — Mrs. James Sullivan, Mrs. W. 
G. Beck with, Mrs. Jacob Silver, Miss. A. M. Redfield, 
Miss. E. Sherman, Miss. Sarah Lindsey, Mrs. Barak 
Mead and Mr-t. S. F. Anderson. 

The fair was duly held, and in Cassopolis, hence it 
is to be presumed that the people of the village ma'de 
sufficiently liberal preparations. The show grounds 
for stock were "south of Joshua Lofland's premises 
and east of Mr. Root's," and the hall of the court 
house was used for the display of fruits, vegetables and 
articles of domestic manufacture, and was under the 
charge of ladies. The attendance was quite large and 
the exhibition was generally pronounced a success. 
The National Democrat said " it vastly exceeded 
our expectations, not only in regard to quantity of 
stock and number of articles exhibited, but in the 
superior quality and excellence of both. We venture 
the assertion" the writer continued, " that no one 
county in the State can bring forward as good stock 
as Cass. This is saying much for her but no more 
than she is' able to back up by an actual showing." 

An interesting feature in the programme of this 
first fair was an address by Heman Redfield, delivered 
before a large audience at the court house. The con- 
eluding portion of the speech makes interesting read- 
ing at the present day, and gives a good idea of the 
agricultural condition of Cass County in 1851. Mr. 
Redfield said : 

" That the experiment has been successful and that 
our society is established upon a permanent founda- 
tion has been most amply demonstrated. May we 
not now indulge the agreeable conviction that each 
returning exhibition will derive additional interest and 
value, until our county shall assume that position to ' 
which by nature it is entitled, as the first among the 
agricultural districts of our beautiful State ? 

'■ The variety and fertility of our soil, the abun- 
dance of our water privileges and the unlimited mar- 
kets almost surrounding us, in connection with the 
energy and enterprise of our population, as this day 
witnessed, would seem to indicate the possibility of 
such an event at no distant period. 

"A reference to the statistical report of the Secre- 
tary of State to the last Legislature, discloses the fact 
that few counties in the State in proportion to the 
territory ami number of population, produce an equal 
amount of wheat and other grain, and very few, if 
.my, excel us in this respect. 

********* 

" Now we have in our county about tiO.OOO acres of 
improved land, something less than a quarter of our 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



territory, and the total value of our property of all 
kinds, is, as assessed, about $800,000, with a popula- 
tion of 11,000. In 1849. we raised from 18,000 
acres about 160,000 bushels of wheat, something over 
thirteen bushels to each individual, and yet this was 
only an average of about ten bushels per acre, for a 
soil of the most productive character; not over half a 
crop at the best calculation. I believe it is gener- 
ally admitted that our .soil must be deepened before it 
can be permanently improved, and that one acre of 
soil twelve inches deep, is worth more to make money 
from by cultivating it, than four acres six inches deep. 
Admitting that under the best circumstances an acre 
of soil six inclies deep will produce fourteen bushels 
of wheat, and that twelve bushels will pay the ex- 
penses, and we have two bushels as profit. Now 
double the depth of the soil and the amount of the 
crop, making the former twelve inches instead of ^ix 
and the latter twenty-eight bushels instead of four- 
teen ; fifteen bushels instead of twelve will now pay 
all expenses and leave a net profit, not of two but 
thirteen bushels to the acre. Manure well, plow 
deep, sow in good season, then trust in Providence 
and instead of selling $60,000 worth of wheat we can 
market three times that amount. 

" There was raised in our county two years ago 
600,000 bushels of other grain, of which at least one- 
half was a surplus, worth as much as the wheat crop, 
and susceptible by good' husbandry of equal augmen- 
tation in amount and value. 

" We own three thousand horses, worth on an aver- 
age say $40 or a total of $120,000. Now it costs 
no more to raise a colt worth at four years old $80 
than one hard to jockey off at $40. And a little re- 
flection will convince any one that the above value can 
be doubled in five years. 

"The enterprise of a fellow-citizen offers you % 
stock of as good blood and reputation as can be found, 
and which he has, I think safely, challenged the State 
to equal. And there are several other excellent 
breeders of that noble animal among us. We certainly 
should exert ourselves to patronize and sustain them. 

" We possess 8,000 head of cattle, generally of an 
inferior size and quality, and are selling the average 
of our young cows and steers at from $8 to $10. 
when in good condition, and 1 am fully satisfied 
that the value of this stock can be easily doubled 
by an importation of thoroughbreds, the judicious 
patronage of those we have and a more general at- 
tention to care and keeping. 

" We have likewise 17,000 sheep, shearing in 184!l, 
44,000 pounds of wool, about two and a half pounds 
per head, and worth that year an average of .'50 
cents per pound, a gross value of about $14,000. We 



have in our limits as good stock sheep as can be found 
in the country, and a general attention to this depa)t- 
ment of our industry will enable us to increase the 
weight of the fleece to four pounds, worth 40 cents 
per pound, and the value of the carcass proportionally. 

" In addition to the above list, we have among our 
grubs and in our puddles, about ten thousand things 
which Wolverine audacity has denominated swine — 
variously known as Naragansetts, alligators, land 
sharks, a.n^ flee breeders. In one sense indeed this 
class of our domestic animals has received much at- 
tention, but that attention has resulted from wonder 
and disgust, and has been expressed in unmeasured 
ridicule, sarcasm and invective. It is well known that 
a well-bred and well-kept hog can be easily made to 
weigh, in eighteen months, 400 pounds, worth $3 
per hundred weight, while it is a hard matter to make 
the critters I speak of ever weigh 200 pounds, and a 
harder matter to dispose of the compound of acorns, 
[ ground nuts and carrion for %iper hundred iveiyht." 

There has been an improvement in Cass County 
swine during the past thirty years. 

Following is a complete list of the premiums awarded 
at the fair of 1851 : 

i CVTTLE. 

B. W. Philips, La Grange, for best Durham bull, cash 
premium. 

Joseph Smith, .Jefferson, for second best Durham 
•bull, diploma. 

James E. Bonine, Penn, for best bull under two 
years, cash premium. 

Thomas Tinkler, Wayne, for best grade bull, di- 
ploma. 

William Jones, Pennsylvania, for best milch cow, 
cash premium. 

David Brady, La Grange, for best yoke work oxen, 
cash premium. 

B. Bullard, Mason, for second best work oxen, di- 
ploma. 

Jesse Jones, Mason, for third best work oxen, 
diploma. 

HORSES. 

B. W. Philips, La Grange, for best stallion, cash 
premium. 

Lewis Riiiehart, Porter, for second best stallion, 
cash premium. 

Archibald Jewell, Wayne, for best brood mare, cash 
premium. 

A. J. Luther, Ontwa, for best span matched horses, 
cash premium. 

James Townsend, Penn, for second best span 
matched liorses, cash premium. 

Isaac A. Huff, La Grange, for best colt under two 
years, cash premium. 



150 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



David Finch, La Grange, for best colt under three 
years, cash premium. 

M. Rudd, Penn, for best single horse in harness, 
cash premium. 

SWINE. 

Joseph Smith, Jefferson, for largest hog, cash 
premium. 

James E. Bonine, Penn, for best boar, cash pre- 
mium. 

Justus Grage, Wayne, for second best boar, diploma. 

Daniel Mcintosh, Penn, for best breeding sow, 
cash premium. 

Edward Beech, La Grange, for second best breed- 
ing sow, diploma. 

Nathan Aldrich, Ontwa, for third best breeding 
sow, diploma. 

Daniel Mcintosh, Penn, for best lot of pigs, 
diploma. 

Nathan Aldrich, Ontwa, for second best lot of 
pigs, diploma. 

(iRAIN AND VEGETABLES. 

Benjamin Gage, Wayne, for best wheat, diploma. 

Archibald Jewell, Wayne, for second best wheat, 
diploma. 

William Allen, Mason, best lot of beans, diploma. 

D. T. Nicholson, Jefferson, for best lot of sweet 
potatoes, diploma. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 

Morris Custard, La Grange, for best two-horse 
wagon, cash premium. 

Nathan Aldrich, Ontwa, for best two-horse plow, 
cash premium. 

Heman Redfield, Mason for best beehive, cash 
premium. 

Heman Redfield, for best straw cutter, cash pre- 
mium. 

C. Smith, Mason, for best cheese press, cash pre- 



John Gage, Wayne, for best Spanish Merino buck, 
cash premium. 

J. E. Bonine, Penn, for two best Spanish Merino 
bucks, cash premium. 

F. Brownell, Penn, for four best Merino yearlings, 
diploma. 

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 

Daniel Carlisle, La Grange, for best ten pounds of 
maple sugar, diploma. 

Amos Northrup, Calvin, for best lot of honey, 
cash premium. 

Philo White, Wayne, for second best lot of honey, 
diploma. 



Mrs. E. Thomas, Ontwa, for beat worsted work, 
diploma. 

Mrs. E. Thomas, Ontwa, for best paintings, di- 
ploma. 

DOMESTIC .MANUFACTDKES. 

H. Thompson, Ontwa, best embroidered shawl, 
diploma. 

Mrs. E. Thomas, Ontwa, for best linen hose, 
diploma. 

Mrs. E. Thomas, for best table spread, diploma. 

Mrs. Beckwith, Jefferson, for best quilt, diploma. 

Mrs. E. Thomas, best bureau cover, diploma. 

Mrs. Sullivan, La Grange, best hearth rug, diploma. 

Mrs. A. B. Copley, Volinia, best five yards of 
flannel, diploma. 

George Meacham, Porter, for three best cheese, 
diploma. 

PLOWING. 

Benniah Tharp, Calvin, for best plowing with 
oxen, diploma. 

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 

Heman Redfield, for best and largest variety of 
apples, thirty-four varieties, cash premium. 

Miss Julia A. Redfield, Ontwa, for best ftill apple, 
cash premium. 

A. A. Goddard, Mason, for fourteen varieties of 
apples, diploma. 

Miss Julia A. Redfield, Ontwa, for best winter apples, 
diploma. 

D. T. Nicholson, Jefferson, for four varieties winter 
apples, diploma. 

Mrs. McKyes, Wayne, for best lot of peaches, 
diploma. 

Heman Redfield, Mason, for three varieties of 
quinces, cash premium. 

The Committee also noticed favorably fine speci- 
iftens of peaches offered by C. C. Landon and others ; 
some apples exhibited by D. T. Nicholson, and a 
variety of pears by Nathan Aldrich. 

The Committees of Judges who made the awards 
were constituted as follows: 

On Horses — Arch. Jewell, P. Norton, Wm. Jones. 

On Cattle— Moses Joy, Reuben Allen, B. W. Phil- 
lips. 

On Sheep — A. Redding, John Nixon, George Red- 
field. 

On Swine — James Bonine, 0. Drew, Jonathan 
Gard. 

On Agricultural Implements — Gideon Allen, Na- 
than Aldrich, Jesse G. Beeson. 

On Grain and Vegetables — Hiram Jewell, M. Sher- 
ill. W. G. Beckwith. 

On Plowing Match — David Brady, Joseph Carpen- 
ter, T. M. N. Tinkler. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



151 



On Miscellaneous Articles — William Allen, B. 
Hathaway, S. T. Read. 

On Fruits and Flowers — Heman Redfield, E. S. 
Smith, D. Jewell, Mrs. E. S. Smith, Mrs. G. Sher- 
wood, Mrs. J. Gage, Mrs. G. B. Turner. 

On Domestic Manufactures — Lewis Edwards, A_ 
B. Copley. Cyrus Bacon, Mrs. G. Allen, Mrs. A. 
Redding. Mrs. S. F. Anderson, Mrs. L. Edwards. 

The second annual meeting of the Cass County 
Agricultural Society, for the election of officers, was 
held at the office of George B. Turner, Esq., in Cass, 
opolis. on Monday, the Ist of March, 1852. The 
following officers were chosen for the year : President, 
Justus Gage, of Wayne; Treasurer, Joseph Smith, of 
JeffiEjrson; Secretary, G. B. Turner, of La Grange; 
Corresponding Secretary, D. M. Howell, of La 
Grange; Vice Presidents — John S. Gage, Wayne. 
Sullivan Treat, Silver Creels ; William L. Clyborne^ 
Pokagon; Hiram Jewell, La Grange; John Nixon, 
Penn; Ira Warren, Newberg; Oscar N. Long, Por. 
ter; J. S. Bennett, Mason; S. T. Read, Calvin; 
Pleasant Norton, Jefferson ; Henry Heath, Howard ; 
A. Redding, Ontwa; Peter Truitt, Milton; H. Mc- 
Quigg, Marcellus; B. Hathaway, Volinia. 

The history of the Cass County Agricultural So- 
ciety has not been one of either marked or uniform 
success. The fairs were held until 1857 on Samuel 
Graham's land, but in that year the society bought 
land, where the Air Line Railroad depot now is, 
which the society was compelled to abandon, when 
the Peninsular (Grand Trunk) Railroad was con- 
structed. The next location was in the way of the 
Air Line Railroad and that, too, had to be given up. 
The present grounds were purchased in 1871, of 
Samuel Graham, at an expense of $3,000. The tract 
includes twenty acres of land finely adapted to the 
purpose for which it is used. A considerable sum of 
money has been expended in the erection of buildings 
and in making other improvements. 

Most of the exhibitions given by the society have 
been very creditable; but the formation of other agri- 
cultural associations in the county has of course been 
disadvantageous to the old organization. 

THE CASS COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY. 

This was the first county society organized and had 
its origin in 1831. It was recognizeii by the Ameri- 
can Bible Society as an auxiliary in February of that 
year. The officers were : President, Elder Adam 
Miller ; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Luther Hum. 
phrey ; Treasurer, Sylvester Meacham. Mr. Hum. 
phrey seems to have served only a year, for in 1832, 
Alexander H. Redfield appears as Corresponding 
Secretary. Alfred R. Benedict held that position in 



1834. In 1836, Martin C. Whitman was President; 
Rev. Luther Humphrey, Corresponding Secretary, 
and Mr. Meacham continued as Treasurer. Samuel 
F. Anderson was President in 1837, the other officers 
remaining the same. Dr. John J. Treat was Presi- 
dent in 1838, Azariah Rood was President in 1839 
and Clark Olmsted, Treasurer, and they were still in 
office in 1841. In the first ten years of its existence 
the Cass County Bible Society remitted to the parent 
society $151.30. There was no change in officers 
until 1844, when Hon. Clifford Shanahan became 
President. In 1846, Cyrus Bacon was President 
and Alfred Bryant, Secretary, Mr. Olmsted still con- 
tinuing as Treasurer. 

Of the foregoing there is no record upon the local 
society's books. The data was procured from the 
Secretary of the parent society by Mr. Joseph K. 
Ritter. 

It appears that the society was re-organized in Janu- 
ary, 1861. Samuel F. Anderson was elected Presi- 
dent ; James Boyd, Vice President ; Joseph K. Ritter, 
Treasurer ; W. W. Peck, Secretary, and the Revs. 
Miles and Hoag, Messrs. Joseph Harper, Joshua 
Lofland and S. T. Read as members of the Executive 
Committee. 

Following are the present officers, viz. : President, 
Joseph Harper; Vice President, D. B. Smith ; Treas- 
urer, C. G. Banks ; Secretary, Joseph K. Ritter. 
Executive Committee — D. B. Ferris, Jesse Harrison, 
W. W. Mcllvain. 

CASS COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 

The first medical society in the county was organ- 
ized in August, 1851. The officers elected were : 
President, Dr. D. E. Brown ; Vice President, Dr. 
Henry Lockwood ; Secretary, Dr. Alonzo Garwood ; 
Treasurer, Dr. E. Penwell ; Standing Committee, 
Drs. I. G. Bugbee, J. Allen and B. Wells. The 
objects of this society were similar to those of the 
present organization, that is, the advancement of the 
profession, social intercourse, the establishment of a 
schedule of charge's for professional services, etc. 

But possibly there was not a clear understanding 
of the purposes of the society in the minds of the 
people at large. At any rate, one man seems to have 
had only a partially defined idea of them. George 
P. Coffey, a resident of Mechanicsburg, and a "log 
house carpenter " by occupation, when he contem- 
plated going West, thought it would be well to join 
the society, that he might be able "to show where he 
degraded from." 

The schedule of rates on which the society agreed, 
placed the amount of money to be charged for an 
■' ordinary visit in the village " at 50 cents; " raedi- 



152 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cine and attention " was to be charged for at the rate 
of $1 per day ; " medicine and visit, one mile, $1 ; " 
visit and medicine, from one to two miles, $1.25 ; " 
"visit and medicine, from two to four miles, $1.50;" 
each additional mile 25 cents. " Quinine and night 
visits were to be extra in all cases." Surgical opera- 
tions, etc., were to be performed for $5 ; visit and 
consultation within three miles was to entitle the 
physician to a remuneration of $3, and the same 
within a distance of from three to ten miles to f5 

THE PRESENT COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY 

was organized at a meeting held at Cassopolis June 26, 
1877, Dr. C. W. Morse, of Dowagiac, in the Chair. 
The following officers were elected for the year 1 877-7 8 : 

President, Dr. C. W. Morse; Vice Presidents, Drs. 
A. Garwood, L. Osborn, R. Patterson ; Secretary, Dr. 
W. J. Kelsey; Treasurer, J. B. Sweetland. 

Following are the names and residences of the orig- 
inal members of the society, viz.: 

Dr. C. W. Morse, Dowagiac; Dr. W. J. Kelsey, 
Cassopolis ; Drs. Robert Patterson and John B. Sweet- 
land, Edwardsburg ; Drs. L. D. Tompkins, A. Gar- 
wood and F. Goodwin, Cassopolis ; Dr. J. Robertson, 
Pokagon ; Dr. Edward Prindle, Dowagiac ; Drs. L. 
Osborn, H. H. Phillips and Otis Moor, Vandalia ; 
Dr. W. J. Ketcham, Volinia ; Dr. 0. W. Hatch, 
Adamsville. 

Since the society was formed, the following persons 
have been added to the membership roll : 

Dr. I. Bugbee (honorary), Edwardsburg ; Drs. Hor- 
ace Carbine and E. C. Davis, Marcellus ; Dr. Phineas 
Gregg (honorary), Brownsville ; Drs. Levi Aldrich, 
Frank Sweetland and Fred W. Sweetland, Edwards- 
burg ; Dr. J. M. Wright, Brownsville; Dr. William 
E. Parker, Cassopolis ; Dr. A. J. Landis, Adamsville ; 
Dr. Reuben Schurtz, Jones. 

The following preamble to the constitution of the 
society, sets forth its objects : "We, the undersigned, 
practitioners of medicine and surgery in the county of 
Cass, for the mutual advancement in medical knowl- 
edge, the elevation of professional character, the pro- 
tection of the interests of its members, the extension 
of the bounds of medical science, and the promotion 
of all measures adapted to the relief of suffering, do 
constitute ourselves a Medical Society." 

farmers' MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF 
CASS COUNTY. 

This company, doing business in the counties of 
Cass, Van Buren and Berrien, was organized May 8, 
1863, with the following as it officers: President, 
Jesse G. Beeson ; Treasurer, Archiablc Jewell, of 
Wayne Townsliip; Secretary, A. D. Stocking, of 



Dowagiac ; Directors, W. G. Beckwith, of Jefferson ; 
Israel Ball, of Wayne; William R. Fletcher, of 
Wayne ; Frank Brown, of Pokagon ; and Daniel 
Blish, of Silver Creek. The object of the com- 
pany is the insurance of farm dwellings and out- 
buildings at a minimum price, and upon the mutual 
plan, as the name implies. The present number of 
members is about fifteen hundred, and the amount of 
property at risk is valued at $2,500,000. The present 
Board of Officers and Directors is as follows : Presi- 
dent, John Cady ; Treasurer, Enoch Jessup ; Secre- 
tary, Cyrus Tuthill ; Directors, Jerome Wood, James 
H. Hitchcox, Lafayette Atwood, Milton J. Gard, 
John A. Reynolds. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

STATISTICS. 

Population by Tovvnsliips, 1837 to 1K80— Vote on the Constitutions and 
for Presirtents— Gubernatorial Vote of isso, by Tovvnsliips— Valua- 
tion— Productions. 

POPULATION. 

The population of Cass County was, in 1830, 919 ; 
in 1834, 3,280; in 1837, 5,296; in 1840, 5,710; 
in 1845, 8,073; in 1850, 10,907; in 1854, 12,411; 
in 1860, 17,721 ; in 1864, 17,066 ; in 1870, 21,096 ; 
in 1874, 20,525; in 1880, 22,008. 

The following table presents the statistics of popula- 
tion of Cass County, by townships, as taken at nine State 
and National censuses, from 1837 to 1880, inclusive. 
The wide variations between the population given in 
certain townships at periods four or six years apart, 
is occasioned by the inclusion of village population 
in the statement for some years, and exclusion from 
other statements. Other variations are attributable 
to changes in boundary of townships. Thus Ontwa 
appears to have had in 1837 1,012 residents, while in 
1840 it contained but 543. Milton, however, which 
was a part of Ontwa in 1837, was made an indepen- 
dent township prior to 1840, and by the census of 
that year is shown to have had a population of 439 : 



Calvin 

Howard 

.JeflFerson ... 
La Grange .. 
Marcellus... 

Mason 

Milton 

Newber^j.... 

Ontwa 

Penn 

Pokagon .... 

Porler 

Silver Creek 

Volinia 

Wayne 

Totals 



6241 

7661 
8871 
04r: 
•222 

611 

629 
698 
994 
1259' 
491 
607 
682 



i29Bi.->710 10907 12411 



1860 


1864 


1870 


1874 


1375 


1485 


1788 


1627 


1139 


110^ 


1171 


96f 


1071 


1112 


1047 


106S 


1702 


1761 


1884 


18H 


753 


K.^ 


1255 


1652 


768 


719 


809 


851 


575 


62? 


594 


532 


861 


862 


1314 


1285 


879 


821 


995 


929 


1303 


1148 


1421 


146^ 


124'J 


1624 


1386 


1941 


1832 


16i4 


1933 


1915 


J 102 


1836 


11.52 


1709 


99H 


1137 


1414 


1446 


938 


1019 


999 


1431 


I77--'1 


17666 


21096 


20525 



1693 
974 
1014 
2032 
1829 
889 
535 
1539 
1145 
1527 
1323 










^-'^ 




|S}-nw^',,f ^' • 



Yjew or GassopoXxK^ 

FHOJVI THE ;^OtJTI-T KlDJC OF ^'PONK li7<\KE, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



153 



o S a 

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^55 


ifis^::T:. 


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all 


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1749 
2071 
232. 
2538 
2159 
1579 
1145 
1711 
736 
3752 
1927 
5866 
2689 


i 


1 

r 


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16261 
6726 
8003 
7053 
3944 
5970 
7406 
3376 
9394 

14669 


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97404 
73410 
113766 
164778 
65279 
79328 
88215 
74783 
46650 
108180 
98616 

116196 
126356 


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11160 
1U91 
12963 
13293 
10667 
9140 
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8201 
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11207 
19009 
9723 
13683 
12278 


5 


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The following exhibits the population of ten of the 
principal villages of the county in 1850, 1860, 1870 
and 1880: 



VILLAGES. 


1850 


1860 


1870 


1880 


Cassopolis 


379 


i'isi 

"241 

122 
129 
104 

:::::: 


728 
l'J32 

■297 

"228 
184 
104 


912 
2102 
643 




Marcellus 


252 






448 
240 
















Newberg 


118 















GUBERNATORIAL VOTE OF 1880 BY TOWNSHIPS. 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Pavid Jerome, 
Republican. 


Fred. M. Hol- 
loway, Pem- 
ocrat. 


David Wood- 


Total. 




■Sbl 
255 
92 
111 
230 
212 
-4 
71 
173 
130 
209 
146 
307 
120 
2«2 
128 


54 

228 
143 
1.58 
288 
152 
142 
69 
l.SO 
1.54 
145 
1.53 
160 
73 
87 
80 


1 
2 

■ 17 
129 
5 
1 
64 
12 

10 
7 
61 
30 
24 




Dowagiac City 

Howard 


496 
237 


La Grange 

.Marcllus 


535 

494 


Milton 


141 


















Porter 


474 


Silver Creek 


244 


Wftvne 


232 






Total 


2841 


2216 


396 


5458 



Isaac McKeever. Prohibitionist, received four i 



1 Calvin Township. 



VOTES CAST FROM ISS-*) TO 1880. 

The following exhibits the number of votes cast in 
the county for and against the constitutions, and the 
votes cast by each party in Presidential elections : 

VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTIONS. 

1835— (November) Yes, 345 ; No, 20. 

1850— (November) Yes, 1,069 ; No, 323. 

1867— (Voted upon in April, 1868), Yes, 1,190 ; 
No, 2,371. 

1873— (Submitted, November, 1874), Yes, 713; 
No, 2,697. 

PRESIDENTIAL. 

1840— Harrison, Whig, 670; Van Buren, Demo- 
crat, 527. 

1844— Clay, Whig, 760 ; Polk, Democrat, 715. 

1848— Taylor, Whig, 783 ; Cass, Democrat, 901 ; 
Van Buren, F. S., 191. 

1852— Scott, Whig, 988 ; Pierce, Democrat, 984 ; 
Hall, F. S., 95. 

1856 — Fremont, Republican, 1,703 ; Buchanan, 
Democrat, 1,165. 

1860 — Lincoln, Republican, 2,065 ; Douglas, Dem- 
ocrat, 1,624. 



154 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



iy64 — Liucoln, Republican, i,7t55 ; McUlelian, 
Democrat, 1,435. 

1868— Grant, Republican, 2,471 ; Seymour, Dem- 
ocrat, 1,926. 

1872— Grant, Republican, 2,432; Greeley. D. and 
L., 1,830; O'Connor, Democrat. 24; Black, Prohi- 
bition, 2. 

1876 — Hayes. Republican, 2,750 ; Tilden, Demo- 
crat, 2,336 ; Cooper, G. B., 173; Smith, Prohibition, 

1880 — Garfield, Republican, 2,859; Hancock, 
Democrat, 2,180 ; Weaver, G. B., 415 ; Dow, Pro- 
hibition, . 

VALUATION. 

The following table exhibits the valuation of real 
and personal property, as assessed and as equalized, 
for the year 1881*: 



TOWNSHIPS AND 

CITY OF DO- 

WAGIAC. 


si 


III' 


f 


L 




•J 

If! 


11! 


Marcellue 

Newberf- 

Porter 

Volinis 

Penn 

Calvin 

Mason 

La''Graiige"!'"I"' 
Jffferson 


2(1835 

:;it-U 
21283 
21792 
12630 
20571 
21984 
22497 
13458 
1920 


S582r,2n' 

'li»557tl 
U9020O 
736600 
6S7026 
6(]()040 
904790 
639755 
470825 
6125101 


8«42i 

2363c 
29866 


23675 
13410 


fiS94 3 
1213830 
766365 

740460 
947120 
713290 
487800 
499100 


OJUIJU 

1115557 
316170 
113645 
136660 

79550 
162880 

66710 

320900 


S7on;.,« 

1530000 
880000 




800000 




140410 

735:i5 
16975 




Pokngon 


1100000 




7801100 


Milt.m 

DowaKiac 


570000 
820000 






ToUU 


311M9 


S11475340;j686933 


$74636 


$12097738 


82192262 


814280000 























CHAPTER XXII 1. 

CASSOPOLIS. 

Founding of the Village— County Seat Contest— A Souvenir— Letter 
from Alexander H. RedUeld— First Death, Biith and Marriage— 
Cassopolis as it Appeared in 1835— The Campaign of 1840— Joli 
Wrighfs Prediction— The Only General Militia Muster— Little- 
jolin's Temperance Revival of 1845— Corporation History— Roster 
of Village Ofiieials— The Public Squaie Case— Mercantile and 
Manufacturiug Matters— Banking— Hotels— Post Office— Religious 
History- Public Schools— Cemetery-Societies. 

FOUNDING OF THE VILLAGE. 

IN 1830, Abram Tietsort, Jr.f (father of J5hn 
Tietsort), built a small log cabin on the east bank 
of Stone Lake, near the spot where the bowl factory 
now stands, and he and his family became the pioneer 
settlers of Cassopolis. 

To this cabin, upon the bank of the lake, there came 
one day, a young man, a stranger, whom the Tietsorts 
learned a few days later was Elias B. Sherman. 
He was a lawyer by profession, but just then engaged 



* For the T« 

Bee Chapter XI 

t See chai.te 



ring the early years of the e 



in seeking profitable land investment and a location 
in which he might settle permanently and grow up 
with the country. He had come from Detroit to 
Southwestern Michigan, in the fall of 1829, and 
spent much time in looking over St. Joseph, Cass 
and Berrien Counties. At first he had made a claim 
on Little Prairie Ronde (which he sold to Elijah Goble, 
in 1830, for $65), and subsequently he had assisted 
Dr. Henry H. Fowler to procure the location of the 
county seat at Geneva, the village which he had laid out 
upon Diamond Lake. For his services in this matter 
he had expected to receive a village lot, but had been 
disappointed. 

There was much dissatisfaction in regard to the es- 
tablishment of the seat of justice at Geneva, and Mr. 
Sherman was one of the many who believed that a 
change of location could be effected. He was more- 
over one of those who proposed to bring about a 
change and to profit by it. 

Upon the day when he was received as a caller at 
Abram Tietsort's cabin, he had examined the south- 
east quarter of Section 26 in La Grange Township 
(the site of tlie villiige of Cassopolis), and had become 
favorably impressed with the advantages which it 
offered. He considered the " lay of the land" 
and its proximity to the geographical center of 
the county as the fulfillment of very necessary 
requisites, and resolved to enter a sufficient tract to 
include the desirable village site. But how to effect 
this purchase with his limited means was a question 
which required some thought. It was the question 
upon which he was cogitating as he sat in the cabin 
and as he ate supper at the simple board of his host 
and hostess. His thoughts were given an impetus 
during this time by a conversation to which he was a 
listener. Three brothers, the Jewells, newly arrived 
neighbors of the Tietsort family, who had put up a 
cabin about where the Air Line Railroad depot now 
is, dropped in to make a friendly visit, and some of 
their remarks revealed the fact that they intended to 
enter the very same piece of land which he had in 
mind. This piece of information accelerated his 
movements toward the realization of the plan which 
had been forming itself in his mind. Mr. Sherman 
said nothing of his own intentions, but as soon as he 
could do so started on foot for Edwardsburg. He 
had there a friend — or an acquantance rather, for he 
had only met him a few days before at White Pigeon 
— whom he decided to make his partner in the newly 
conceived real estate project. This individual was 
none other than a young lawyer, named Alexander 
H. Redfield, who was destined to take a prominent 
part, not only in the affairs of Cassopolis and of the 
county but in those of the State. 



HISTORY OF OASS COUNTY. MICBIGAN. 



155 



Mr. Redfielii warmly approved the plan which Mr. 
Sherman detailed to him. He was unable, however, 
to furnish one-half of the cash capital which this 
speculation in land must absorb. The total amount of 
money needed to make the purchase or entry at the 
White Pigeon Land Office, was $100. Sherman had 
$50 ; Redfield only $40. There was a way out 
of this difficulty, however. Redfield gave Sher- 
man a letter to a friend of his at White Pigeon, 
requesting a loan of $10, and the latter with this 
document in his pocket, set out on foot for the land 
office. The night was dark and cold, and rain was 
falling. When he reached George Meacham's cabin, 
he was tired and chilled, but borrowing a horse he 
continued upon his way, following the Chicago trail. 
Somewhere in Porter Township he sought rest and 
shelter from the storm in a deserted cabin. At day- 
dawn he remounted his horse, soon crossed the St. 
Joseph River at Mottville, and while it was still early 
morning, rode into White Pigeon, seven miles be- 
yond. The loan was obtained of Mr. Redfield's 
friend, the coveted eighty acres of land duly entered, 
the money paid and Mr. Sherman now started on his 
way back to Edwardsburg to receive the congratula- 
tions of his partner. 

He had been none too diligent or expeditious in 
attending to his business for he had proceeded but 
a few miles from White Pigeon, when he met the 
Jewell brothers bound upon the same errand which 
he had just accomplished. 

Messrs. Sherman and Redfield now associated with 
themselves, the owners of the land adjoining the 
eighty acres which they had entered. The parties 
were Abram Tietsort, Jr., who added forty acres in 
Section 35, Col. Oliver Johnson, who added twenty 
from his lands in Section 25, and Ephraim McLeary, 
who added a similar amount from land which he had 
entered in Section 36. 

An active fight was now begun for the county seat. 
There were many persons who were dissatisfied with 
the location of the seat of justice at Geneva, and they 
urged the Legislative Council of the Territory to an- 
nul the action of the Commissioners, and appoint a 
new Board of Commissioners, to whom authority 
should be given to make another location. Gross ir- 
regularity in the proceedings of the Commissioners 
invalidated their decision. It was notorious that they 
had planned to profit unduly by their own official 
action, and that they had withheld from the public 
information concerning the locality they had decided 
upon for the seat of justice, until they had themselves 
entered at the land office adjoining tracts. This fact, 
as attested in petitions, very numerously signed, was 
doubtless the chief cause of the reconsideration of the 



Commissioners' proceedings, under authority of the 
Council — the death of Geneva and the birth of Cass- 
opolis. 

Upon March 4, 1831, the Council passed an act* 
providing for the relocation of the seats of justice of 
Cass, Branch and St. Joseph Counties, and authoriz- 
ing the appointment of a new Commission. 

Thomas Rowland, Henry Disbrow and George A. 
O'Keefe were appointed Commissioners. 

Various parties now prepared to exhibit the advan- 
tages which tiieir lands offered for the location of the 
seat of justice, but when the Commissioners arrived, 
the only claims they had to consider were those made 
by the persons interested in Geneva, and the proprie- 
tors of Cassopolis. 

Messrs. Sherman and Redfield and their associates 
in the mean time had their land carefully surveyed, 
and a town platted which they called Cassapolis. 
Three of the streets were named in honor of the Com- 
missioners, and doubtless some other influences equally 
subtle were brought to bear upon those worthies to 
make them see the surpassing fitness of Cassopolis as 
the county seat. At any rate, the Commissioners de- 
cided in their favor, and, upon the 19th of December, 
1831, Cassopolis was formally proclaimedf by the 
Governor as the seat of justice of Cass County. 

One of the conditions on which the seat of justice 
was heated at Cassopolis, was the donation to the 
county of one-half of all the lands in the village plat. 
The lots donated were disposed of afterward by agents 
appointe<l by the Supervisors. 

Upon the 19th of November, 1831, the platj was 
recorded by the proprietors E. B. Sherman, A. H. 
Redfield, Ephraim McLeary, Abram Tietsort, Jr., and 
Oliver Johnson (by his agent Mr. Sherman). The 
acknowledgment was made before William R. Wright, 
Justice of the Peace. 

In recent years the village has been enlarged by 
several additions. The first was made by Henry 
Bloodgood, May 25, 1869. E. B. Sherman and 
Samuel Graham made additions, respectively, upon the 



*See synopsis of the a 
ter XI. 

tThe proclmiiittii.ii in 

^Following l8 II il-'-' r 

liigapart of Socii..nH .;'., 

from which r-ngea nr- iii 
til ■ other streetrt ht<- four 
>lic square i 



r bearing upon this subject in Chap- 



jN iihi .li; Slatf street is made a base line, from 
ii>['li Hill] south; Broadway Is made a meridian, 
.1..I .lust and west. They are both six rods wide; 
epttiig Lake street which Is two rods wide The 
Mity-six ro IS, designed for buildings for public uses, 
rhe Ids are five rods by eight, i-xceptlng Lots No. 7 and 14. in Ranges 2 W(«t 
and 2, :t and 4 e;i8t, which are eight rods by nine. The same In Blocks 1 east 
and 1 west are nine by eight and one-eighth. Nns. 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, U, II, 12, U and 
14, ill Blocks No. 1 niirtb and south, lUng'^s I east and west, are four by eight. 
Nils. 1 anil :t in same blocks and ranges are three by ten. Nos. 2 are three and 
thre'- i)uart4>rs by ten. Nos. I. 2, 3 and 4, in Blocks I north and south. Ranges 2 
west and 2, :i and 4 east, are four h, ten Irregular lots adjoining the lake are 
of variiiiis »i/.e». The whole plat is I19>!; by 1»1 rods. 

liliirkH No. 7, i:i and U, in Range'2 west— 7 and 14, in Ranges I west and 
easl. HI... k J north ; the whole of Block 2 north, Hange 2 east ; Noe. 6, 7, 8, 9. 
10 II, 12. I.I, 14, 15 and IG In Block 1 north. Range 2 east ; Nos 2,3,4,Gand6 
in lil.ick 3 south ; 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, In Blocks 2 and 3 south, and S, 0, 7,8, 9, 
10, II, 12, l:t, 14, 1.'> and 111, In Rlick I, south of Range2 east; Nos. 7 and 14, in 
Range 3 east; 7, II, 12, 13 anil 14, Block 2 north. Range 4 east; Blocks 2 and 3 
south. III Range 4 east, an- donated to the county, to be disposed of by their 



156 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ocli and 9t,li of Decumber, 1 70, siuJ S. F. AnJeisoa 
laid out the villa of Andersonville upon lands adjoin- 
ing the town plat, August 20, 1871. 

A SOUVENIR. 

An interesting memento of the founding of Cassop- 
olis was received by the corporation officers in 1868, 
and is carefully preserved. The relic is a cane made 
from a pole cut on the site of the village in 1831, by 
Alexander H. Redfield, and used by him and Mr. 
Sherman in measuring distances. Following is the 
interesting explanatory letter from Mr. Redfield 
which accompanied the gift. 

" In Sepiemher or (Ictoher, 1831, Elias B. Sherman, Esq , of 
Cassopolis. and I, came on foot from Edwardsburg to the site of 
Cassopolis, and slopped at ihe house of Abram Tietsort, Jr., 
situaled on the bank of ihe lake. We wished to determine whether 
it was not a good place for the county seat. We htood upon the 
beautiful elevation, now the public square, and desired to know 
the distance from the ceuter of the hill to ihe first section corner 
east. With my pocket knife 1 cut a hickory pole and with my 
hands, measured off, as near as I could, one rod, and with that 
pole we measured up from the section corner west to the center 
of the hill, and found the distance to be forty rods. We then j 
planted the pole in the ground at or near the present center of 
the public square. The Commissioners, Me:<srs. Rowland, I)is- 
hrow and OKeefe, appointed by the Territorial Legislature, soon 
after established the county seat at the point selected by us. The 
pole stood where we had planted it till the village plat was sur- 
veyed and marked, and clearing and building began. Passing 
one day across the public square I found that a brush heap 
had been burned near where the pole stood and that the 
whole of it had been burned except a small piece from which this 
cane has been made. I have cvrefuUy preserved the st:ck thirty- , 
seven years, as a memorial of early times and ol I friends and as<o- 
ciations, and now respectfully request the corporation of Cassop- 
olis to accept this cane with my warmest wishes that the beauti- 
ful village, in the founding of which and the building up I took 
an humble but eirnest part during seventeen years in which it 
was my home, may be blessed and prosperous, and its citizens 
happy." A. H. Redfield. 

Dated Detroit, October 24, 1868. 

INITIAL EVENTS. 

When the plat of Cassopolis was recorded there 
was not within its bounds a single dwelling house, 
but very soon there appeared tangible tokens of the 
village that was to be. Ira B. Henderson erected a 
log cabin on the ground in front of which Mcllvain, 
Phelps & Kingsbury's store now stands ; John 
Parker put up a hewed log house on Lot 5, Block 1 
south, Range 1 west, and in the spring of 1832 
Messrs. Sherman and Redfield put up a large, frame 
house on the northwest side of the public square — 
which is still standing and the oldest house in Casso- 
polis. 

The cabin of Abram Tietsort, Jr., was not included 
in the original limits of the village, but its site is 
inside of the present boundaries. Julia Ann Tiet- 
ort (now Mrs. Gates, of Orleans County, N. Y.) 



was born there July 3, 1830, and was the first 
white child which had its nativity in Cassopolis. 

The first death was that of Jason R. Coates, and 
occurred August 7, 1832. He was killed by being 
dashed against the limb of a tree by a spirited saddle 
horse which became unmanageable and ran away with 
him. The funeral was attended from Henderson's 
tavern, and the remains were interred where they now 
rest in the cemetery. A portion of the ground in 
the burial-place was set apart at that lime by Mr. 
Sherman. 

Upon January 1, 1833, was celebrated the first 
wedding, the parlies to which were Elias B. Sherman, 
and Sarah, daughter of Jacob Silver. Mr. Sherman 
had arrived at the realization of the great truth 
that is not good for man to be alone, and, having 
induced Miss Silver to believe that it was not alto- 
gether good for woman to be alone, they set the day 
for the happy event which should make them one. 
There was no minister in Cassopolis at that time, and 
none in the immediate vicinity. Miss Silver's 
especial choice was to have the marriage ceremony 
performed by an Episcopalian, and learning that 
Bishop Philander Chase had just located at '' Gilead," 
about sixty or seventy miles east of Cassopolis, Mr. 
Sherman was sent out to secure, if possible, his serv- 
ices. Early one morning, mounting a trusty horse, 
he set out upon his journey and at nightfall arrived 
at the Bishop's cabin. He was successful in his mis- 
sion and upon the following morning started upon his 
return trip. Miss Silver was delighted with the idea 
of being married by a Bishop, and elaborate prepara- 
tions were made for the ceremony. The morning of 
the 1st of January dawned auspiciously. The 
sun shone brightly and the weather was as mild as 
May. The Bishop was on hand according to agree- 
ment, the people of the little hamlet and of the sur- 
rounding country were filled with pleasurable excite- 
ment and all went '• merry as a marriage bell." The 
guests assembled in the second story of the building 
in which Jacob Silver sold goads — since known as 
''the old red store." The large room had been espe- 
cially prepared for the occasion and made as pleasant 
as was possible. The weather was so balmy and 
warm that the windows and doors were left open. 
Spring-like breezes floated through the apartment, 
and wild flowers picked in the morning upon Young's 
prairie brightened the costumes of some of the maids 
and matrons who were present. Benjamin F. Silver 
and Charlotte Hastings acted respectively as grooms- 
man and bridesraiiid. Not all of the names of those 
present can be remembered, but among the guests at 
this first social gathering in Cassopolis were Alexan- 
der H. Reilfield. Dr. Henry H. Fowler, Benjamin F. 



I 




^7)-'L.cy^^ y^i^c^^^^ 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Silver. Ira B. Henderson, John Parker, Honley C. 
Lybrook, David Brady, George Jones, Peter and 
David Shaffer, Robert Wilson, the Mcintosh and 
Shields families, Joel Wright, Isaac Shurte, Eli P. 
Bonnell, Job Davis and Abraham Townsend. Almost 
all of these were accompanied by their wives and 
families and the company was, considering the time, 
a very large one. The pair joined in wedlock upon 
that bright, balmy New Year's Day are still living 
and surrounded with a circle of warm friends who 
hope to see them celebrate tlieir golden wedding and 
many succeeding anniversaries of their marriage. 

CASSOPOLIS IN 1835. 

The infant Oassopolis attained the age of four years 
in 1835. A few. a very few, gray-bearded men, look- 
ing through the picture galleries of their memory, can 
find a more or less faded representation of the seat of 
justice of Cass County as it appeared forty-six years 
ago; but scrutinize the picture closely as he will, no 
one of them can detect suggestions or promise of the 
beautiful and thriving village of to-day. 

There was a little clearing in the wooils, which con. 
tained a straggling group of perhaps a dozen houses 
and log cabins. Through the forest surrounding this 
small, new d)t of civilization, here and there paths or 
trails wound away t )ward other settlemunts. There was 
one e.Ktending to the southward to Edwardsburg, not 
where the present road is, but over the hdl by Mrs. 
Anderson's residence. Another led across the ground 
now used as a burial-place, and northwesterly to La- 
Grange Prairie, from whence it bore southward to 
Pokagon. Nearly all the travel between the latter 
settlement and Cassopolis was by this round. ibout 
route. Bearing off from the La Grange Prairie road 
to the nortiiward, was a trail to Whitinanville. Ex- 
tending eastward from the little hamlet there was a 
path by way of Diamoml Lake to Young's Prairie, 
and beyond, and branching from it there was one 
which led down to Mottville. The road to Niles in 
those days led through the woods on the high ground 
west of Stone Lake, where it may still be traced, and 
forms indeed a beautiful woodland path. 

Travelers (and there were many of them going about 
the country looking for land locitions in the time of 
which we write), riding into Cassopolis on any one of 
the winding trails above mentioned, drew up at the 
tavern kept by Eber Root. This was a framed build- 
ing, anil stood on the ground now occupied by the 
Cass House. Its exterior was not particularly allur- 
ing in appearance, but within was a genial landlord 
and good cheer. The wayfarer and the stranger, if 
the season were winter, could warm himself before a 
crackling wood fire in the bar-room, and supplement 



the external comfort by internal, through the agency 
of the honest whisky which Root sold for three cents 
a glass. One barrel and a few bottles usually con- 
tained the whole of the liquid stock in trade, but the 
single barrel was very frequently replenished from the 
Silver's distillery down by the lake. Whisky was 
almost universally drank in those days, and Root sel- 
dom kept any other form of spirits. When court sat, 
however, there was demand for beverages either milder 
or more aristocratic, and wines and brandies were im- 
ported for the occasion. The bar-room of the tavern, 
however, was not suppi)rted entirely by the patronage 
of the traveling people. The distillery was a home 
institution, and at that time about the only manufact- 
uring establishment in Cassopolis, and the " drouthy 
neebors " of the village gave it a hearty support, even 
going so far as to sit up nights and dispose of its pro- 
ducts, and that, too, very often, after devoting the 
entire day to the same work. 

If the stranger who visited Cassopolis in 1835 
desired the services of a lawyer, he found Alexander 
H. Redfield, who was boarding at the tavern, or Elias 
B. Sherman, who lived in the frame house which still 
stands on its original site, back of the county offices, 
and is now owned by Mrs. Caroline Bisbee. This 
house was built by Mr. Sherman for a hotel, but at 
the time of which we write, it was a private dwelling 
house, occupied by M.r. Sherman and " Uncle Jake 
Silver." 

Rivaling in importance, as a social center, the tav- 
ern, there was Silver's store, " the old red store," 
which stood where is now the ware room occupied 
with a portion of French's hardware stock. Here 
the Silvers dispensed goods in small quantities and 
great variety, to the few people of the village, and the 
larger number who dwelt in the region round about, 
and here lawyer Redfield kept the post office. 

Upan the lot back of the present place of business 
of Mcllvain, Phelps & Kingsbury, stood a little log 
building, originally built by Ira B. Henderson, for a 
hotel, in one end of which the village smithy had his 
forge, while the other end was occupied by a family. 

Not far away from this building, on the lot now 
best described as south of the Lindsey plaaing-mill, 
was a small log building, with a big, formidable lock 
upon its door, tiio county jail, which is elsewhere de- 
scribed. 

Besides these buihlings, Cassopolis contained, in 
18-35. a half dozen others, or, to be exact, seven. 
There was, to begin the enumeration, the distillery, 
to which allusion has been made ; a little house where 
•loel Cowgill now lives, in which resided Catherine 
Kimmerle, a widow ; one in which David Ro )t and 
his mother lived ; the house just west of Lindsey's 



158 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



planing-raill, now owned by James Boyd ; a story and 
a half frame house where Myers' store is; the small 
structure still standing east of Joseph Graham's resi- 
dence ; and down near the lake, a one story log 
cabin, in which dwelt "Deaf Dick" and "Aunt 
Peggy," both of whom were deaf and dumb. 

The village looked very new and crude, stumps ap- 
peared in all directions, and the huge trunks of trees 
that had been chopped down still lay prostrate on the 
ground along what is now Broadway, between Root's 
tavern and the Silvers' store. Where Joseph Harper 
now lives was a little vegetable garden, cultivated by 
Eber Root. North of this point, the street was not 
cut through the timber, and, in fact, it bore little 
semblance to a street south of it, in the very center of 
the village, owing to the presence of the logs and 
brush, and the litter of the woodman's ax. Little 
brown paths, worn through the grass into the sandy 
soil, led hither and thither across the clearing, the 
centers of their convergence being the tavern and the 
store. 

Just beyond the village limits, upon the bank of 
the lake, between the sites of the foundry and bowl 
factory, was the cabin of Abram Tietsort, Jr., and not 
far away was a log building in which he worked at 
his trade, cabinet making. Besides the rude but sub- 
stantial articles of furniture, for which there was a 
demand among the pioneers, the solitary workman in ^ 
the log cabin made occasionally a plain and simple 
coffin, for death had come already to the infant village, 
and there were four graves in the little burying-ground 
in 1835. I 

SOME LOCAL INCIDENTS OF THE HARRISON CAMPAIGN. 

"Oh! there never was a campaign like that, and \ 
there never will be another, never ! " exclaims one | 
who hurrahed for Harrison in 1840, and his face 
grows animated as he recalls the humors of the great 
partisan contest, and, perhaps, fancies that he hears 
the faint reverberations of all those thunders of ap- I 
plause and ringing cheers that so long ago made the i 
woods echo. In 1840, the West rose up in its might 
to honor him to whom honor was due, the hero of 
Tippecanoe, and of the Thames, and soon the wave of i 
enthusiasm inundated the whole land. 

It was a great campaign indeed, that of 1840, re- 
markable alike for the heat of its partisanship and ! 
the quaint and humorous forms in which the super- 
abundant zeal of the people was expressed. It was 
interesting as being the first shurj) political contest in 
the West, [n character as well as time, it was the 
campaign of the pioneers. Their enthusiasm was due 
more to the fact that William Henry Harrison was a | 
high type of their own class than a successful General 



in tlTe war of 1812, although his military achievements 
had first brought him into prominence, and nearly all 
of the electioneering devices used in the Western 
.States were of such nature as to keep before them the 
idea that the Whig candidate was one of them. Hence, 
the log cabin with the "latch-string out," the barrel 
of hard cider and the coon skin were in constant use, 
and were painted on the banners under which Harri- 
son's forces marched on to victory. 

The asperities of the campaign have been softened 
by the flowing away of forty years, the bitter asper- 
sions have been forgiven or forgotten, and the old 
men who shouted for " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," 
looking back upon the whole affair, regard it at a dis- 
tance rather as a prolonged season of uproarious 
merry-making than as the bitter political contest it 
really was. 

One of the local incidents of the campaian of 1840, 
is well worth recording in the history of Cassopolis. 
We refer to the great mass meeting — the first political 
assemblage of any consequence in the county — and 
the largest of any kind, excepting only the meetings 
of the past few years. We have secured the account 
from an Old-Line Whig (the memory of the Whigs 
being, it is thought, just a trifle more accurate con- 
cerning the aifairs of 1840 than that of their op- 
ponents). 

A brief digression to touch upon the great mass 
meeting held at Tippecanoe, Ind., will not be out 
of place, as it was from the big fire which burne<l on 
the old battle ground, that the most earnest Whigs 
of Cass County, in common with those of Southern 
Michigan, brought the brands to light their home 
bonfires for the purpose of warming their colder 
brethren. The convention was held on the 29th of 
May, 1840. A sufficient number of men went from 
Cass County to employ six teams in their transporta- 
tion. They were gone about a week, took provisions 
with them and encampeii nights along the way as the 
pioneers did when they came into the country. 
From Cassopolis and its immediate vicinity, those 
in attendance were Joseph Harper, Cornelius V. 
Tietsort, Abram Loux and William H. Brice, and 
from Young's Prairie, " Big Bill" Jones, George 
Jones (father of the present Sheriff) and Ephraini 
arrd Samuel Alexander. They heard some very able 
and eloquent speeches made by Henry S. Lane (mem- 
ber of Congress and afterward Governor of Indiana), 
James lirooks., of New York, and others ; saw an im- 
mense concourse of people, a great many log cabins 
and canoes; feasted at the big barbecue ; gazed on a 
colossal "Johnny Cake," measuring about three by 
sixteen feet, and came home even more enthusiastic 
about William Henry Harrison, than they had been 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



159 



when they started upon their journey of more than a 
hundred miles to attend the meeting. 

The memorable day of the campaign in Cass County 
was July 6. The morning was forbidding and the 
day wet, but notwithstanding an immense crowd of 
people assembled and the rain did not seem to put a 
damper on tlieir ardor. They came from all parts of 
Cass and the adjoining counties and from Indiana, to 
the number, it is said, of 5,000, which for the time 
was certainly a great gathering. Inhabitants of dif- 
ferent localities and individuals of the same vied with 
each other in getting up noticeable turnouts and big 
teams. Several log cabins, one of them quite large 
ami very nicely made, were brought in from the coun- 
try, and there were a plentiful supply of canoes and 
the various other emblems of the party. The big cabin 
was hauled in by a team of five horses, Jonathan 
Gard riding upon the nigh wheel-horse. From the 
cabin door dangled a conspicuous latch string, and 
Col. James Newton, of Volinia (a member of Michi- 
gan's First Constitutional Convention), rode on top of 
the cabin, astride of the ridge-pole, holding in his 
embrace a fine fat coon. Another turnout which at- 
tracted much attention was gotten up by E. H. Spald- 
ing and others in Whitmanville and its vicinity. It 
consisted of a team of twenty-six yoke of oxen, a pair 
for each State then in the Union, attached to a huge 
wagon containing a very considerable portion of the 
population of Whitmanville. W. G. Beckwith was 
Marshal. 

The principal speaker of the day was George Daw- 
son (for the past thirty-five years editor of the Albany 
Journal), who held his audience for two hours and a 
half with argument and wit. He spoke in the pres- 
ent court house which was then in process of con- j 
struction and had been roofed but not floored. The 
speaker occupied a stand erected for the occasion and 
the people in his audience stood closely crowded to- 
getiier on the ground inclosed by the temple of jus- ! 
tice. Some disappointment was felt at the nonap- I 
pearance of Gov. Woodbridge and George C. Bates, 
of Detroit, who had been expected, but several other 
speakers were present, and while Mr. Dawson was 
holding forth to the audience in the court, they ad- 
dressttd another in the Oak Grove, which then covered 
the lot now known as the Kingman property. The 
people dispersed at night in the best of humor and 
filled with a sense of conviction that they had done 
their duty for the Whig cause. 

Later in the season, a meeting was held at Edwards 
burg, which was addressed by Jacob M. Howard, of 
Detroit, candidate for Congress, and Joseph R. Will- 
iams, of Constantine, who was running for the State 
Senate. The attendance was surprisingly large, but 



the meeting was not to be compared in point of size, 
merriment, enthusiasm and rude spectacular display 
with the Cassopolis rally. 

The log cabin brought into town by Jonathan Gard 
and Col. Newton was presented to Joseph Harper, and 
remained for a long time where it was deposited, in 
York street, east of Broadway. Mr. Harper, who was 
then Register of Deeds, had his office where Dr. 
Tompkins now resides. After the campaign was over, 
the cabin was moved back in the lot, and converted 
into a pig sty. After all of the activity of the Whigs 
in Cass County, the great meeting and their wild en- 
thusiasm, they gave their candidate a majority of 143 
votes ; Harrison received 670 and Van Buren 527. 

Cassopolis realized one benefit which was permanent, 
from the excitement of the campaign. Joseph Harper 
wagered a village lot with Jacob Silver on the issue 
in Pennsylvania, and, winning, received a deed for Lot 
No. 8, in Block 1 north, Range 2 east, which, two 
years later, he gave to the district for school purposes. 
Upon it was erected the first frame schoolhouse in 
the village. 

.JOB Wright's prediction — the eagle's flight. 

What may be termed another incident of the cam- 
paign of 1840 was the prediction of Harrison's early 
death by Job Wright, " the recluse of Diamond 
Lake Island," who, we will remark, had fought under 
the old General. The account here presented is from 
a sketch of Wright, by the Hon. George B. Turner.* 

* * * " Harrison was elected by an overwhelm- 
ing majority. On the 4th of March following, the 
Whigs of Cass County assembled at Cassopolis in great 
force to do honors to their chief on the day of his inau- 
guration. Amongst the many devices to give eclat to 
the occasion was the letting loose, at a given time, of 
an eagle that hail been captured a few days before. A 
large crowd had gathered in front of the village tavern 
to witness the flight of the proud bird. Just as they 
were about to let it go, the recluse of the Island 
came along the outskirts of the assembly, and was 
told how, in a few minutes, this eagle, emblematic of 
our nation's power and freedom, would be released to 
seek his mate in the rerie from which he was torn but 
a few days before. 

" Now be it known that the recluse possessed, or 
supposed he did, the power of divination, accruing 
to hira by virtue of an extra thumb on the right 
hand. He had two thumbs where ordinary mortals 
had but one. He could not only tell what the future 
would bring forth, but claimed to be able to read the 
past with equal facility, though a century had elapsed 
to bury it from the memory of man. 

•Publinbed in the Sational Democral August 21, 1873. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



" As the master of ceremonies was about to give 
the word which would set the eagle free, the old man, 
in a solemn and impressive voice, was heard to say : 
' So many rods as that bird flies, so many weeks will 
Harrison, my beloved General live, and no longer.' 

" He pulled his slouched hat over his eyes and soon 
passed on toward his home, disregarding <he taunt 
and jeer that was flung at him by the overzealous 
friends of Harrison. The eagle was released. It 
flew to a small, hickory tree, near where the Baptist 
church now stands, and alighted upon one of its 
branches, remaining there twenty minutes or more, 
apparently bewildered by the sounds it heard and the 
sights it saw. 

" Some boys soon came along and brought him 
down and gave him a prey to some dirty curs in the 
crowd who rended it in pieces. The distance it flew 
was some eight or ten rods. The student of Ameri- 
can history, as he compares this flight with the brief 
weeks the General enjoyed his proud position, will 
wonder how inspiration could prompt the old recluse 
thus surely to name bounds for the life of our Chief 
Magistrate." 

A MILITIA MUSTER. 

In October, 1842, occurred the only general militia 
muster in the annals of Cass County. It was a 
peculiarly interesting and amusing affair, in all essen- 
tials equal to the " trainings " so happily and humor- 
ously described by Tom Corwin. of Ohio, in his reply 
to Gen. Crary, of Michigan, upon the floor of the 
House of Representatives. 

The able-bodied, white male citizens of the county, 
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, were 
notified to meet at Cassopolis in pursuance of a liw 
enacted by the State Legislature in 1841. This act 
specified the purposes of the militia assemblage as 
" inspection, drill-service and martial exercise." 
These were precisely the elements of human action 
which were lacking in the Cassopolis training of ' 
1842. Upon the day designated for the gathering of ; 
the soldiery, nearly a thousand men assembled upon 
the public square to go through those military evolu- 
tions calculated to prepare them for " the trade of 
death," which, by some remote possibility, they might 
be called upon to follow. 

The Colonel of the regiment was James L. Glenn ; 
the Lieutenant Colonel, Asa Kingsbury, and the 
Major, Joseph Smith. The latter was probably the i 
only oflicer who had any knowledge of the methods 
of infantry drill or military discipline. He had served 
in the Ohio militia in former years. 

Maj. Smith labored lustily to educate his fellow- , 
citizens in tho mysteries of military evolutions, but 
failed signally in the accomplishment of his object. 



He had, perhaps, the rawest raw material which ever 
vexed a martial commander, and his failure could not 
be considered as casting any reproach upon his ability 
as an oflicer The militia, privates and subaltern 
ofiicers, were attired in all imaginable fashions, and 
their equipment was as varied as their clothing. Some 
carried rifles, some shotguns, others rake handles, 
sticks or clubs, and not a few of them bore those 
terribly effective bucolic weapons, the common employ- 
ment of which earned for the amateur soldiery of forty 
years ago the characteristic title of the " Cornstalk 
Militia." 

The day was very disagreeable, the air being filled 
with mingled snow and rain, and the earth .saturated 
with water. The men, after tramping about in the 
mud and becoming wet and cold, lost what little desire 
for a military education they might have had at the 
outset, and became thoroughly demoralized. The 
officers could not evolve order from the chaos which 
ensued, and confusion was soon worse confounded by 
reason of indulgence in liquor; "whisky, that great 
leveler of modern times," was here. The brave miliiia 
men did not literally follow the example of Tom 
Corwin's militia, and drink it from the shells of water- 
melons, in imitation of the Scandinavian heroes, who 
quaffed wine from the skulls of those whom they had 
slain in battle, but used tin cups to convey the fiery 
spirit to their lips. Judging from the effect produced, 
there were not many slips, on this occasion, between 
the cup and lip. A large quantity of the liquor was 
consumed. Barrels of it were rolled out upon the 
public square, and each Captain secured a pail, which 
being filled with whisky, was carried up and down 
the lines until all of the men in each company were 
liberally served. Afterward many helped themselves 
from the barrels. Innocent hibirity, moderate banter 
and friendly trials of strength were among the first 
results of their potations, but it was not long before 
bad blood was aroused, and angry altercations took 
the place of harmless wrestling matches. Several 
disgraceful scenes followed. All idea of continuing 
the training was abandoned. The crowd gave itself 
up completely to revelry, and it was continued until 
nightfall. The debauch was general. There arc a 
considerable number of individuals in Cass County, 
each one of whom claims to have been the only sober 
m:in in Cassopolis upon the day of the great militia 
muster. As a matter of fact, the labor of taking the 
census of unintoxicated persons present upon that oc- 
casion would be very trivial. 

THE REMARKABLE TEMPERANCE AGITATION OF 1845. 

Only a few ripples of the temperance tide of 1840, 
the Washingtonian movement, reached Cassopolis, but 




^^ye- 



ASA KINGSBURY. 

The subject of this sketch, probably the most suc- 
cessful of the business men of Cass County, was born 
at Newton Heights, near Boston, Mass., May 28, 
1806. In 1830, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, 
where he was engaged for a period of about three 
years in the manuf:icture of glue. In 1833, he was 
given an opportunity to go farther West, which he 
embraced, after short reflection, and as his remark- 
able success has demonstrated, very fortunately. A 
business man of Cleveland desired him to take his son, 
a wild, reckless young man, and in return for his 
trouble, volunteered to furnish him with whatever capital 
he might need for the enterprise in which he might en- 
gage. Mr. Kingsbury chartered a schooner, and 
loading her with about $3,000 worth of miscellaneous 
goods, started up the lakes, bound for any port where 
he could advantageously dispose of his cargo, or find 
an opening for trade. While passing up the St. 
Clair River, Mr. Kingsbury was relieved from the 
care of his protege, the young man deserting the 
vessel. Mr. Kingsbury went to Green Bay, but not 
liking the location, sailed up the lake to St. Joseph, 
where, after being long delayed' from landing by rough 
weather, and narrowly escaping shipwreck, he finally 
disembarked and had his goods unloaded. In pros- 
pecting for a good location for opening business, he 
visited Bertrand, which was then enjoying its palmiest 
days. Liking the appearance of the place, he had his 
goods brought up the river and went into business. 
In 1834, it became apparent to Mr. Kingsbury that 
the village, which had only the year before seemed so 
prosperous, had begun to retrograde. Hence, he re- 
moved to Cassopolis, which was a promising hamlet. 
His first venture was the management of a distillery 
and store, which he purchased of .John M. Barbour. 




From that time on, Asa Kingsbury has been inti- 
mately and extensively identified with the business 
interests of Cassopolis. In 1837, his brother Charles 
came to the village, and a general mercantile business 
was opened by the firm of Asa & Charles Kingsbury, 
which was carried on for a period of twenty years, or 
until 1857. They also dealt extensively in real estate. 
In June, 18.55, Asa Kingsbury opened a private 
banking office, in which he did business until the 
First National Bank was established in 1871. Of 
this institution, Mr. Kingsbury may be properly 
termed the founder. He has been its President from 
the time of its organization to the present. In politics, 
Mr. Kingsbury has been a Democrat. While taking a 
citizen's interest in political affairs, he has not been 
an active office-seeker. He was once a candidate for 
the position of State Senator, and in 1842 was elected 
County Treasurer. Mr. Kingsbury has been very 
successful in business, and accumulated a large property, 
of which he has been a worthy steward. His benevo- 
lence, never ostentatiously displayed, has been in pro- 
portion to his ample means, and could be attested by 
hundreds of worthy and needy men. His character 
and ability are well known to the people among whom 
he has dwelt. 

Mr. Kingsbury has been three times married. His 
first wife was Adaline M. Fisk, of Massachusetts. 
The children by this marriage were Charles H. and 
Amanda (Mrs. J. K. Ritter). Mr. Kingsbury's 
second wife was Emily, daughter of Allen Monroe. 
After her decease he married Mary Jane Monroe. The 
offspring of this marriage were Nancy E. (Hull), now 
of Jackson, Mich., Asa, Allen M., Ruth T. (wife of 
James Hayden), Hattie J. (wife of Dr. Holland, of 
Edwardsburg), George, Cyrus, Georgianna, David, 
Emmeline, Blanche, Verna D. and Winnie May. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MTCHTCxAN. 



161 



in 1845, the village had a revival of peculiar character, 
which was all its own — an agitation which in some 
respects has had few if any parallels in Southwustern 
Michigan. Its originator and conductor was Augus- 
tus Littlejohn (a brother of the late Judge Flavius J. 
Littlejohn). He was an independent, peripatetic, re- 
ligious exhorter, a man of very good education and of 
fair native ability. He is sometimes described as a 
man in whom there was a strong vein of eccentricity, 
but, to change the figure of speech, he seems rather to 
have been entirely woven of eccentricities — the whole 
warp and woof of his nature made up of curious strands 
of some very strange materials. 

Littlejohn had been speaking in various localities in 
the southern part of the county upon the subject of 
temperance, and a number of the citizens of Cassopo- 
lis thinking that he might accomplish some good in 
the seat of justice, prevailed upon him to visit the 
place in February, 1845 No church had been built 
in Cassopolis up to that time, and the temperance re- 
former was granted the use of the court house. 

His first audience was one of fair size, and the meet- 
ing of perhaps more than ordinary interest. The 
speaker exhibited earnestness and eccentricity in about 
equal proportions, and the impression produced was 
such as to encourage the friends of teiirperancc that a 
succe.ssful revival could be carried on. Upon the 
second night the audience was larger than upon the 
first. The third was still greater, and the interest 
seemed to increase in arithmetical, or perhaps geomet- 
rical progression with the members of the meeting. 

Littlejohn grew more fervid and vehement in his 
style of oratory from night to night, and produced a 
marked eff"ect upon his audiences. Many were in 
(luced to sign the pledge of total abstinence. After the 
lecturer had spoken nightly for about two weeks, such a 
furor was aroused that the court house was crowded 
to its utmost capacity. Reports of the great revival, 
and of the eccentricity of the conductor, spread through 
the country, and the farming population from that 
time onward formed a large element in the nightly 
gatherings. .\s evening approached, the streets were 
filled with teams and the village bore very much the 
appearance that it now does upon fair days or when 
great political meetings are held. Some attended 
through friendship for the temperance cause and some 
from mere curiosity. The manner and methods of 
tiie lecturer were certainly such as to cause :i sensa- 
tion. He usually spoke for a time from the platform, 
delivering a more or less argumentative address and 
gradually working himself into a fervent heat he re 
sorted to the style of the religious exhorter, better, 
however, a generation ago than at present. He was 
a very small, spare niau, and it j^eenied at times as if 



he must be literally riven asunder by the force of his 
own passion. As regards the physical man, this catas- 
trophe, as a matter of fact, never took place, but the 
demonstrations of the revivalist indicateil at least a 
mental explosion. Leaving the platform, he would 
walk down the aisle, wildly gesticulating and shouting 
a frantic appeal to his auditors to sign the pledge. Oc- 
casionally he would suddenly cease from speaking and 
begin the singing of a hymn or of a temp'^rance song. 
The people were provided with pamphlets containing 
these songs, and from tlieir sale Mr. Littlejohn de- 
rived the only revenue which rewarded his labors. 
The singing was conducted with much enthusiasm 
and some eccentricity. Prayers were offered at the 
beginning and clo.se of each meeting and at intervals 
during the evening. Mr. Littlejohn's prayers were 
not less peculiar than his style of oratory and his 
singing. He was earnest even to vehemence, and had 
a way of introducing personal allusions which was 
often anything but agreeable to the people whom he 
mentioned. 

With all of his peculiarities the temperance lecturer 
had an honest desire to do good, to improve the con- 
dition of his fellow-men, and lie labored to that end 
with a zeal which is seldo n paralleled and with much 
ability. 

The series of m^-etings held at Cassopolis continued 
for forty- two nights, and the interest of the people 
showed little abatement, even toward the close. The 
excitement was intense. Several hundred people 
signed the pledge and many of them faithfully kept 
it. There was of course an clement which could not 
be held, but the " back-sliders" were, perhaps, no more 
numerous in proportion to the number of signers than in 
other similarily conducted temperance revivals. Back- 
sliding was certainly not so near a universal thing as 
it was in the case of a certain religious revival carried 
on by the same Mr. Littlejohn once upon a time in 
Newberg. A few months after the close of the gen- 
tleman's season of labors in that locality, on being 
asked how those people " liehi out" who had made a 
confession of faith and resolved to lead better lives, 
he said, " 0, they are all going back. WeMl have to 
convert every blamed one of 'em over again next fail." 

CORPORATK HISTORY. 

. Cassopolis was incorporated in 18(5 i, under the 
authority of the Board of Supervisors of Ca,ss County, 
and in accordance with the provisions of a general 
" Act to provide for the incorporation of villages" 
approved Feb. 17, 1857. The following petition, 
signed by a number of citizens, accompatiied liv a re- 
port of a special census of Cassopolis, showing ihir 
population to be 475 (exceeding the requirement], was 



162 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



submitted to the board at its meeting of October 
U: 

To the HmorahU Boird ■•/ Su"eri,istrs •■( Cas^ County. Michigan : 
Yonr appticiinlsand petitioners, residents in anJ legal voters of 
the territory hereinafter descrilieJ, would respecifcilly petition that 
the following described territory, of not more than one square 
mile, he incorporated :n a village, to be known as the village of 
Cassopolis, according to the provisions of Chapter 72 of the com- 
piled taws of Michigin and the acts amendatory thereto. Said 
territory to he so incorporited being kaowii and described as fol- 
lows, to wit : The southwesi quarter of Section twenty-five (2')). 
the southeast quarter of Section tweniy-^ix (2Ci). the northeast 
quarter of Section thirty-five (<■'>) iiid the ,imrihwe=t quarter of 
Section thiily-six (Slj) all in T..wnship six (11) .sou li. of Range 
fifteen ( 15) west, in the county of (lass. etc. 

Viiur Tetilioners would respectfully represeni that they have 
caiiseil to he taken an accur iie cen-iiis of f e resident populat on 
of said territory, above and herein' efore de-cribeil and duly 
verified by the affidavit ot Charles W. ' li bee. theicto annexed, 
which said census contains and exhibits the name of every heail 
of a family residing within said territory on the fourth day of Sep- 
tember, in the yeir o' oi.r Lord one thousand eig'it hun Ired and 
sixty-three and the number of jiersons then belonging to such 
family therein named plaied opposite to the respective family 
head, and which svid census, so taken as aforesaid, in accord- 
ance with the provisions of Seitiou 2,liiil of ihe Compi ed Laws 
of Michigan, so verified as aforesa^l. is her. i" annexed, and 
respectfully submitted, your petitioners hivin; cau-e I the same 
crn-us to be taken as aforesaiil. by Ch irle" W Clisbee. 

An 1 y.iur peiitioner^ would further repr.-sen' of persons re-id- 
ing in such territory heretofore describe 1 accnnling to such cen- 
sus is the number of four bun Ire 1 and seventy-five persons, 
r.inl to which your petitioners nould respectliil'y refer. 

And your petitioners will ever pray. etc. 
Dated t'AssiipoLTS, Cass County, Michigin, September 4, 18t)3. 



.Joseph Smith. 


.lac.ib Silver, 


O.S. Custard. 


l-aiah Inn.an, 


J. Tietsort, 


.lohn McManus. 


M. Graham. 


Eth.an Kely. 


M. B. Custard, 


David Histel. 


J. r. Osborn. 


,lo<eph Harper. 


A. Smith, 


Thomas Stapleton 


.lohn II. Powers. 


L. II. Glover. 


D. L. French. 


Bar holomew We 


Isaac Brciwn. 


L. wis Clisbee. 


1 . C. Allison. 


Ira Urownell. 


Bariik Mead. 


Heniy Wal on. 


II. K. McManus. 


1. V. .Sherman. 


M. B.ldwin, 


Charl.s Hartfelte 


M. .1. Baldwin, 


II. 1,. King. 


Ityron Br.idley, 


A. K. fleveland. 


S. S. Chapma-n. 


Chaile- W. Hrott 


E U. .Sherwood, 


Hiram Br wn. 


Charles W. Clis'.ee. 


.lefierson Brown 


.■Sanfor.i Ashcr..fl. 


Peter Snirr. 


J. K. Hitcr. 


D. Blackman 


A Garwood. 


W. K. IMmer. 


S. T. Head. 


G. A F.ly, 


George W. Van Antwerp 


Daniel li Smith. 


L. U. Read. 


R. M. Wilson. 


.lames Norton. 


S. Pl-yfor.1.' 


U. S. Jones. 


L. I) Tompkins. 


Henry Shaffer. 


•Joseph Graham. 


.!. B. Chapman, 


Charles .V. Hill. 


.lames Boyd. 





election of officers should be held at the court house 
on the second Monday of November (the 9th). and 
appointed Joseph Smith, Henry Walton and Charles 
W. Clisbee as Inspectors. 

Following are the officers chosen on this occasion : 
President, Joseph Sraith; Trustees, Henry Wal- 
ton, Peter Sturr, Barak Mead. Charles W. Clisbee, 
Alonzo Garwood, Charles G. Batiks ; Treasurer, 
Charles H. Kingsbury; Clerk, Joseph Harper; 
Assessors, John H. Powers, John Tietsort ; Street 
Commissioners, David Histed, Sylvador T. Read, 
Isaac Brown ; Marshal, William K. Palmer ; Fire 
Wanlens, Murray Baldwin, Joseph Graham, Lafa- 
yette R. Reatl, Henry Shaffer, Arthur Smith. 

Below are given the officers who have served in 
each of the subsequent years from 1864 to 1881 
inclusive : 

1864 — President, Joseph Smith ; Trustees, Daniel 
Blackraan, Peter Sturr, Barak Mead, Charles G. 
Banks, Charles W. Clisbee. Alonzo Garwood ;* Treas- 
urer. Charles H. Kingsbury ; Clerk. L. H. Glover ; 
Assessor, Henry Walton ; Street Commissioner, 
David Histed: Marshal. James Boyd ; Fire Wardens, 
Charles W. Brown. Lafayette R. Read. 

1866 — President, Hiram Brown ; Trustees, Daniel 
Blackman, Barak Mead, William W. Peck, Peter 
Sturr. Isaac Brown, S. T. Read ; Treasurer. Charles 
H. Kingsbury : Clerk. L. H. Glover ; Assessor, 
Henry Walton ; Street Commissioners, John Tietsort, 
Joseph Graham; .Marshal, Byron Bradley; Fire 
Wardens, Byron Bradley. Joseph Graham. 

1866 — President. Isaac Brown ; Trustees. Daniel 
Blackman. Sylva.lor T. Read. William W. Peck. Ira 
Brownell, Darius L. French ; Clerk, L. H. Glover ; 
Treasurer, Charles H. Kingsbury ; Assessor, Daniel 
S Jones ; Street Commissioners, Sylvador T. Reatl, 
William W. Peck; Marshal, James L. Norton; Fire 
Wardens, Ira Brownell, Alonzo B. Morley. 

1867 — President. Ibaac Brown ; Trustees, Daniel 
Blackman, Sylva.lnr T. Read, William W. Peck, 
Elias B. Sherman, Charles H. Kingsbury, Darius L. 
French; Clerk, L. H. Glover; Treasurer, Jeremiah 
B. Chapman; Assessor, Henry Tietsort ; Street Com- 
tnissioners. James Boyd. Charles G. Banks ; Mar- 
shal. Daniel B. Smitlit; Fire Wtirdens, Eber Reyn- 
olds, Henry Shaffer. 

1868— President. Joseph Harper; Trustees, Will- 
I im W. Peck, .Andrew J. Smith. Eli.is B. Shermtm, 
Christopher C. Allison. Sylvailor T. Reatl, Louis D. 
."^mith ; Clerk, L H. Glover ; Treasurer, Jeremiah 
B. Chapman; Assessor, William L.Jakways ; Marshal, 



•Garwood resignwl and William W Perk was appointed Trustee to flit tlie 



The Boaril granted tlii" petition, ordered that an 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Iti.i 



John Shaw ; Street Commissioners, Charles W. Chis- 
bee, Isaac Brown ; Fire Wardens, Charles G. Banks, 
Darius L. French. 

1869 — President, Joseph Harper ; Trustees. C. C. 
Allison, John Tietsort, Jordan P. Osborn. Daniel 
BlHckman, Morris B. Custard, C. C. Nelson ; Clerk, 
L. H. Glover; Treasurer, Barak Mead; Assessor, 
Alonzo Garwood ; Marshal, Jsicob Mcintosh ; Street 
Commissioners, David Histed. Charles Berry ; Fire 
Wardens, Wilson Kingman. Darius L. French. 

1870— President, William P. Bennett; Trustees, 
John Tietsort, Morris B. Custard, Andrew Woods, 
C. C. Nelson, Henry J. Webb, Alonzo B. Morley ; 
Clerk. Ellery C. Deyo ; Assessor, Andrew Woods ; 
Marshal, Jacob Mcintosh ; Treasurer, Albert Magin- 
nis ; Street Commissioners, Morris B. Custard, James 

A. Fuller; Fire Wardens, Wilson Kingman, Darius 
L. French. 

1871 — President, William P. Bennett; Trustees, 
C. C. Nelson, Joel Cowgill. John A. Talbot. Zacheus 
Aldrich, Matthew T. Garvey ; Clerk. Ellery C. 
Deyo; Treasurer, Albert Maginnis; As.sessor, Mor- 
ris B. Custard; Marshal. Daniel H.Rugar; Street 
Commissioners, Orson Rudd, John Shaw; Fire 
Wardens, Jordan P. Osborn, Henry C. French. 

1872— President, L. H. Glover*; Trustees, W. 
W. Mcllvain, Jordan P. 0.-<born, Henry Shaffer^ 
Abijah Pegg, John R. Carr, William P. Bennett; 
Clerk, Eber Reynolds; Treasurer, Albert Maginnis ; 
Assessor, L. H. Glover ; Marshal, Owen L. Allen ; 
Street Commissioners, Hiram Norton, Henry Blood- 
good ; Fire Wardens, Daniel B. Smith, Henry C. 
French. 

1873 — President, John Tietsort; Trustees, Morris 

B. Custard. William D. Reames, Marshall L. Howell. 
W. W. Mcllvain, Jordan P. Osborn ; Clerk, Eber 
Reynolds ; Treasurer, Albert Maginnis ; Assessor, 
Charles G. Banks; Marshal, Owen L. Allen; Streo^ 
Commissioners, Owen L. Allen, Zncheus Aldrich • 
Fire Wardeiis, Jordan P. Osborn, William W. Peck. 

1874 — President, John Tietsort; Trustees, Orson 
Rudd, Andrew J. Smith, Jeremiah B, Chapman, 
Morris B. Custard, William D Reames, Marshall L. 
Howell ; Treasurer, William W. Peck : Clerk, Wil 
liam Jones ; Assessor, Joel Cowgill ; Marshal, Owen 
L. Allen ; Street Commissioners, John Reynolds, 
Owen L. Allen; Fire Wardens, Jordan P. Osborn, 
Saniuel C. Van Matre. 

1875 — President, Jordan P. Osborn; Trustees. 
William D. Reames. W. W. Mcllvain, William P. 
Bennett, Orson Rudd, Andrew J. Smith, Jeremiah 
B. Chapman; Clerk, William Jones; Assessor, D. 



. Glover resigned the office o 



ViifCUHt I'J. Knd S. S. CliHimi i 



B. Ferris; Treasurer, William W. Peck; Marshal, 

A. B. Morley ; Street Commissioners, Charles G. 
Banks, Jolin Tietsort ; Fire Wardens, S. C. Van 
Matre, A. B. Morley. 

Upon the 23d of April of this year, a special charter 
was obtained from the Legislature, which i'^ now in 
force, and under which the administration of copora- 
tion affairs has been considerably changed and largely 
improved. The corporation limits were extended, so 
that they now include all of the southwest quarter 
and the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 
25 ; the southeast quarter and south half of the north- 
east quarter of Section 26 ; the northeast quarter and 
north half of the southeast quarter of Section 35, and 
the northwest quarter and north half of the south- 
west quarter of Section 36. 

The officials elected in the spring of 1875, under 
the old corporation regulations, had only short terms 
of service, being superseded by a new corps, chosen 
at a special election, held May 4. Following are the 
names of the men elected : 

President, Jordan P. Osborn ; Trustees, W. W-. 
Mcllvain, Eber Reynolds, William D. Reames, 
Stephen Jones, S. C. Van Matre, James Boyd; Clerk, 
William Jones ; Treasurer, James H. Farnum ; 
Marshal, Alonzo B. Morley ; Overseer of Streets and 
Highways, Charles G. Banks ; Fire VVardens, Alonzo 

B. Morley, Henry C. French ; Attorney, L. H. 
Glover ; Deputy Marshal, Zacheus Aldrich. 

1876— President, Jordan P. Osborn; Trustees, 
Samuel Graham, S. C. Van Matre, James Boyd, W. 
W. Mcllvain, Eber Reynolds, William D. Reames; 
Clerk, William Jones ; Marshal, Avery S. Root ; 
Treasurer, James H. Farnum ; Assessor, Daniel B. 
Ferris; Overseer of Streets, Charles G. Banks; Fire 
Wardens, Alonzo B. Morley, W. W. Peck ; Attorney, 
L. H. Glover; Deputy Marshal, Zacheus Aldrich. 

1877 — President, Henry C. French ; Trustees, 
Alonzo B. Morley, Abijah Pegg, W. W. Peck, 
Samuel Graham, S. C. Van Matre, James Boyd; 
Clerk, William Jones; Marshal, Zacheus Aldrich; 
Treasur.r, Romi W. Goucher ; Assessor. Daniel S. 
Jones; Overseer of Streets Charles G Banks; Fire 
Wardens, L. D. Tompkins, S. B. Thomas ; Attorney. 
L. H. Glover; Deputy .Marshal. Ira J. Putnam. 

1878 — President, S. S. Chapman ; Trustees. Sam- 
uel Graham. James Townsend, Joseph K. Ritter, 
Alonzo B. Morley, Abijah Pegg, W. W. Peck ; Clerk. 
Thomas W. Smith; Marshal, John T. Enos ; Treas- 
urer, Stephen L. George; Assessor, Daniel S.Jones; 
Overseer of Streets, Charles G. Banks ; Fire Ward- 
ens, S. B Tliomas. L. D. Tompkins; Attorney. I-. 
II. Glover; Deputy Marshals, William Emmon-. 
.John 11. King. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



1879— President, H. S. Hadsell ; Trustees, S. S. 
Chapniiin. W. G. Watts. Henry Shaffer, Samuel 
Graham. James Townsend, Joseph K. Ritter; Clerk, 
William Jones ; Treasurer, S. L. George ; .\3sess0r, 
Daniel S. Jones ; Mar ;hal, John H. Kcene ; Over- 
seer of Streets, John H. Keene ; Fire Wardens, L. 
B. Tompkins, S B. Thompson; Deputy Marshal, 
Henry McCay. 

1880 — President, Kiram S. Hadsell; Trustee.', 
William Davis, Thomas Stipleton. Lsaac H. Wolf, S. 
S. Chapman, William G. Watts,* Henry Shaffer; 
Clerk, William Jones : Assessor. Daniel S. Jones ; 
Treasurer, Stephen L. George ; Marshal. John H. 
Keene ; Overseer of Streets. John II. Keene ; Fire 
Wardens, John Tietsort and J. P. Osborn. 

1881— President, Henry J. Webb; Trustees. 
Hiram S. Hadsell, Darius L. French. William G. 
Watts, William Davis, Thomas Stapleton, [saac H. 
Wolf; Clerk, Williani Jones; Treasurer, Stephen L. 
George; Assessor, C. C. Nelson: Marshal, John H. 
Keene; Overseer of Streets, John H Keene: Fire 
Wardens, John Tietsort and J. P. Osbirn : Health 
Officer, Dr. W. J. Kelsey. 

It may interest some persons to know tiiat nearly all 
of the earliest ordinances for the government of the 
corporation were drawn by Charles W. Clisbee, Esq., 
and the larger number of the liter ones by L. H. 
Glover, Esij. 

THE PUBLIC SQUARE OF CASSOPOMS. 

There is a somewhat remarkable chapter in a certain 
history of Ireland which is entitled " The Snakes of 
Ireland." and the chapter consists simply and solely 
of the declaration, "■ there are no snakes ui Ireland."' 

Under the caption of the Public S(iuare of Cassopo 
lis. it may be state^l. There is mj public square in 
Cassopolis. There was one once, however, and it 
seems proper to show how it has come about that there 
is none now. 

When the village was platted in 18:31, the proprie- 
tors donated a considerable number of lots to the 
county, to be disposed of by their agent, and also a 
square designateil as the '■ C issopolis Public Square," 
and declared to be "designed for buihlings for public 
use." This square, the center of which was at the 
intersection of Broadway an<I State street, measured 
twenty-six by twenty rods, the greater distance being 
that from north to soutli. The square was for many 
years an open common, but eventually those portions 
which were not occupieil by public buildings were 
taken possession of by individuals. These persons 
the Board of Supervisors of Cass County endeavored 



by suit brought in the Circuit Court, March 12, 
1879, to eject. Judge John B. Shipman decided 
ailversely to the county, ami the case was carried up 
to the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, and 
heanl at the October term, 1880. Edward Bacon 
appeare t for the plaintiffs, and Howell & Carr for 
the defendents, viz., Charles G. Banks, John Tietsort, 
Sylvador T. Read, John L. Yost, Joseph Smith, 
Andrew J. Smith, Stephen Harrington, Granville 
Smith, Jeremiah B. Chapman, James H. Farnum, 
Asa Kingsbury, Henry C. French, Darius L. French, 
William W. Mcllvain, Orlando Phelps and the 
First National Bank of Cassopolis. 

The Supreme Court sustained the court below, the 
opinion being delivered by Justice Cooley ; and so 
emled a quite remarkable suit. 

From the decision we condense in part, and in part 
quote, the history of the Public Square of Cassopo- 
lis. 

"In October, 1835, the Board of Supervisors voted 
to erect a court house on a lot designated, not the 
public square, and one was erected and used until 
1841. when a new one was built. August 7, 1839, 
the County Commissioners of Cass County, who had 
succeeded to the rights and powers of the Supervisors, 
for the nominal consideration of $6,000 gave a deed 
to Darius Shaw, Joseph Harper, Jacob Silver, Asa 
Kingsbury and A. H. Redfield of all that certain tract 
or parcel of land in said village of Cassopolis, first, 
the public square and public grounds with their priv- 
ileges and appurtenances, for the uses and purposes 
for which said square and grounds were conveyed to 
said county, reserving the privilege to erect a court 
house on the north east quarter ; and, second, a large 
number of other lots which had been donated to the 
county. The deed was an ordinary deed of bargain 
and sale, and contained the usual covenants. Simul- 
taneously, the grantees in this deed gave to the Com- 
missioners their bond in the penal sum of $12,000, 
conditionetl as follows: ' Whereas, certain village lots 
in said village of Cassopolis, and certain sums of money 
were formerly given to said county of Cass, by the 
original proprietors of said village, and by others, for 
the purpose of erecting public buildings in said village 
for the use of the county, and whereas, the said Com- 
missioners have this day given to us a warranty deed 
fir a certain part of said village lots and property, and 
.ilso one onler upon the treasury of said county for the 
sum of $2,000. Now, if we, the said Darius Shaw, 
.Vsa Kingsbury, Jacob Silver, Joseph Harper and 
.Vlexaiider H. Redfield, shall erect, or cause to be 
elected in said village within two years from the date 
hereof, on such ground as the said Commissioners shall 
select, a court house, 54 feet in length (etc., giving 




CASSOPOLIS UNION SCHOOL 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



full specifications), then this obligation to be voiil, 
otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue.' 
The court house was completed in accordance with 
this undertaking, the northeast quarter of the public 
square having been designate'! as the location. 

" [n 1853, a new jail was erected by the county 
on the same quarter of the public square with the 
court house, and, in 1860, a building for county officers 
was erected on the northwest quarter of the same 
square. These are all the public buildings, which 
have ever been erected on the public square, and they 
left the south half of the square entirely unoccupied. 
When the county ordered the erection of the build 
iiigs for county officers, on the northwest quarter of 
the square, the grantees in the deed from the County 
Commissioners of August 7, 1839, protested against 
their action, and notified the Supervisors that the 
county did not own all of the public square, but their 
protest was not heeded It will be perceived that this 
action took place twenty-nine years after the plat was 
made, an<l after the square was dedicated to the public, 
if any dedication was made by that plat. 

"The condition of the square, then, in 1860, was 
this : The county had placed two public buildings on 
the northeast quarter, and one on the northwest quar- 
ter. The other two quarters, which wore separated 
from the occupied parts by streets, were not occupied 
by the county in any manner, nor does it appear that 
there was any proposition by the county to make use 
of them for any public purpose. A deed of the whole 
square had been given by the County Commissioners 
to the [larties wiio erected the court house, but what 
idea respecting its ultimate disposition was in the 
minds of the parties at the time, we are not advised. 
The uses for which the square was conveyed to the 
county were alluded to, as if they were to be observed 
and accomplished ; but. if the square was to be devoted 
exclusively to public buildings for county use and 
occupation, it seems a very idle ami absurd thing to 
include it in the deed at all The other lots conveyed 
were for the benefit and enjoyment of the grantees, to 
compensate them for their expenditures in erecting 
the court house, and a strong inference arises that 
some personal advantage to the grantees from the con- 
veyance of the square was expected also, or at least 
was looked upon as possible. It may perhaps have 
been thought that only a part of the square would be 
required for public buildings, and have been intenied 
that the remainder would belong to the grantees. It 
is certain that as early as 1860, these parties began 
to claim as their own all that had not been previously 
appropriated by the county for a court house site. 

'In 1886, Kingsbury commenced business as a 
merchant in a store situated immediately south of the 



southwest quarter of the public square, and used in 
connection therewith, a part of that quarter for the 
storage of lumber, shingles, barrels and boxes and 
with a hitching rack for horses. In 1856, he built a 
new store seventy-two feet in length, with stone founda- 
tion, one foot of which for the whole length was upon 
the square. The cellar-ways for the store were on the 
square, and were walled up at the sides with stone. 
This store with the cellar-ways has since been occu- 
pied by Kingsbury and his lessees, and use has been 
made of the southwest quarter in connection there- 
with. From 1858 to 1869, a tenant had heavy scales 
on the square, set over a walled pit, near the center 
of the quarter; he moved them this year last men- 
tioned to another part of the same quarter where he 
continued to use them. 

In 1865, Joseph Harper and Darius Shaw deeiled 
their interest in the public square to Daniel Black- 
man. Redfield also deeded to Blackraan in 1869. In 
1870, Blackman deeded to Kingsbury ; the heirs of 
Tietsort gave him a deed in the same year, and Silver 
another in 1873. Blackman, it seems, had set up 
some claims of title to the southeast quarter of the 
square in 1863, and had erected a building upon it 
which he rented for a law office until 1878, when it 
was moved away and a brick store erected in its place. 
The Judge's finding states that the southeast quarter 
is now built up and claimed by the occupants. In 
1868, Kingsbury platted the southwest quarter of the 
square into six lots, and sold five of them to persons 
who erected two-story brick stores thereon, which 
they now occupy and claim as owners. Kingsbury 
also erected a similar building for a banking-house. 
The value of these buildings is $35,500 ; the value of 
the six lots without the builiiings, $2,200. The build- 
ings were completed :n 1869-70 ; they have been 
taxed to the occupants and the taxes paid ever since 
1868. 

" In addition to the foregoing, it seems important to 
mention only the following facts : In 1842, the Board 
of Supervisors by resolution lequesteil the prosecuting 
attorney to examine the records of the county and 
ascertain whether there was on record any deed or 
deeds from the original proprietors of the village of 
Cassopolis conveying to the county the whole or any 
part of the county square for the purpose of erecting 
the necessary county buildings, and if so, whether suffi- 
cient or not. and if not, what means should be employed 
to perfect the title. The records of the Board do not 
appear to show any response to this resolution. In 
March, 1865, the board passed a resolution reciting 
that certain individuals had put buildings or other fixt- 
ures on the public s(juare which the board had here- 
tofore permitted to remain without rebuke; therefore, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



John and Samuel Jennings carried on business for 
about one year. 

Henly C. Lybrook and Baltzer Lybrook formed a 
partnership and began business about the same time 
as the above. The former soon bought out his part- 
ner's interest and went in with W. G. Beckwith. 
About 1845, H. C. Lybrook, B. F. Silver and Simeon 
E. Dow formed a partnership and carried on business 
for a number of years. 

In 1846 or the following year, Ezekiel S. and Joel 
H. Smith opened in business where L. D. Smith is 
now located, and from there moved to the Morse 
property on the corner of Broadway and York streets. 

Silver & Dow sold out of the firm of Lybrook, 
Silver & Dow and Joshua Lofland bought in. In 
1847, Lofland k Lybrook took as a partner Maj. 
Joseph Smith. The brother of the latter, Henry 
W., also had an interest in the store, and in 1850 
Lofland & Lybrook sold out to the Smiths and 
went to Dowagiac, where they took as a partner G. C- 
Jones. The firm of Joseph Smith & Co was dis- 
solved two or three years after its formation, Henry 
W. retiring. Joseph Smith carried on the business 
alone until 1855 when he sold out to S. T. & L. R. 
Read. The business was carried on in the brick 
building now occupied by Mr. Davis as a restaurant, 
which was built by Mr. Smith in 1851. Not long 
after the Messrs. Read bought the stock of goods, 
they moved them to another building, and Mr. Smith 
some time afterward resumed business and followed 
it with some intervals until within a few years of his 
death in 1880. He built in 1869 the large, double 
store which his son, L. D., who was his partner and 
successor, now occupies. 

In 1851, a partnership was formed between the 
Dowagiac firm of Lofland, Lybrook & Jones and J. 
K. Ritter, of Cassopolis, for carrying on business in 
the latter place. The firm name was J. K. Ritter 
& Co., and the interest was divided equally between 
Mr. Ritter and the company. In 1855, Mr. Rilter 
bought out his three partners and conducted the busi- 
ness alone from that time until 1858, when B. F. 
Beeson became a partner. They discontinued in 
1861. 

M. B. Custard and Clark Bliss opened a store in 
1855, but did not long remain in business. 

In this year, as has been said, S. T. k L. R. 
Read bought out Maj. Smith. Mr. L. R. Read re- 
tired from the store to his farm, however, in 1857. 
Three years later, he ajrain went into partnership with 
S. T. Read, and remained until 1865. His place in 
the firm was taken by W. W. McUvain. In 1871, 
S. T. Read sold out to Orson Rudd, and the firm was 
known as Rudd & Mcllvain. In 1873, Mr. Mcllvain 



became the sole proprietor, but a short time after 
took in Orlando Phelps. In 1880, George Kings- 
bury became the third partner. 

M. B. Custard and Dr. A. Garwood bought out 
Maj. Smith in 1862, and continued in business for two 
or three years, selling out to a Mr. McKee, who in 
turn sold to a Mr. Birney. 

From 1856 to 1861, -lohn Tietsort carried on the 
first store in which boots, shoes and clothing were 
sold exclusive of other goods. 

W. W. Peck, who came to Cassopolis in 185^, and 
clerked for Lofland & Ritter, went into business on 
his own account in 1860. A year later the firm was 
Banks (Charles G.) & Peck. In 1863, the firm sepa- 
rated. John Tietsort formed a partnership with 
Banks, and they carried on business together for ten 
years, or until 1873, when they closed out. On 
closing his partnership with Mr. Banks, in 1863, Mr. 
Peck went into company with Albert P. Maginnis, 
with whom he remained until his death in 1879. A. 
H. Myers was then associated with Mr. Maginnis, 
j and the next change resulted in the establishment of 
Myers Brothers. 

J. K. Ritter and A. E. Peck formed a business 
partnership in 1865, but Mr. Ritter soon bought his 
partner out, and continued the business alone until 
1875. 

Orlando Phelps and H. L. Cornwell began business 
in 1870, in the store now occupied by L. D. Smith, 
and continued for about four years. 

The various firms thus far mentioned carried on 
"general" stores, the earliest of them having the 
most comprehensive stocks of goods. The several 
lines of trade have not had a separate line of existence 
until comparatively recent years. Especially is this 
true of the grocery line, in which the first store was 
started by Charles E. Voorhis. S. B. Thomas and 
A. Hilts followed him, the former in 1876 and the 
latter in 1879. - 

Drugs were kept by all of the merchants at an early 
day, and were not made a specialty until about 1846, 
when Alexander H. Redfield and George B. Turner 
opened a store in the brick building which stands 
next to Capt. Harper's residence. The firm also sold 
fine family groceries and books. They sold out to 
Horace B. Dunning. He continued in business alone 
until 1859, when he took A. B. Morley as a partner. 
They carried on business alone until Dunning died, 
and then Morley continued it until his death. The 
stock was then bought by Shelly k Banks, of whom 
W. D. Shelly is the successor. 

Dr. L. D. Tompkins began selling drugs in 1S57. 
James Boyd became his partner in 1859, and in 1865 
the firm was Tompkins, Kelsey & Treadwell. Dr. 




.Ar^'i.L.^^c 



DAVID M. HOWELL. 

The subject of tbiB sketch is a man ^Lose life has been prominently identi- 
fied with the Interests of Cassopolie and of Cass County. He was born in 
Champaign County, Ohio, May 27, 1817, and waetheson of Joshua and Cbriatina 
Howell, who reared a family of six children, of whom the subject of our sketch 
was the youngest. Hie father was a Virginian by biith and his mother was 
born in Maryland, but reared in Virginia. In that State they were married in 
the year 1800, and ten years later emigrated to Ohio. Subsequent to the birtb 
of D. M. Howell, the family moved to Darke County, and from there they came 
to Michigan in 1834. They stopped for a short time with Joseph Barter, one 
of the pioneers of Howard Township, whose wife was a daughter of Joshua 
Howell ; but soon after their arrival the father located at Bertrand, Berrien 
County, where be kept a hotel for a number of years. The son divided his time 
between the house in Bertrand and bis brother-in-law's in Howard (spending 
the greater part in the latter place), and in 1842 both parents and son removed 
to Cassopolie. Mrs. Howell died in 1866, and so were separated husband and 
wife who had lived together for the extraordinary period of sixty-six years. She 
was eighty-eight years old at the time of her death. Mr. Howell removed to 
Dowagiac and made his home with a daughter until his death, which occuried 
npon the ninetieth anniversary of bis birth in 1869. 

The cause of the removal of the family to the county seat in 1842 was the 
election of David M. Howell to the office of Register of Deeds, in November of 
that 3 ear. Just here we may perhaps more appropriately than elsewhere al- 
lude to the great misfortune under which the subject of our sketch labored. 
When two years and a half of age he became a hopeless cripple, losing the use 
of his lower limbs. His parents, however, not willing to admit the entire hope- 
lessness of his case, continued for several years to seek a cure, visiting many 
eminent physicians and receiving varied counsel as to the treatment of the 
little unfortunate, but all to no avail. The boy was given a good common- 
school education, and, being naturally bright and of quick perceptions, learned 
rapidly in that other school in which the teachers are observation and experi- 
ence. I^pon arriving at manhood be was well equipped mentally for the work 
of the world, but physically incapacitated from entering many of the callings 
open to others. His election to office was hence to him a greater boon than it 



would have been to most men. It gave him a etait in the world, and it was 
gratifying besides es showing the good will of the people and their recognition 
of bis intellectual capacity. He had before ttis been twice elected as Clerk 
and once as Justice of the Peace of Howard Township— positions which were of 
very trifling value save for the compliment which was conveyed in its bestowal. 
"When he entered the cfl^ce of Register of Deeds, he was the possessor of just 
95 cents in money. He retaintd the office by euccetsive elections for 
twelve years. During one-half of that period he was also a Justice of the Peace' 
and for a long term of years he did the business of Deputy County Cleik and of 
Treasurer. In 1846, he bought the land in Penn Township, just east of Cassop- 
olis, on which he has lived since 1S58. It was covered with timber when purchased 
by Mr. Howell, and has been cleared and improved under his direction. Mr. 
Howell, since his removal from the village, as before, has taken an active part 
in business and public affairs. He has ever been a zealous advocate of improve- 
ment in educational methods, and a friend of almost every project for the ad- 
vancement of the good interests of society. He took a prominent part in the 
organization of the Cass County Agricultural Society and for many years was 
one of its officers. Be was one of the original stockholders of the First National 
Bank, was elected its first Vice President and has held that position continu- 
ously since. Three times he has been elected as CouLly Superintendent of the 
poor, and he 6er\ed in that capacity almost nine years. 

Mr. Howell has always desired in some public manner to express the senti- 
ment he has entertained toward the people of Case County irrespective of party 
—a sentiment of profound gratitude for the many favors be has enjoyed at 
their hands and for the confidence they have reposed in him. To this he at- 
tributes chiefly the successfulness of bis life. But it is due bim to say that he 
possessed in himself the integrity, the industry and the ability which com- 
manded the respect of the people and which made it possible fur him to dis- 
charge the duties of those stations to which he has been called. 

On the Ibt of March, 1846, Mr. Howell was married to Miss Martha Ann 
Anderson, of Pokagon Township, who lived with him until her death in 1869. 
The offspring of this union was one son, Marshall L., who occupied a prominent 
position at the bar of Cass County. Mr. Howell was married to hissecond wife, 
Mrs. Charlotte Reynolds, in 1870. 



History of cass county, Michigan. 



A. B. Treadwell remained in the partnership but one 
year, and the firm has since been Tompkins & Kelsey 
(W. J.) H. J. Webb started in the drug business in 
1870, sold out to Albert Gaston, but soon repurchased 
the store and has since carried on the business unin- 
terruptedly. 

In the line of men's clothing, furnishing goods 
and boots and shoes, the oldest of the present houses 
is that of Read (S. T.) & Yost (John L.), who began 
business in 1871. Chapman (J. B.) & Farnum (J. 
H.) have sold boots and shoes and furnishing goods 
nearly as long, and Moses Stern since 1880. 

Harrington & Smith opened a large general store 
in 1876. 

The first man who sold hardware exclusively was 
D. L. French. He began business in 1862, coming 
from Dowagiac, and bringing a very small stock of 
goods and a few implements for carrying on the 
tinner's trade. He began alone, and three years later 
took his brother Samuel into partnership. This 
business relation did not last more than a couple of 
years, and two years after its expiration Mr. French 
associated with himself the Rev. William L. Jakways. 
After a year and a half, they dissolved partnership 
and Mr. French bought another stock of goods of 
George Berket, of Cassopolis, to which he added a 
stock purchased in Buchanan of H. C. French, who 
became associated with him under the firm name of 
D. L. & H. C. French. This was in 1869. The 
firm has carried on business since then until Novem- 
ber, 1881, when H. C. French withdrew. 

Rev. William L. Jakways continued in the hard- 
ware business only about a year and a half, a portion 
of the time having a Mr. Codding as partner. 

Wilson Kingman and H. J. Webb began in this 
business in 1867 and carried it on for a year. 

Zaccheus Aldrich and A. N. Armstrong opened a 
hardware store in 1877. Mr. Aldrich soon withdrew 
and Mr. Armstrong carried on the business until 
January, 1882, when he sold to Wagor & Reynolds. 

Messrs. Sears & Messenger have carried on a busi- 
ness in agricultural implements since 1879, and Mr. 
William Sears, the senior partner, has been in the 
business for a long term of years. 

Thickstun & Beringer, dealers in lumber, coal, salt, 
etc., have been established since 1878. The business 
has been in the hands of D. C. Thickstun. This 
company bought out McConnell & Son. Orson Rudd 
and a Mr. Granger have also had lumber yards in the 
village. 

Harness was first manufactured and sold by P. B. 
Osborn as early as 1843. J. P. Osborn, his brother, 
went into business with him in 1844, and since 1847 
has carried on the business alone. 



In the line of manufacturing industry, the first vent- 
ure was made by the Silvers — Jacob, Abiel and Ben- 
jamin F. — in 1833. In the fall of that year, they 
put up the distillery near Stone Lake, which has been 
alluded to in this chapter. The frame was so large 
and made of such massive timber that it required the 
efforts of a very large number of men to raise it. The 
raising occupied three days' time, and was an episode 
of great interest in the history of the settlement. Nearly 
all of the male population of the central portion of 
the county assisted in the work, and each man was 
well rewarded by the Messrs. Silver. Each night 
Jacob Silver took two pans, one filled with dollars and 
the other filled with half dollars, and passing them 
around through the crowd requested each man to help 
himself to whatever amount he considered himself 
entitled to for his day's work. The raising was super- 
intended by Amos Huff, of Volinia, the contractor, 
Eber Root, being sick at the time. The distillery 
was run to its utmost capacity for a number of years, 
and the farmers in. the surrounding country received 
a great deal of money from its proprietors for their 
surplus corn. In 1836, the Silvers sold the property 
to John M. Barber, who, in the following year, trans- 
ferred it to Asa Kingsbury. It was subsequently 
carried on by Samuel Graham, and he in turn trans- 
ferred it to Charles Kingsbury. 

The present manufacturing interests of Cassopolis 
are comprised in the bowl factory of Aldrich, Yost, 
& Co. (Jesse Harrison and James H. Stamp) ; the foun- 
dry of Messrs. Welling, Patch & Welling ; the steam 
saw-mill of William and Joshua Berkey ; the Alden 
Drier, carried on by Jones & Snyder; the flouring 
mills of ihe Messrs. Rudd and Matthew Lindsey ; the 
cabinet and furniture shops of D. S. Jones & Son 
and Miles H. Barber; the ashery of Charles F. Shaw 
and the steam gristmill, owned by Hopkins & Sons. 

The bowl factory was started in 1876, by G. G. 
Williams, and the Alden Drying Works were put up 
the same year. The foundry, which antedates them 
both, was started by John Decker. The steam grist- 
mill and the ashery were put in operation in the latter 
part of 1881. An establishment of the latter kind 
was started prior to 1850, by J. C. Saxon, and for a 
time carried on by Samuel Graham, who did a large 
business. The Messrs. Rudd were actively engaged 
for a number of years during the seventies in manu- 
facturing a patent gate, which was extensively sold 
in Cass County. 

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK. 

Asa and Charles Kingsbury began a private banking 
business in 1855, but dissolved partnership in 1857, 
and Asa Kingsbury carried on the business alone until 



170 



HISTORYrOF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the present National Bank was organized in Novem- 
ber, 1870. The incorporators and stockholders were : 
Asa Kingsbury, S. T. Read, Joseph K. Ritter, Isaac 
Z. Edwards, David M. Howell, Charles W. Clisbee, 
Charles H. Kingsbury, Joel Cowgill, E. B. Sherman, 
Amanda F. Ritter and Daniel Wilson, of Cassopolis ; 
David Lilley, of Dowagiac ; James E. Bonine, of 
Vandalia ; N. Boardman, of Three Rivers ; E. M. 
Irvin, of South Bend ; D. C. Read, of Kalamazoo ; 
and Henry F. Kellogg, of Elkhart. The first Direc- 
tors chosen were Asa Kingsbury, Joseph K. Ritter, 
David M. Howell, David Lilley, James E. Bonine 
and E. B. Sherman. The officers have remained the 
same from the organization to the present, viz.: Presi- 
dent, Asa Kingsbury ; Vice President, David M. 
Howell ; Cashier, Charles H. Kingsbury. The capi- 
tal of the bank is $50,000. 

HOTELS. 

Ira B. Henderson was the first man who enter- 
tained " the wayfarer and the stranger" in Cassopolis. 
He opened a hotel in a double log cabin in 1831. In 
the following year Eber Root and Allen Munroe were 
licensed as tavern-keepers by the township authorities, 
who " considered taverns a necessity and the appli- 
cants of good moral character and of sufiicient ability 
to keep a tavern." Mr. Root erected a frame building 
where the Cass House now stands, and Munroe became 
landlord of the house built by Elias B. Sherman, 
which is still standing upon its original site back of 
the county offices. This was known as the Eagle 
House. Root's hotel is at present the planing-mill of 
Matthew Lindsey, and still bears in faded letters the 
name, " Union Hotel." It was moved away from its 
original site in 1867, when the Cass House was built 
by M. J. Baldwin. 

Eber Root built a second hotel upon the ground 
where now stands the Baptist Church. It was 
destroyed by fire in 1859, at which time it had ceased 
to be used for hotel purposes, and was occupied by a 
number of families. 

In 1850, Samuel Graham put up the building now j 
occupied by Myers Brothers with a stock of dry i 
goods, and carried on the hotel business in it for 
about seventeen years. 

POST OFFICE. 

The first Postmaster at Cassopolis was Alexander 
H. Redfield, Esq., who served until the appointment 
of George B. Turner, who was succeeded by Horace 
B. Dunning. The succeeding Postmasters, in the 
order named, have been F. A. Graves, Barak Mead, 
Horace B. Dunning, Alonzo B. Morley, Joseph 
Harper and the present incumbent, C. C. Nelson. 



RELIGIOUS. 

In the winter of 1832-33, religious services were 
held in Cassopolis for the first time, the officiating 
divine on that occasion being no less a personage than 
Bishop Chase, of the Northwestern Episcopal Diocese. 

! The small audience which the celebrated man of God 
addressed assembled in a room over the Silvers store. 
It was not long before the Methodist circuit riders 
visited the village and filled regular appointments. 
The Methodists were the first denomination which 
effected an organization. 

The Rev. George R. Brown is believed to have 
been the first minister who took up residence in Cass- 
opolis, but he could hardly be called a settled clergy- 
man. He was a Universalist, and coming to Cassop- 
olis in the winter of 1835-36, he labored zealously 

j for about a year to awaken an interest in that faith. 
He was compelled, however, to abandon the field 

{ because of meager support. 

THE METHODIST CHURCH. 

The Methodist Church of Cassopolis had its origin 
in 1838. It was within the Edwardsburg Circuit, 
which was established the same year. The early 
records of the church have been lost, and it is there- 
fore impossible to give a detailed history of the begin- 
nings of this religious society. Meetings were held 
in the court house and the schoolhouses until 1846. 
In that year, Jacob Silver and Joshua Lofland erected 
a small house of worship on Rowland street. Mr. 
Silver was an Episcopalian, and Mr. Lofland a Method- 
ist, and the building was intended for the use and 
occupation of their respective denominations, and as 
a place for general religious worship. This building 
was sold, in 1854, to the United Brethren, William 
Shanafelt becoming responsible to Mr. Silver for 
payment for his share, and a mortgage being given to 
Mr. Lofland. The society was unable to pay for the 
building, and in January, 1855, Messrs. Lofland and 
Shanafelt presented it to the Methodist Society, who 
continued to occupy it until 1874. At this time, it 
was moved away to make room for the handsome new 
edifice which the society now occupies. This house of 
worship arose through the labors of the Rev. J. P. 
Force, who exerted himself unceasingly to secure the 
necessary funds, and did, in fact, raise about three- 
quarters of the total amount which the church cost. 
The building committee were W. W. Peck, the Rev. 
William L. Jakways, D. B. Smith and John Boyd, 
and the builder was Mr. Smith. On November 22, 
1874, the building was dedicated, the Rev. A. J. 
Eldred presiding at the meeting, the indebtedness 
which amounted to $1,600, being cleared on that occa- 
sion. The total cost of the building was about $6,000. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Itl 



This church, with its furnishings and the parsonage 
on the corner of O'Keefe and York streets, consti- 
tutes a property worth not far from $8,000. 

The ministers who have preached for the Meth- 
odists of Cassopolis, from 1838 to 1882, are the 
following: Knox and Williams, Knox and Harrison, 
Jones and Van Order, Meek and Tooker, Collins and 
Worthington, Kellogg and Eldred, Cook and Granger, 
Shaw and Erkenbrack, John Erkenbrack, Horace 
Hall, J. W. Robinson, T. H. Bignal, V. G. Boynton, 
Isaac Abbott, P. H. Johnson, E. L. Kelogg, G. W. 
Hoag, Isaac Bennett, Edgar Beard, A. G. Graham, 
J. Fowler, James Webster, J. P. Force, William M. 
Coplin, J. W. H. Carlisle, William Prouty, H. H. 
Parker, J. M. Robinson and W. M. Colby. 

A union Sunday school was conducted during the 
summer seasons until 1859, supported chiefly by 
Methodists and Baptists. H. B. Dunning, Barak 
Mead and Joshua Lofland were usually the leaders or 
superintendents. The school was however small in 
numbers, and consisted of about as many adults as 
children. The Methodist Sunday school as a distinct- 
ive organization came into existence in 1859, when 
the Rev. E. Kellogg was sent to Cassopolis by the 
M. E. Conference. It was organized under the in- 
fluence of the wife of this minister, and Charles G. 
Banks was elected Superintendent. He continued in 
charge of it for over nine years, or until April, 1865. 
The school opened with about twenty-five pupils, but 
the number was soon increased to three times its origi- 
nal size. 

In 1866, the number enrolled, young and old, 
including ofiicers, was one hundred and fifty. Rev. 
G. W. Hoag and wife rendered able services to 
the school, in 1861, and 1862 ; Rev. Isaac Bennett 
in 1863 and 1864; Rev. E. Beard in 1865 and 1866; 
Rev. A. Y. Graham in 1867 and 1868; Rev. J. 
Fowler in 1869 and 1870 ; Rev. J. Webster in 1871 ; 
Rev. J. P. Force in 1872 and 1873 and until Sep- 
tember, 1874. Mr. Banks' successor as Superin- 
tendent, elected in April, 1868, was the late William 
W. Peck, who had as an assistant Mr. D. B. Smith. 
Mr. Peck remained in charge continuously from this 
time until 1874, with the exception of one year, when 
Rev. William L. Jakways was Superintendent. In Jan- 
uary, 1875, Charles G. Banks was again chosen to 
fill the place, and served until January, 1878, when 
William W. Peck succeeded him. D. B. Smith was 
the assistant of each of the above Superintendents. 
Mr. Peck was taken sick in November, 1878, and 
died April 5, 1879. Upon his death, Charles G. 
Banks was elected to fill the vacancy, and re elected 
in 1881, when he declined to serve. C. H. Funk 
served for a few months during the early part of the 



year, and Mrs. Charlotte S. Colby was elected in 
September, with Charles G. Banks as assistant. The 
chief musicians have been John Tietsort and Henry 
Deyo. The Sunday school, by the aid of John Tiet- 
sort and Mr. Banks, made a purchase of a fine organ 
in 1865, which is still in use. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

This church was organized in 1842, under what 
was known as the "accommodation plan." Its es- 
tablishment was in a certain measure due to the 
American Home Missionary Society, and for several 
years it received a small amount of aid from that body. 
The Home Missionary Society consisted of Congrega- 
tionalists and Presbyterians. One of its by-laws, or 
rules, provided for the organization of churches under 
its auspices which should not partake of the distin- 
guishing characteristics of either. The church came 
into being under the name of the First Presbyterian 
Church of Cassopolis, upon the 19th of March, at 
which time the Rev. Noah M. Wells delivered an ad- 
dress before a small gathering of people who favored 
the organization. Its original members were Samuel 
F. Anderson, Mahala P. Anderson, Carlos W. Bald- 
win, Amelia Fuller, Margaret Sears, Eliza Ann 
Beckwith, Hervey Bigelow, Wells Crumb, Lucy Ann 
Crumb and Susannah Hopkins. These persons were 
received on presentation of letters from other churches 
and the following (the same day), upon confession of 
faith, viz.: Joseph Harper, Caroline Harper, Will- 
iam F. Huyck and Lewis C. Curtis. On the follow- 
ing day Phebe Wheeler, Harriet Smith, Miss L. A. 
Hurlbut, Amos Fuller, Mathias Weaver and Catharine 
Weaver were received by letter, and William and 
Margaret A. Mansfield and William Sears on con- 
fession of faith. 

The Rev. A. S. Kedzie was employed in Novem- 
ber as the first Pastor of the church. Samuel F. 
Anderson and Hervey Bigelow were the first Deacons. 
Mr. Kedzie was only engaged for a period of six 
months, and in July, 1843, the Rev. Alfred Bryant 
was employed as minister. The succeeding clergy- 
men, who have had charge of the flock, have been the 
Revs. M. Harrison, James McLauren. M. Bacon, 
Thomas Jones, George 0. Overhiser, Eli W. Taylor, 
George H. Miles, E. B. Sherwood, A. H. Gaston, 

Theodore B. Hascall. 0. H. Barnard Wilson 

and M. Q. McFarland. 

The erection of the house of worship of this society 
was commenced in 1845. It remained unfinished, 
however, until November, 1846, because of the lack 
of funds to carry on the work. The parsonage 
property upon the corner of O'Keefe and State streets, 
was purchased June 13, 1855. 



172 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



A large and interesting Sunday school is carried 
on in connection with the church. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized on the 8th day of 
March, 1862, with twelve constituent members, viz. : 
Elder Jacob Price, Sarah B. Price, Sarah B. Price, 
Jr., Ellen Price, Mary Price, Carrie Price, P. A. Lee, 
Barak Mead, Harriet E. Mead, Elizabeth A. Magin- 
nis, Robert H. Trip, Jemima Smith. A council was 
called, and met June 10, 1862. The prayer of recog. 
nition was oifered by Rev. E. J. Fish ; sermon by 
Rev. J. L. McCloud ; address to the church by Rev. 
S. H. D. Vaughn. The church was received into the 
St. Joseph River Association, which the following day 
assembled at Niles. Elder Jacob Price, who had 
preached and labored for the welfare of the church, 
soon after this took pastoral care of the same, preach- 
ing once in two weeks for two years. 

As early as June 28, 1862, efforts were made to 
procure a lot for the building of a house of worship. 
This purpose was never abandoned, although for five 
years the work was delayed. In the spring of 1867, 
a plan was procured and a lot decided on. The 
house was built, and, upon the 16th of March, 1869, 
formally dedicated. The dedicatory sermon was 
preached by the Rev. Kendall Brooks, President of 
Kalamazoo College, from Job, xxi, 15. Rev. L. B. 
Fish, of Lansing, preached in the evening. The 
church was built at a cost of $4,765, of which amount 
all but $1,000 was paid when it was completed. 

In February, 1869, a call was extended to Rev. B. 
P. Russell, then pastor of the Niles Church, to be- 
come pastor. This call was accepted, and Liberty 
Church, which united in making the call, divided with 
the Cassopolis Church in the maintenance of the min- 
ister. The ministers who have served the church 
since Mr. Russell removed have been the Rev. T. S. 
Wooden, E. H. Brooks, D. Morse and E. M. Ste- 
phenson. A portion of the time the church has been 
without a Pastor, and has been ministered to by sup- 
ply Pastors. The church is at present in a good con- 
dition, and has a membership of about sixty. A 
Sunday school is conducted in connection with the 
church which has a membership of about one hundred. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The first school teacher in Cassopolis was Mrs. 
Jane Beach, a widow. The schoolhouse was a little 
log cabin which stood where Joel Cowgill now lives. 
A man named Harrison was the second teacher. 

From the earliest settlement of the village, when 
the above named lady and gentleman taught until 
1843, schools were held in various places by a number 



of more or less successful teachers. In the year men- 
tioned, the first frame building was erected which was 
used exclusively as a schoolhouse. It was located on 
Lot 8, in Block 1 north, Range 2 east, donated to 
the district for the purpose by Joseph Harper. The 
building was a very good one for the time when it 
was built, and sufficiently commodious to accommo- 
date all of the children of the district. In 
1857, however, it was found that a larger structure 
was needed, and the union schoolhouse was built on 
contract by Daniel S. Jones, at a cost of about $1,500. 
Some additions and improvements were made in this 
building from time to time, and it remained in use 
until April 29, 1878, when it was completely destroyed 
by fire. The building was valued at that time at 
about $5,000, and was insured for $3,000, which 
amount (minus a slight deduction) was paid to the 
district officers. When the house burned, the trust- 
ees, with a promptness that was highly creditable to 
them, made preparations for the continuance of the 
schools in other quarters, and soon the work of the 
several departments was being carried on successfully 
in Oren's Hall, the Reform Club rooms and D. B. 
Smith's carpenter shop. The High School Depart- 
ment lost only two days' time. 

It was decided to expend the sum of $10,000 in 
building a new schoolhouse, and upon the 21st of 
May, W. P. Bennett, A. Garwood, J. K. Ritter, S. 
C. Van Matre, J. R. Carr and W. W. Peck were ap- 
pointed as a building committee. After examining 
several architectural designs for the proposed building, 
the one presented by Messrs. Hopkins k Osgood, of 
Grand Rapids, was chosen. Proposals were adver- 
tised for, and on the day appointed for their examina- 
tion, June 13, the contract was awarded to Messrs. 
Manning & Smith, of Niles, for $9,000, exclusive of 
seating. The work of construction was commenced 
immediately, and pushed so rapidly that the building 
was finished by the 1st of December. S. C. Van 
Matre was the local superintendent. The building 
had still to be seated, but that work was completed 
within a hionth, and upon the 9th of January, 1879, 
the new schoolhouse was ready for occupancy, and 
the winter term was begun upon that day. 

The total cost of the building was $10,619.86, of 
which amount, $9,176.71 was paid to Messrs. Manning 
& Smith ; $800 for seats ; $146.66 for a bell ; $18.33 
for window shades; $66.05 for extra painting, etc.; 
$64.05 for Local Superintendent's services, etc. : 
$22.52 forelocks; $73.82 for drainage; and $251.60 
for architect's plans. 

The building, which is of a modified gothic form 
of architecture, and built of white brick with red 
trimmings, stand.i nearly in the center of grounds. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



173 



three acres in area, well adapted for the purpose they 
serve. There is probably no more beautiful or sub- 
stantial school building in Michigan which has been 
erected for $10,000, and there are certainly many 
which have cost more that do not e(iual its appearance 
or practical advantages. It is two stories in height, 
with an eight-foot basement under the whole building. 
The dimensions are 78x62 feet. There are seven 
rooms available for school purposes, not all of which 
are now used. Upon the first floor there are four 
rooms and upon the second three, the high school 
room occupying the entire front. The second floor is 
reached by a broad, platform staircase. All of the 
wood work is pine, oiled and varnished, and the 
mellow hue of the natural wood produces a very 
pleasing effect. The rooms are supplied with the 
best blackboards, the most approved forms of seats 
and desks and have all the requisites of model school- 
rooms. Ample and convenient cloak-rooms adjoin 
each. In the basement, a novel and excellent pro- 
vision has been made for the younger pupils in two 
large play rooms, where they can obtain needed rec- 
reation and exercise without the discomfort or danger 
to health, which in cold weather would attend their 
out-door play. The arrangement of the building is 
admirable. The provisions for heat and ventilation 
are perfect, and the rooms are all well lighted. In 
short, the Cassopolis school building is one of which 
the people may well feel proud, and a credit alike to 
its architect and the committee under whose super- 
vision it was erected. 

The following is believed to be a very nearly 
perfect list of the principal teachers or superin- 
tendents who have taught in Cassopolis during the 
past thirty years (a period which extends back to the 
origin of advanced school teaching in the village) : 

John 0. Banks began teaching in IS.'JS or 1854, 
and continued until Charles Ayer came in 1858. Ho 
was succeeded by a Mr. Miles in 1859, who taught 
only about two months, and he by G. M. Trowbridge, 
who remained until the fall of 1860. Since then 
the succession has been : R. H. Tripp, two years 
W. I. Baker, two years ; M. D. Ewell, one year 
S. M. Burton, one year; Jason Newton, one year 
F. A. Herring, two years ; H. C. Baggerley, one 
year ; Eugene Ketcham, one year ; J. F. Downey, 
one year ; J. C. Clark, one year ; Levi B. French, 
one year ; F. H. Bailey, two years ; H. C. Rankin, 
three years, and G. 0. Osinga since the fall of 1880. 

CEMETERY. 

Immediately after the death of Jason R. Coates — 
August 7, 1832 — a village lot was chosen and set 
apart by Elias B. Sherman for a burial-place. Jn 



this lot, constituting a part of the present cemetery, 
Mr. Coates was buried. Not long after, graves were 
made to receive the mortal remains of a Mr. Shields 
and of Charles Tarbos. The first woman interred in 
the little burying-ground was Mrs. Mary Root, who 
died August 22, 1834 (although the tombstone says 
1835), and the second was Mrs. Allen Munroe. 

The burying-ground was enlarged subsequent to 
1840, by the addition of several lots, donated by the 
Court House Company. In 1879, the cemetery 
came under the management of the corporation, and 
in that year an addition of about three and a quarter 
acres was made to its area, the land being purchased 
from Ritner Graham. 

Mr. John Tietsort has for several years superin- 
tended the improvements made in the cemetery, and 
has most of the time served without any remuneration. 
To him the public is indebted for very much of the 
beauty of these grounds, where rest the dead of a half 
century. ' The old portion of the cemetery has been 
placed in excellent order, and the new very tastefully 
platted. 

The oldest person who has died in Cass County is 
buried here. The tombstone bears the inscription, 
" Mary, wife of C. Earnest, died June 25, 1871, 
aged 109 years and seven months." 

Near by is the monument reared to the memory of 
the venerated Elder Price, upon which is inscribed 
the following : 

"Erected by the many friends of Elder Price as a 
token of their high esteem of him as a man, and their 
appreciation of his earnest, faithful and self-sacrificing 
labors among them for so many years as a minister of 
the Gospel of Christ." 

CASi^OPOLIS REAIUNG ROOM AND LIBRARY AS.SOCIA- 
TION. 

An ^ organization was effected under this name 
October 14, 1870, and incorporated February 11, 
1871, under an act of the Legislature, by W. W. 
Peck. William P. Bennett, Charles S. Wheaton, John 
T. Stevens, A. Garwood, A. B. Morley, A. Magin- 
nis, H. Norton, 0. Rudd, M. L. Howell, John Tiet- 
sort, James M. Shepard, L. H. Glover and J. B. 
Boyd. The objects for which the'society^was incor- 
porated were "the establishment and maintenance of 
a library and reading room ; the procuring and fur- 
nishing of lectures on literary and scientific subjects, 
and the affording of such other means of literary, 
scientific and intellectual improvement as'the associa- 
tion by its by-laws may provide." A, public reading 
room was established, but only kept^up six or eight 
months. The library Jias been maintained uninter- 
ruptedly, and at present contains about seven hundred 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



well-selected volumes. The ladies of Cassopolis have 
been very active in supporting and managing the 
library. 

" THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF THE 
ECLAMPSUS VITUS."* 

" The first secret society of which there is any 
record was a lodge of the Ancient and Honorable 
Order of Eclampsus Vitus, which was instituted in 
the spring of 1846 with Dr. E. J. Bonine, Laban 
Harter, J. P. Osborn and Dr. L. O.sborn as charter 
members. 

" The order was in broadest burlesque of legiti- 
mate secret organizations, and was afterward merged 
in the " Sons of Malta," which died from exposure 
(by Frank Leslie) in the next decade. 

" The candidates for admission were bound fast, 
blindfolded and dragged into the hall by halters. 
They were placed in the most ludicrous positions and 
required to pledge themselves to performances and 
courses of conduct which by a cunningly devised 
double, entendre in the wording of the pledges were 
either impossible or eminently ridiculous. 

" A peculiarity of human nature which renders the 
victim of a 'sell' restless and unhappy until he has 
inveigled others into the same meshes, insured the 
rapid growth and financial prosperity of this mon- 
strous hoax. Numerous Neophites were found to 
assuage the grief and soothe the wounded pride of the 
earlier victims. 

" A grand ball \tas given by the lodge in the winter 
of 1846-47, at the Union Hotel, at which over two 
hundred badges of the ' Ancient and Honorable 
Order ' were displayed, and that, too, by men who 
stood the highest in popular esteem and respectability. 

" The (dis)order collapsed in 1847, partly from lack 
of raw material and partly from a growing satiety 
amounting to disgust on the part of the better pertion 
of the members, but it was successfully resurrected in 
1860 under the alias of the 'Brothers of Charity.' 

"The second edition, although enlarged and im- 
proved, was ' of few days and full of trouble ' to all 
except the charter members." 

I. 0. 0. F. 

The first legitimate secret society organization 
effected at Cassopolis was that of Cass County Lodge, 
No. 21, I. 0. 0. F. The dispensation authorizing 
the institution of the lodge was granted Grand Mas- 
ter Andrew J. Clark January 16, 1847. The lodge 
was instituted on February 18, following. On this 
occasion the following officer.s were elected : N. G., 
Alexander H. Redfield ; V. G.^ George B. Turner ; 

'James M, Shep»rd, In Rogor'a" History of C«a« Coanty." 



Secretary, George Sherwood ; Permanent Secretary, 
Henry R. Close ; Treasurer, W. G. Beckwith. In 
1849, the lodge purchased a portion of the lot upon 
which the county jail now stands, and remodeled a 
building which stood upon it, making a very comfort- 
able hall in which to hold their meetings. The prop- 
erty passed into the hands of Henry Tietsort in 1854, 
and he subsequently gave the lodge a perpetual lease 
of the hall and its approaches. When the lot upon 
which the building stood was sold to the county the 
building was moved to its present location on Broad- 
way. The organization is at present in a flourishing 
condition, financially and otherwise. 

Cass Encampment, No. 74, L 0. 0. F., was organ- 
ized May 11, 1874, by G. P. Fayette S. Day, and 
consisted originally of seven members. The first 
officers elected were C. P., R. H. Wiley ; H. P., H. 
H. Bidwell ; S. W., J. W. Argo ; J. w!, H. Dasher; 
Scribe, A. P. Gaston ; Treasurer, H. Tietsort. 



The first meeting of members of this fraternity was 
held June 12, 1852, in the Union Hotel. At this 
gathering, a petition was drawn up, praying for a dis- 
pensation authorizing a local organization. July 9, 
1852, the members met pursuant to the terms of the 
dispensation, and organized under the name of Backus 
Lodge, that appellation being assumed in honor of 
Grand Master Backus. The first officers elected were 
W. M., James M. Spencer ; S. W., Asa Kingsbury ; 
J. W., Elias B. Sherman. The lodge held meetings at 
Odd Fellows Hall until 1860; after that in Kingsbury's 
Hall until 1876, and since that time has occupied the 
second floor of the Chapman building. The lodge 
has a membership of eighty, and owns $500 worth of 
property. Its meetings are held Mondays, on or be- 
fore the full moon. 

Kingsbury Chapter, No. 78, R. A. M. (named in 
honor of Asa Kingsbury), was organized March 10, 
1871, with the election of the following officers, viz.: 
H. P., Isaac A. Shingledecker ; K., Asa Kingsbury ; 
S., Charles W. Clisbee ; C. of H., James H. Farnum ; 
P. S., Henry Tietsort ; R. A. C, George T. Shaff"er ; 
M. 3d v., Samuel Stephenson; M. 2d V., Jonas 
Mechling; M. 1st V"., Amos Smith; Treasurer, Will- 
iam Condon ; Guard, L. D. Tompkins. The Chap- 
ter has a membership of thirty-three, and owns $400 
worth of furniture, regalia, etc. Its meetings are on 
Tuesdays, on or after the full of the moon. 

Organizations of several other orders have had an 
ephemeral existence at various periods. 

A division of the Sons of Temperance was instituted 
in 1848, and, at the same time, or soon after, an au>(- 
iliary union of the Daughters of Temperance. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



175 



In 1852, a lodge of the Independent Order of Good 
Templars was organized, which existed for several 
years. A second lodge of the same order was organ- 
ized in the summer of 1865, which remained active 
for about four years. 



.lOSEPH HAHPEK. 
Mr. Harper was born December, I'J, 1805, in 
Washington County, Penn., upon a farm where 
his grandparents, immigrants from Belfast, Ireland, 
had settled soon after the Revolutionary war. 
Robert, son of .John and Margaret Harper, married 
Tamar Johnson, who was of Scotch descent, and 
belonged to a family who settled at an early date 
in Washington County. The subject of this sketch 
was the sixth child in a family of ten. He was reared 
upon the home farm. After spending two years in 
Pittsburgh and a short period in the village of Wash- 
ington, he started for the then far West. It had been 
his intention to locate in Chicago, but, by one of those 
seemingly inconsequential happenings, of which time 
develops the importance, he became a resident of the 
then new village of Cassopolis. The exact date of 
his arrival was February 3, 1835. In Pennsylvania, he 
had learned the carpenter's trade, and he followed it 
after coming to Cassopolis for many years. He was 
the builder of the first court house, upon which he 
began work in 1835, and also of the present court 
house. Very soon after coming to Michigan he was 
made Deputy Sheriff of Cass County, under Eber 
Root, and remained in that capacity until the State 
was organized in 1836. While occupying this office, 
he served the first legal papers in Van Buren County, 
thatcounty being attached to Cass forjudicial purposes. 
In 1836, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and took 
the office July 4. In the fall of 1838, he was elected 
Register of Deeds, and re-elected in 1840. In 1837, 
he was chosen County Treasurer to fill a vacancy, 
and again in 1839, to fill another in the same office, 
caused by the death of Isaac Sears. Capt. Harper 
(as he is commonly called) has been complimented by 
the bestowal upon him of a number of other offices of 
honor and trust. He was Superintendent of the 
Poor for several years subsequent to 1847 ; has been 
President of the corporation a number of times and 
is now the President of the Cass County Pioneer So- 
ciety. In 1850, he went to California and followed 
mining there for four years. Upon his return, in 
1854, he was elected Sheriff upon the first Republican 
ticket. Prior to the organization of the Republican 
party he was a Whig, and was prominently identified 
with the famous campaign of 1840. When the war 
broke out, his popularity made it an easy matter for 



him to raise a company of men and did so, going to 
the front in September, 1861, as Captain of Company 
A of the Michigan Twelfth Infantry. Upon May_^ 
27, 1862, he resigned and received a discharge for 
disability. His army experience was unfortunate in 
that it undermined his health and he was for two years a 
sufferer with diseases which threatened very serious 
consec(uences. In 1864, with a view to the im- 
provement of his health, he went to Montana, and 
for three years followed mining. The experiment 
was successful, and he returned so benefited that he 
is to-day as hale a man for his years as can be found 
in the State. In the spring of 1869, Capt. Harper 
was appointed Postmaster of Cassopolis, an office 
which he held until January, 1878. Since that 
time he has not been actively engaged either in pub- 
lic or private employment. Capt. Harper now, at the 
age of more than three score years and ten, as we have 
implied, preserves in a remarkable degree his physical 
powers and mental faculties. His memory is wonder- 
fully retentive — a storehouse full of the facts accumu- 
lated by the observation and reading of a long life-time. 
His accurate recollection of local affiiirs has been of 
peculiar value in the preparation of this work, and it is 
safe to say that no one man in Cass County has been 
able to contribute so much of reliable information for 
the benefit of the historian and for posterity. And 
now in the old age of a correct life, with family 
and friends about him, he enjoys both the present and 
the past. Religiously, Capt. Harper has been an al- 
most life-long believer in the principles of Christianity, 
and has striven to conform his daily life to them. 
Capt. Harper was married October 25, 1836, to Miss 
Caroline Guylford, a native of Massachusetts, born 
September 4, 1816. Her parents were early settlers of 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and came from there to 
Michigan. The offspring of the marriage were four 
girls, of whom three are living in Cassopolis. Emily 
S., the eldest, is the wife of J. B. Chapman ; Melissa 
C, is Mrs. Joseph Graham ; Janette, Mrs. C. L. 
Morton, died February 27, 1880 ; Maryette is the 
wife of L. H. Glover. Esq. 



WILLI. •VM P. BENNETT. 
William P. Bennett, or Judge Bennett, as he is 
familiarly known, was born in Maulmein, British East 
India, October 17, 1831, and was the son of Cephas 
and Stella (Kneeland) Bennett, both natives of the 
State of New York. The elder Bennett was a printer 
by occupation, and, in 1829, was sent out by the 
American Board of Foreign Missions with the first 
iron printing press over operated in Central Asia. 
In 1840, he returned to America with his family, 



176 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and, after a stay of about a year and a half, returned 
to India, leaving William P. at New Woodstock, N. 
Y., where he remained until 1845, when he came to 
Tecumseh, Mich., but subsequently returned to New 
York. He was educated at the Cortland, Woodstock 
and Groton Academies and at the Oneida Conference 
School at Cazenovia. October .5, 1850, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Louisa Brokaw, of Cayuga County, N. 
Y., and, in 1851, the young couple came to Michigan 
and, in October of 1852, settled in Marcellus Town- 
ship, then a new country, and began the construction 
of a home. His ability was soon recognized by the 
people, and for ten years he was their representative 
on the Board of Supervisors. 

In 1868, he was elected to the most important and 
responsible position in county affairs, that of Probate 
Judge, and such has been the appreciation of the 
people of the manner in which he has discharged the 
duties of the office that he has held the position unin- 
terruptedly since. In politics, -ludge Bennett is an 
unswerving Republican. He takes a deep interest in 
political matters, using the term in its broadest and 
best sense, and has always been active in advancing 
the best interests of the community. He is a man 
of large reading, and his acquaintance with general 
literature seems as intimate as his knowledge of the 
topics of the day. He is not a church member, but 
a man of good habits and morals and of sturdy char- 
acter. His mode of thought is vigorous and his con- 
versation plain and direct. He is a man in whom 
dignity is finely tempered with kindness and affability, 
and the pleasant vein of humor in his composition 
renders him engaging in his manner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have a family of three chil- 
dren — Alton W., a resident of Big Rapids, Mich. ; 
Frank M., a graduate of the Naval School at Annap- 
olis ; and Stella M., now Mrs. Lieut. Douglas Roben, 
an officer on the retired list of the United States 
Navy. 

8YLVAD0R T. READ. 
The grandfather of the subject of this biography, 
Gilbert N. W^atkins, when the war of the Revolution 
opened, was living in Massachusetts. He took up 
arms to defend the patriot cause, received a commis- 
sion as Captain signed by John Hancock and was 
assigned to report to Gen. Gates. He served through 
the whole war, a period of seven years and six months, 
and was one of those who signed a receipt for the 
full amount of pay without receiving it. He was 
afterward offered a land warrant but refused it, and 
before his death made a codicil to his will enjoining his 
heirs from receiving any bounty or pension from the 
Government, on pain of being deprived of other 



benefits of the will. After the close of the war, 
Gilbert N. Watkins and his wife, Sarah, settled in 
Tompkins County, N. Y. There the former died in 
1827. His wife survived, and emigrated to Michi- 
gan. Esther, the fourth child of this couple, was 
married in 1814 to Titus R. Read, a native of Peru, 
Mass. He was a soldier, and worthy of the daughter 
of so gallant and patriotic a man of arms as Gilbert 
N. Watkins. Mr. Read served in the war of 1812 
as a First Lieutenant, being wounded at the battle of 
Queenstown. He was one of the two-thirds of the 
force present who volunteered to go over the line and, 
the Captain being killed, led the company. 

Sylvador T. Read was born in Tompkins County, 
N. Y., January 12, 1822, and was the third child 
and first son of Titus R. and Esther (Watkins) Read. 
The family removed to Erie County, Penn., and from 
thence, in 1831, to Michigan. While they were 
passing through Ashtabula County. Ohio, Mrs. Read 
was taken sick and died. The bereaved husband 
journeyed on to Michigan and located in Leonidas, 
St. Joseph County. He subsequently removed to 
Volinia, Cass County, and put out a nursery on 
Little Prairie Ronde, grafting improved stock upon 
the roots of crab-apple trees. He was doubtless the 
first man in the county who undertook this method of 
fruit propagation. He was a resident of Cass County 
until his death, which occurred January 6, 1863, 
when he was in his seventy-third year. 

But to return to the immediate subject of our 
sketch. Sylvador T. Read, upon the death of his 
mother, returned to New York, and for a short period 
lived in Ontario County. In 1832, he came to Michi- 
gan with his grandmother and uncle, Nathan G. 
Watkins. Subsequently he went to school for three 
years in Erie County, Penn., and there became 
acquainted with the lady who was to be his wife — 
Rhoda A. Hayden. They were married in 1843, and 
the same year settled in Calvin Township, where Mr. 
Read, who had several times passed through the 
county, had bought land. Farming was for a number 
of years Mr. Read's chief occupation, but he also 
followed "breaking" as a regular business, and 
guided the great plow, weighing 500 pounds, through 
many acres of Cass County grubs. He dealt largely 
in horses and cattle and other live stock. In 1848, he 
took a large drove of cattle to Chicago, and in the 
following year drove a fine lot of horses to Oswego, 
N. Y. These were the first horses raised in Cass 
County which went to an outside market. In 1854, 
he drove a herd of cattle, consisting of over a hundred 
head, to California, and disposed of them to good 
advantage. In 1855, he returned, located in Cassop- 
olis, and immediately went into business. His first 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



stand was in the building latterly known as the Davis 
restaurant. He rented this of Maj. Joseph Smith, 
bought the store fixtures, put in a new stock of goods. 
Four years later, he moved to the store now occu. 
pied by Mr. French as a wareroom, and there 
remained until January, 1870, when he sold out to 
Orson Rudd and W. W. Mcllvain. In August, 1871, 
he opened his present store in company with John 
Yost. In addition to his other business, Mr. Read 
carried on extensively for about fifteen years, subse- 
quent to 1857, the shipping of cattle, sheep and hogs 
to New York, and he built for that purpose a shipping 
yard at Dowagiac. 

Large as Mr. Read's private business has been, it i 
has not claimed all of his attention or activity. To 
him Cassopolis and Cass County are indebted beyond 
any doubt for the Grand Trunk Railroad, a brief his- 
tory of which is given in a chapter of this work. It 
was he who first suggested to the President of the 
Canadian Railway, which had its terminus at Port 
Huron, the scheme of crossing the Michigan Penin- 
sula and reaching Chicago, and it was due almost 
entirely to Mr. Read that, when that project was 
decided upon, the line was run through this county. 
He gave liberally both of his time and money to efi"ect 
that end. 

The subject of our sketch has been an earnest 
and energetic worker in every measure or project 
in which he has engaged, and the people, recog- 
nizing that quality in his nature, combined with 
shrewd common sense, have frequently placed him in 
positions where his energies might be of value to the 
public. He has served upon the Cassopolis School 
Board for twelve years and as a member of the Council 
for eight years. Before he took up his residence in 
the county seat, he held various ofiBces in the gift of 
the people of Calvin Township. While taking a deep 
interest in political affairs, he has never been an aspi- 
rant for political oflSce. The oflBce of Sheriff' might 
easily have been his at one time had he not refused 
the nomination, and various other positions of honor 
and trust would have been given to him had he cared 
to accept them. His political affiliations have been 
with the Abolitionist and Republican parties. 

Mr. Read has been associated with the Presby- 
terian Church for forty-two years, and is a member 
of the organization of that denomination in Casso- 
polis. 

We have already mentioned the fact that Mr. Read 
was married in 1843 to Rhoda A. Ilayden. Their 
children are Helen Jane (Mrs. W. W. Mcllvain), 
Ophelia A. (Mrs. Orlando Phelps), Martha 
(deceased), Sarah I. (Mrs. H. D. Smith), Frank 
(deceased), and Nettie N. 



JOSHUA LOFLAND. 
Mr. Lofland was born in Milford, Del., September 
8, 1818. At the age of eighteen, he was placed in a 
store, and for several years remained in that position, 
gaining the rudiments of a practical business educa- 
tion. In 183(3, with his mother and the rest of the 
family, he removed to Michigan. His first business 
was the management of a grocery store in Cassopolis, 
which belonged to Lucius Hoyt, of Niles. When that 
business closed, he visited his old home in Delaware, 
remaining there several montlis, during which time he 
connected himself with the M. E. Church. In 1840, 
he returned to Cassopolis, and was employed as a 
clerk by Jacob Silver. In 1841, he formed a partner- 
ship with Mr. Silver, to continue five years, Mr. Sil- 
ver furnishing all of the capital. At the end of the 
time specified, the firm dissolved, and divided $16,000 
equally. During this co-partnership, Mr. Lofland was 
elected County Treasurer. In 1841, he married Lo- 
retta, daughter of Josiah and Polly Silver. In April, 
1847, Mr. Lofland formed a partnership with Henly 
C. Lybrook, under the firm name of Lofland & Ly- 
brook, in the dry goods business. In June, 1850, 
this firm began business in Dowagiac, and soon after 
took a half-interest in a dry goods store in Cassopolis, 
which Mr. Lofland managed. In 1854, they closed 
out their business in Dowagiac. Not long afterward, 
Mr. L. bought the Vanderhoof farm, on La Grange 
Prairie, and lived there the rest of his life, making a 
successful farmer. He died February 27, 1862, after 
long suffering with consumption. Mr. Lofland was a 
very popular man among the people of Cassopolis and 
others with whom he was associated, and possessed the 
respect of all who knew him. His excellence of char- 
acter is very fre(iuently spoken of by old residents. 



JOSEPH SMITH. 
The late Joseph Smith, commonly spoken of by 
old settlers as Maj. Smith, was born in Botetourt 
County, Va., April 11, 1809. His parents, Henry 
and Sarah (Shaff"er) Smith, early removed to Clark 
County, Ohio, and settled near Springfield, where his 
father engaged in farming. Joseph Smith obtained 
only the rudiments of a school education. At the 
age of eighteen, he left home, and spent two years in 
clearing for diff"erent owners heavily timbered lands 
in his own and adjacent counties. With a capital 
of about $350, he removed, in 1829. to the locality 
now known as Northampton, Ohio, built the first 
house there, and opened a small store. ' In 1832, he 
removed to Cass County, where he bought a saw- 
mill, which he carried on for about two years. At 
the end of that time, he sold out and bought 1,000 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



acres of land in Jefferson Township. He then began 
farming, and continued it about eighteen years, 
toward the close of that period establishing a mercan- 
tile business in Cassopolis. This he carried on very 
successfully until 1875. He bought large tracts of 
land near the village, and became the owner of a 
very extensive property, which, as well as his mer- 
cantile and general business, he managed with signal 
ability. He was a Captain of militia in Ohio, and 
Major of the regiment of militia organized in Cass 
County in 1841. He was a member of the first 
Legislature elected under the State Constitution in' 
1836, and was re elected in 1837. In local affairs, he 
took a prominent part, being several times elected to 
such offices as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, and 
President of the village. In politics, he always acted 
with the Democratic party. His death occurred in 
April, 1880. Maj. Smith was married in February. 
1830, to Jemima Lippincott, daughter of Obadiah 
Lippincott, of Clark County, Ohio, who still survives. 
They were the parents of eleven children, the first 
two of whom died in infancy. The others are — Lewis 
Davis, merchant of Cassopolis; Eliza J. (widow of 
John Shaw), also of Cassopolis ; John Henry and 
Emily, deceased ; Margaret (wife of Lester Graham, 
of Jefferson Township) ; Sarah (Bell), deceased ; 
Thomas J., Sabrina(Mr3. E. R. Graham), and James 
P., of Cassopolis. 

EBER ROOT. 

Mr. Eber Root was an early hotel-keeper of Cass- 
opolis, whose name is frequently mentioned in 
the history of the village ; he came here in the 
year 1832, from Huron County, Ohio, and was 
the builder of the old log jail, or " gaol," as it is 
called in the Supervisors' records, and was Sheriff in 
1835. Mr. Root was a man of good character, and a 
genial, pleasant landlord. His first wife, Mary 
Gamble, who came with him from Ohio, died in 1834, 
and hers was the second deatli which occurred in Cass- 
opolis. His second wife, Eliza Wells, who came 
from Edwardsburg, is still living. Mr. Root retired 
to a farm in La Grange Township early in the fifties, 
and died there June 19, 1862, aged sixty-three years. 
His children are Isabella (Mrs. J. P. Osborn), Mary 
(Worthington) and Jane (wife of L. D. Smith). 



S. A. TURNER. 
The subject of this sketch, one of the early resi- 
dents of Cassopolis, was born in Northampton County, 
N. C, July 5, 1791, and was reared in Southampton 
County, Va. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
iind served under Gen. Wade Hampton. He was in 



the battle of Plattsburg, and one of the party engaged 
in the retaking of the brig from the British in Bufi"alo 
Harbor. At the close of the war, he received an hon- 
orable discharge at Covington, Ky., and soon after 
settled in Franklin County, N. Y. In 1835, he came 
to Michigan, and in 1836 to Cass County, locating at 
the county seat. He followed the trade of harness 
making, and for many years lived in the house now 
occupied by Capt. Joseph Harper. For a long period, 
he was a Justice of the Peace, being several times 
re-elected. He died May 10, 1.851, mourned by a 
large circle of friends. Mr. Turner was a man of fine 
character, and universally respected in the community 
in which he dwelt. 



JOHN TIETSORT. 

Mr. Tietsort was born in Miltonville, Butler 
County, Ohio, November 22, 1826. and was the oldest 
son of Abram Tietsort, Jr. (see history of La Grange 
Township). He came with his father to Niles, Mich., 
in April, 1828, and from there to what is now Cass- 
opolis in the spring of 1830, the family being the 
first settlers on the site of the village. Mr. Tietsort 
has ever since resided in Cassopolis, with the excep- 
tion of two years spent in California, whither he went 
in 1850, with Joseph Harper and others. He has 
lived longer in the village than any other resident. 
During the greater part of the period from 1846 to 
1873, he was engaged in the mercantile business 
He has been one of the most useful and popular citi- 
zens of the place. A man of generous impulses, and 
always having the best interests of the community at 
heart, he has done much for the benefit of Cassopolis. 
The citizens are largely indebted to him for the beauti- 
ful arrangement of the village burying-ground and its 
admirable condition. His services have usually been 
bestowed without the expectation of or the desire for 
remuneration. 

Mr. Tietsort has been married three times. His 
first wife, with whom he was joined November 25, 
1852, was Ellen Silver Sherman, daughter of Elias 
B. Sherman. She died August 26, 1862. He was 
married to Eleanor Robinson, January 26, 1864. 
Her death occurred October 27, 1869, and upon July 
17, 1871, Mr. Tietsort married Addie Silver Robin- 
son. He has three daughters and one son, all living 
in Cassopolis. 

CHARLES KINGSBIRY. 
Mr. Kingsbury was born, May 14, 1812, in Nor- 
folk County, Mass., and remained in the vicinity of 
his native place until he arrived at years of maturity, 
when he went to Augusta, Me., with a small stock of 



HT8T0KY OF CASS COUiNTY, MICHIGAN. 



miscellaneous goods, such as were then commonly 
kept in "general" stores. After he had remained 
there a few years, he closed out, with the intention of 
going to Chicago, and started on a journey for that 
purpose. After long and wearisome travel, he stopped 
at Cassopolis, to see his brother Asa. He gave up 
his original intention of going to Chicago, and re- 
solved to go into business with his brother in this 
then small village. This was in the M\ of 1837. 
He purchased and cleared land just west of the vil- 
lage, on the north side of State street, and built the 
house still standing upon the hill, which was his home 
for about thirty years. He was married to Sarah 
Miller, at the house of her father, J. P. Miller, in 
Jefferson Township, by Elder Jacob Price, March 
12, 1851. His death occurred December 23, 1876. 
Charles Kingsbury was a man of quiet habits, a great 
reader and well informed in history, politics and gen- 
eral literature. During the whole of his mature life, 
he spent a portion of each day in reading the Bible, 
and he considered its precepts man's best guide, spir- 
itually and morally governing his life thereby. He 
was always kind to the poor and suffering, and never 
refused them aid when it was in his power to extend 
it, often suffering financially by reason of his benevo- 
lence. His attachments for home and friends were 
very strong. He had a large musical talent, was a 
good singer and played readily upon almost any 
instrument. Politically, he was a Whig and after- 
ward a Republican, adhering to the principles of the 
latter party until his death. 



MOSES McII.VAIN. 
Mr. Mcllvain is of Scotch-Irish descent, his an- 
cestors having emigrated from Scotland to Ireland 
during one of the turmoils that occurred in their 
country in e.arly times. His grandfather emigrated 
to America and settled in Pennsylvania, and, going to 
Kentucky soon after th^ settlement of that State, was 
captured by a band of Indians who made a raid from 
Ohio, and kept in bondage by them for two and a 
half years. He afterward made a permanent settle- 
ment near Lexington. It was in that locality that 
the subject of this sketch was born in 1802. When 
he was three years old, his parents moved to Cham- 
paign County, Ohio, where he resided for thirty-one 
years, or until coming to Michigan in 1836. Mr. 
Mcllvain settled in Jefferson Township and lived there 
until 1867, when he removed to Cassopolis, where he 
has since resided with his son. Mr. Mcllvain is a 
quiet, unassuming man, who has always commanded 
the respect of the people among whom he has dwelt. 
He has held sever.il positions of honor and trust, He 



was married in Ohio to Charity Carmichael. Their 
living children are William W., Nancy J., the wife of 
Henry W. Smith, and Mary E. (Gregg) — the last 
mentioned of whom is at present a resident of Rock- 
well City, Iowa. 

William W. Mcllvain, the well-known merchant of 
Cassopolis, has been in business here since the close 
of the war. He served in tlic army nearly four years, 
enlisting in Company D, of the Sixth Michigan In- 
fantry as a private, and being promoted to the posi- 
tion of First Lieutenant. He was wounded at the 
siege of Port Hudson. 

JOSEPH K. KITTEK. 
Joseph K. Ritter was born in Berrien County, 
Mich., May 7, 1829, and was the son of John and 
Sarah (Lybrook) Ritter, who came to Michigan in 
October, 1828. They settled first at Niles ; but, in 
August, 1829, removed to La Grange Township, Cass 
County. John Ritter was killed by a- stroke of light- 
ning on the 31st of the same month. Joseph K., the 
subject of this brief sketch, came to Cassopolis in 1851, 
and for the following ten years was engaged in the 
dry goods business. During the first four years, he 
was in partnership with Joshua Lofland, Henly C. 
Lybrook and G. C. Jones, under the firm name of J. 
K. Ritter & Co., and afterward was alone until 1858, 
when he took into partnership B. F. Beeson, who 
remained with him until 1861. In 1862, Mr. Ritter 
was elected County Treasurer, and served in that 
capacity for four years. In 1865, he again went into 
business, having, as a partner, for a brief period. A . 
E. Peck. He continued in active mercantile life until 
1875, and since that time has been engaged in buying 
grain. Mr. Ritter was married September 18, 1856, 
to Amanda F., daughter of Asa Kingsbury. 



THE GRAHAM FAMILY. 
Samuel and Edward Graham have been residents 
of the village, respectively, since the years 1847 
and 1850. Samuel Graham was born, in Erie 
County, Penn. Since coming to Cass County, he 
has resided at the place which is now his home, 
enjoying at once the advantages of farm and village 
life. His first wife was Anna Taylor; his second, 
Emma Jane (Hancock). ni;e Deacon. He had by his 
first wife nine children, of whom one, Marvin M., 
lives in Cassopolis ; and by his second, four, of whom 
three are living in town. Edward Graham was born Sep- 
tember 11, 1810. His wife was Desire Ilisted. They 
have nine children, all of whom reside in Cassopolis, 
or its vicinity, viz.: Henry C, Lester, William, E. 
R., Raensallaer, Florence, Joseph, Frank and David, 



180 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



CHARLES G. BANKS. 
Mr. Banks was born in McDonough, Chenango Co., 
N. Y., in 1825. He came to Cassopolis in 1844. 
He followed surveying, taught school for four or five 
years, and clerked for S. T. & L. R. Read. From 
1863, in company with John Tietsort, he carried on a 
successful mercantile business. Mr. Banks has been 
prominently identified with the best interests of the 
village, and has taken an active part in educational 
affairs. He was married to Amanda, daughter of 
Pleasant Norton. John C, Harlow and Aaron, 
brothers of Charles G. Banks, have resided at different 
periods in Cassopolis, and the first named was one of 
the prominent school teachers of the village. 



HORACE B. DUNNING. 
The subject of this sketch was a son of Isaac Dun- 
ning, and was born near Sempronius, Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., September^ 18, 1802. In 1834, the family 
emigrated to Cass County and settled near Edwards- 
burg. Upon October 12, 1836, Horace B. was mar- 
ried to Sarah A. Camp, who lived six miles west of 
Buffalo, N. Y. In 1837, he was elected Probate 
Judge, in which office he served until January, 1841. 
In 1840, he was elected County Clerk ; began his 
duties in that position in January, 1841, and soon 
after removed to Cassopolis. He was for several years 
Acting Treasurer. In 1844, he bought out the drug 
business of Alexander H. Redfield, which he carried 
on until his death. He was appointed Postmaster in 
1861. Mr. Dunning's death occurred May 30, 1868. 
His children were Helen C. (Draper), now living in 
Big Rapids ; Delia and Huldah (deceased), and Sarah 
L., widow of the late A. B. Morley. 



WILLI.VM W. PECK. 
Mr. Peck was born in Shelby County, Ohio, Sep- 
tember 22, 1830, and came to Cassopolis in 1853. 
His first employment was as a clerk with Joshua Lof- 
land and J. K. Ritter. In 1860, he went into themer- 
cantile business for himself, and carried it on success- 
fully for a number of years, during a portion of the 
time having Albert Magannis as partner. He was 
elected and served acceptably as County Treasurer. 
Mr. Peck took an interest in public aft'airs to the ad- 
vantage of the community, and was especially active 
in enhancing educational interests. He was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Peck's 
death occurred April 6, 1879, after a long and ex- 
ceedingly painful illness. He was married, December 
27, 1853, to Elizabeth, daughter of Pleasant Norton, 
who survives him. 



JOHN SHAW. 
Mr. Shaw was born in Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N. 
Y., March 10, 1824. He learned at an early age the 
trade of cabinet-making. In 1853, he went to Cali- 
fornia where he remained two years. The steamer 
in which he took passage for his return trip was the 
ill-fated Yankee Blade, which was totally wrecked 
near Lookout Point on the Mexican coast, a great 
many of the passengers losing their lives. He was 
one of the survivors. In 1856, he came to Cassopo- 
lis to visit relatives, and while here became acquainted 
with Miss Eliza, daughter of Maj. Joseph Smith, to 
whom he was married the same year. He took his 
wife to his old home, Westfield, N. Y., and remained 
there one year, when he returned to Cassopolis, 
where he lived until his death, which occurred June 
25, 1878. His wife and only son, Charles W., survive 
him. 

C. C. ALLISON. 
C. C. Allison, editor of the National Democrat, 
was born in Blackberry, 111., about thirty miles west 
of Chicago, in September, 1840. He came to Cass- 
opolis in 1818, and has since resided here. In 1855, 
he obtained his introduction to the printing business, 
entering the Democrat office as an apprentice. It was 
in this school that he obtained the principal part of 
his education, "picking it out of the case." He 
worked for about one year in Dowagiac on the Cass 
County Tribune, under James L. Gannt, and on the 
present Dowagiac Republican at the time it was 
founded by Messrs. Jones & Campbell. In 1862, he 
took charge of the National Democrat as publisher, 
and, as a matter of fact, as editor, for he did all of the 
writing except an occasional article from Maj. Jo- 
seph Smith. When Mr. Allison first became identi- 
fied with the Democrat, it was owned by a company of 
stockholders; but, in 1864, he purchased the paper. 
Since then he has edited and published it and with 
fine success. • 

.lAMES M. SHEPARl) 
Mr. Shcpard was born in North Brookfield. Mass., 
November, 24, 1840, and at a very early age removed 
to Boston. He is the youngest son of Lucy (Bush) 
and Jiev. James Shepard, of the New England Method- 
ist Episcopal Conference, andgramlson of Gen. James 
Shepard, of the army of the Revolution. After 
preparatory study at the Wilbraham Academy, he 
entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, 
Conn., and there received a thorough classical educa- 
tion. Subsequently he studied medicine and dental 
surgery at Boston. During the war, he served in the 
medical department of the United States Navy. Upon 




^, Y,^a1u.€^^^ 




F^ESlDEjviCE OF S.T. F^Ey\D; cy\SSO PO L I S. [Vl I C |H 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the 3d of September, 1868, he located in Cassopolis, 
where he has since resided, following, until 1876, the 
profession of dental surgery, and since then journal- 
ism. He has been sole proprietor of the Vigilant 
since 1878. Mr. Shepard was elected as a Repub- 
lican to the State Senate from the Twelfth District 
(Cass and Van Buren Counties), in 1878, receiving 
5,257 votes against 1,208 for Josiah R. Hendryxi 
Democrat, and 4,230 for Aaron S. Dyckman, National' 
He served acceptably to his constituency and was a 
valued member of the Senate. He was Chairman on 
the Standing Committees on the Liquor Traffic, and 
on Printing, and a member of the committees on 
Education and Public Schools, Mechanical Interests 
•and Engrossment and Enrollment. In 1870, Mr. 
Shepard was united in marriage with Alice, eldest 
daughter of Hiram and Margaret Silver Martin. They 
have two children. 

A. E. PECK. 
Mr. A. E. Peck was, for many years, a resident 
and prominent man of Cassopolis. He was born 
in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1819. He moved 
to Ohio in 1840 ; to Livingston County, Mich., 
in 1842, and to Cassopolis in 1846. In 1854, 
Mr. Peck was elected Register of Deeds, and 
entering upon the duties of that office in January, 
1855, served until 1865. filling the position to the 
entire satisfaction of the public. For some time sub- 
sequent to the latter date, he was engaged in business 
in Cassopolis, and in October, 1874, removed to 
Gentry County, Mo., where he died July 16 of the 
following year. Mr. Peck was a very worthy man, 
and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him during 
his long residence in Cassopolis. 

.lAMES OREN. 
James Oren, of Cassopolis, came to the county April 
11, 1848, and is, therefore, an eleventh-hour pioneer, 
according to the rules of the Pioneer Society. He 
was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January 29, 1825. 
In the winter of 1848-49, he taught school in what was 
called the brick schoolhouse, two and a half miles 
south of Cassopolis, and for five or six years following 
he continued to teach during the winters in the schools 
of Calvin Township. He soon afterward made an 
unfortunate investment in a mill property. In the 
fall of 1X51, he married Angeline Osborn, daughter 
of Josiah and Mary Osborn. Both were at the time 
members of the Society of Friends ; but, being mar- 
ried by a Baptist minister, contrary to the discipline 
of the church, they were disowned and deprived of 
the privilege of membership. Their sympathies, how- 
ever, remained with the Quakers, and the policy of 
the society being changed in some respects, they were. 



nearly twenty years afterward, invited and welcomed 
back into the church. One son, James Albert Oren, 
was the offspring of their union. After his marriage, 
Mr. Oren settled in Calvin and cleared up a fine farm. 
He was quite prominently'identified with the affairs 
of the township, being .several times elected to the 
offices of School Inspector, Clerk and Supervisor. 
Both his son and wife died in 1873, the former upon 
June 30 and the latter on August 23. Not long after 
these sad occurrences, Mr. 'Oren removed to Cassop- 
olis. and, a year later, married Sarah, widow of Charles 
Kingsbury and daughter of John Miller. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE CITF OF DOWAGIAC. 
Beginning and Development— Causes Combining to Create a Town— 
The Paper City o£ Venice— Grace Greenwood upon Early Dowa- 
giac— Original Plat and Additions— Some Initial Events Mercan- 
tile and Maiuifacturing History— Banking— Hotels— Post Office- 
Railroad Statioji-Amount ol Freight Shipped— Church History— 
The Public Schools- Lists of Trustees and Teachers-Secret and 
Benevolent Societies— Ladies' Library— Village Incorporation and 
City Charter— omcers from 1858 to 1881— Fire Uepartment— The 
Large Fires of 18G4 and 1866— Burial Places -Fair Association— 
—Biographical. 

BEGINNING AND GROWTH. 

VILLAGES and cities do not come into existence 
and flourish except through definite cause — a de- 
mand and a need for their being on the part of the 
people who occupy the contiguous country, or perhaps 
a broader commercial necessity. Towns may be pro- 
jected and established where these conditions do not 
exist, but they fail to develop unless there is natural 
reason for development, and either remain as unnour- 
ished germs or pass entirely out of existence. Their 
growth cannot be arbitrarily forced. 

These general remarks might be illustrated by many 
exatnples, but there is one which is particularly ap- 
propriate. 

The site of the flourishing city of Dowagiac was 
selected at an early day for a village by one of the 
pioneer proprietors of the land. As early as 1836, 
the village of Venice was laid off, by Orlando Craine, 
on the southwest quarter of Section 31, in Wayne 
Township. The plat was extensive, occupying fully 
160 acres of land, and it was .admirably arranged. 
The ground was well adapted to the building -of a 
hamlet or village, and the proprietor was a popular 
man, who offered his land to the people at very rea- 
sonable terms. But, notwithstanding these facts, not 
a single house was built, the lands remained under 
farm cultivation and there was no mark established to 
indicate the ambition its owner had once cherished. 
The village of Venice had no existence save on paper 
in the County Register's office and in the imagination 



182 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of Mr. Craine. There was, in 1836, no need or de- 
mand for a village at this point. The sparse popula- 
tion illy sustained the few centers of trade which 
already existed, and the scanty products of the country 
required no new outlets or markets. 

But in a dozen years the conditions had changed, 
and a village — Dowagiac — sprang up and flourished 
on the soil which had proven barren before. 

The country had become more thickly settled, and 
the farms better improved and more productive, but 
these facts were not sufficient alone to cause the 
growth of a village in the northwestern part of Cass 
County. A new force came into operation — the rail- 
road — and all along its line through the fertile farm- 
ing region of Southern Michigan, there were formed 
new clusters of dwellings, and new places of trade and 
commerce. 

Nicholas Cheesborough (quite widely known through 
his connection with the Morgan abduction case) had 
been engaged in 1847 in the purchase of right of way 
for the Michigan Central Railroad from Kalamazoo 
to Niles. As soon as it was decided to locate one 
of the stations of the line at the point now known 
as Dowagiac, he associated with himself Jacob Beeson, 
of Niles, and they together purchased from Patrick 
Hamilton (of whom we shall have much to say in this 
chapter) a tract of land consisting of eighty acres in 
the northeastern corner of the Township of Pokagon. 
Upon a portion of this land they proceeded to plat and 
lay out the village of Dowagiac, of which they made 
a record at the Register's office, in Cassopolis, Feb- 
ruary 16, 1848.* The land was bought and the plat 
of the village recorded in the name of Mr. Beeson. 
This gentleman, although he never became a resident 
of the village, did much for the welfare of the place 
in various ways, not the least of which was his gener- 
osity or shrewd policy in making various donations 
of land for the use of churches and schools (as speci- 
fied in the note) and his grant to the railroad 



of the Dorth 
ODe hundred 

;t ths place of beginning." The 
Indiana street, Michigan 



pumllel ' 



1 Township, running thence v 



1 street is fiv 



by lands belonging t 






street and Chestnut street, art 

Main street is one hundred and eight feet wide, and HigUt street 
wide, both running parallel with IJomniercial street. The alleys i 
with Front street, and all are sixteen and a half feet wide. 

The plat consisted of ten whole squares or blocks, and fractious of twelve 
others, the whole blocks being twenty-four rods long and thirteen rods wide, 
and euch divided into twelve lotj^. The entire number of lots was one hundred 
and fifilily-fnin, miA tli.- wli .1.- tul-s iii'H'Ui-il four by six rods each. 

Tit.- i.iMjirift.r nttij.- -.'Vera! -I -irtti-.i,- nti certain specified conditions as fol- 
lows 111. n. 11,1 l.ni N., 11 In i!,,. lir-i K|iiwopal Society; fractional Lot No. 
Itoili. FiiM M.ihn.li^t l',pi-i ,,|,;, I s.irj.ty. luid fractional Lots No. 7 and 61 tu 
tb.- Iir-1 il..[i uiii, 111 .fi i.th. r ih:i!, iliun.- iitiint-d, who should first erect buildings 
u(K,[, tIm 111 Til ii!i. r i,r ihr iinildings to be worthless than ^00. It was provided 

tbiit Mil i!li. 1 iif thr Kits designated were *'to revert to the proprietor, bis 

heirs III ii-sit;ii-. ii[i III the contracting of or existence for one year of a debt 

agiiiii-i wi> 1 1 i!ii' i-ongregattons or societies." Fractional Lot No. 62 was 

given li\ il.i- in ij.i iri.ir ti> the citizens of tile village for the erection of a school- 
liouse, »n.i lor tlieir perpetual use for a boys' school.und fracilonal Lot No. 83 for 
a girls' school, and fur perpetual use as such, and it was provided that prior to 
the ye<ir 185.5, either of the lots might be used for both sexes. 



of depot site and adjoining grounds, the latter of 
which, by an agreement with the railroad company, is 
forever to remain a park. The railroad, projected by 
the State, was originally intended to have as its 
western terminus the town of St. Joseph, but the 
Michigan Central Railroad Company, by whom it 
was purchased, greatly increased its value, and pro- 
moted the growth of the villages along the line by 
pushing it around the end of the lake to Chicago. 

The little village laid out by Jacob Beeson quickly 
received population. Enterprising men readily saw 
that a town, situated upon a railroad, in the midst of 
a rich agricultural region, and with no important 
stations near it, must become not only a good place 
for mercantile business, but a shipping-point of con- 
siderable consequence. 

From the very beginning of its life, the success of 
Dowagiac was assured. Within two years, merchants 
and tradesmen had assembled in considerable number, 
and the infant village contained nearly all of the 
simpler elements of industrial life. It was so clearly 
perceived that the village was destined to grow and 
thrive, that men who owned land adjoining the plat 
proceeded to lay out additions to accommodate its 
expansion, and profit by it. The first of these was 
Patrick Hamilton, who owned and resided on a farm 
in the southeast corner of Silver Creek Township. 
He laid out what was known as Hamilton's First 
Addition to the village of Dowagiac, in the spring of 
1849, the plat being recorded upon the 14th of April. 
This addition included the lots along ihe west side of 
Division street, extending from Nicholas Bock's Hotel 
north, and as far northwest as Spruce street. Jacob 
Beeson made a small addition to the village March 13, 
18-50, from the Pokagon tract of land, which he had 
purchased, and Jay W. McOmber added a number of 
lots from his land in Wayne Township February 19, 
1851, while Mr. Hamilton made his second addition 
to the town plat upon the 5th of the same month, and 
Erastus H. Spalding enlarged the area of the town by 
laying off streets and lots from his possessions in the 
summer of this year. Thus the limits of the town 
were gradually extended, as the actual or prospective 
growth of population demanded. From time to time 
other additions* have been made, until at present the 
original plat forms only a small fraction of the whole 
city. 



' Th I'llii ii> II t iiii-ntioned above are the following: 

I'l.ir ' Thinl Addition, recorded December 12, 1864. 

.Iii\ '. M - iid Addition, recorded June 2, 1854. 

I'll! II 1 ill Ih Addition, recorued October 14, 1850. 

Daniel .Mci'mUer s .\.lditim', recorded January 20. 1858. . 
Justus tiage's Addition, recorded November 8, 1858. 
Tiitbill and Sturgis' Addition, recorded March 24, 1858. 
Jay W. and Daniel M. McOmber's Addition, recorded June 30, 1869. 
Sarah E. Sullivan's Addition, recorded June 19, 1863. 
Joel H. Smith's Addition, recorded October 2, 1865. 
An addition, platted by Elam Barter, Joel Andrews and Williuni i 
recorded January 8, 1867. 



1 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



183 



The town has had, during its thirty-three years of 
existence, quite an even growth, although in some 
years the increase of population has been retarded by 
various causes. Chief among these, perhaps, was the 
prevalence of typhoid fever in 1852, only four years 
after the founding of the village, which led many per- 
sons to think the locality dangerously unwholesome. 
As a matter of fact, the disease was imported. Lorane 
McArthur came home from Jackson not feeling well, 
and a Mr. Coan returned sick from a visit to New 
York. The first two cases of the fever were in the 
Dowagiac House. The disease rapidly spread, and 
many were afflicted. Some people moved away, and 
others who were stricken down were obliged to send 
abroad for friends to take care of them. At one time 
there were scarcely enough well persons in the place 
to attend the sick. Mr. Coan and his wife and sister 
died — the entire family. Of thirteen persons attacked, 
soon after the disease made its first appearance, 
eleven died — Henry Michael and a Mrs. Bull escap- 
ing. In the winter of 1857-58, and in the year 
1870, there were epidemics of scarlet fever, which 
carried off many children. The unhealthiness of 
Dowagiac, however, has probably been no greater 
than that of the average of towns of its class in South- 
western Michigan, and the unenviable reputation 
which it temporarily bore after the epidemic of 1852, 
has not since attached to it. 

The two large fires of 1864 and 1866, which are 
elsewhere spoken of in detail, caused serious losses ; 
but they cannot be considered as untoward events, 
viewed in the light of the great improvements they 
made possible. 

As young as is Dowagiac, it has entered upon what 
may be called the second era of its life. At first all 
advancement was in the hard, straight line of utility. 
There was time for none but the sternly-practical 
duties of life. Necessities were provided ; luxury 
and elegance little thought of The village, when it 
was ten years old, appeared undoubtedly very crude 
and painfully new. There was no special natural 
attractiveness in the site on which it was built, and its 
residents had not yet devoted their attention to beauti- 
fying their homes. About the year 1858, the well- 
known writer, Grace Greenwood (Mrs. Lippincott), 
paid a visit to her brother. Dr. William E. Clarke, 
who had settled here a short time before, and during 
her stay sent to that famous old literary paper of 
Philadelphia, the Evening Post, a description of the 
village which considerably incensed some of its peo- 
ple. The letter was undoubtedly a racy and graphic 
pen-picture of the Dowagiac of those days, colored all 
too correctly. The bare, white houses reminded the 
writer of rocs' eggs lying on the desert sand. She 



complained that the people did not plant shade trees 
in their door yards or the streets, and that the burn- 
ing sun shone down pitilessly on the grassless ground 
and unprotected dwellings. The letter, as we have 
said, caused some ill feeling at the time it appeared, 
but it had the good eflect of setting people at work to 
beautify the village by planting trees and cultivating 
grass plats. A very general improvement was 
noticable in a short time. The village authorities, as 
well as individuals, took up the work of which they 
had been rather sharply reminded, and one result of 
their action we find chronicled in the records under 

date of 1859, in the item, " Ordered that 

be paid 25 cents each for removing eighty-three 
stumps from the streets." The planting of shade 
trees was carried on for several years, until the village 
was well provided with them, and now, having attained 
a good growth, they make the streets and private 
grounds very attractive. If that person is a bene- 
factor who causes two blades of grass to grow where 
but one had grown before, how much greater a bene- 
factor is Grace Greenwood who indirectly caused the 
growth of several hundred beautiful trees where none 
(or at least a very few\ grew before. 

SOME OF THE FIRST HAPPENINGS, ETC. 

The first preaching in the village was by the Rev. 
Jacob Price (Baptist), of Cassopolis, who, in July, 1848, 
addressed an audience assembled in the old freight 
house. The Rev. Richard C. Meek, a Methodist 
circuit rider, was probably the next minister who 
delivered a sermon in Dowagiac, and the Rev. S. H. 
D. Vaughn, of the Baptist Church, was the first 
settled pastor. 

Noel Byron HoUister was the first resident lawyer. 

The first couple married were Joel H. Smith and 
Sylvia Van Antwerp. This marriage was solemnized 
by the Rev. James McLarren, a Presbyterian minis- 
ter then located at Cassopolis. 

The first death was that of Bogue Williams. 

A son born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulemisky, was the 
first child which had its nativity in the town. His 
father was a laborer for the railroad. A village lot 
was deeded to this young pioneer. The first girl child 
was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Wares, now 
Mrs. C. J. Greenleaf She did not receive any 
donation of real estate from the proprietors of the 
town. 

The first Justice of the Peace was M. T. Garvey, 
the first Postmaster, A. C. Balch, and the first rail- 
road agent, Charles Wood. 

In 1850 occurred the first Fourth of July celebra- 
tion in the new village. This brought the first great 
crowd which was gathered in the streets of Dowagiac, 



184 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHlftAN. 



and the first band of music. The latter came from 
Elkhart, and made the village musical during the two 
nights they remained there. The celebration of Inde- 
pendence Day was quite a success. M. T. Garvey 
was President of the Day, the Rev. Justus Gage the 
orator, and George B. Turner, of Cassopolis, the 
reader of the Declaration. 

MERCANTILE BUSINESS. 

Prior to the building of the railroad, A. C. Balch 
kept a small stock of goods in a house which stood 
where Mrs. Stoff now lives. Kendall & Fettiplace 
opened a store principally for the purpose of supply- 
ing with goods the hands they employed in building 
the freight house. Their store was in Ira D. 
Mosher's house, which is still standing and owned by 
Francis J. Mosher. Both of these stocks were small. 
A much larger was opened in January, 1848, by 
Ezekiel S. and Joel H. Smith. This store was in the 
building in which John Foster now keeps a shoe 
store, and was under the management of Joel H. 
Smith. The store was soon moved into a larger 
building, but after conducting the business for about 
a year, Mr. Smith sold out and went to California. 
Wells H. Atwood, the purchaser, carried on the store 
for about six years, took in a Mr. Carlin as partner, 
and finally sold his own interest to Dr. Hale. 

G. W. Clark opened a store and carried on business 
for two or three years, on the corner of Front and 
Commercial streets. 

In 1850, Joshua Lofland built a large brick store 
on the northwest side of Front street, facing the pas- 
senger depot, and in this building Mr. Lofland, 
Henly C. Lybrook and G. C. Jones began a general 
mercantile business. After five years, Mr. Lybrook 
sold out and the business was continued by Lofland & 
Jones. 

Ballengej;, Wagner & Co. began business in 1851, 
but were unsuccessful, and after three or four years 
had elapsed closed out. 

About this time also Tuthill & Sturgis, H. E. 
Ellis, Becraft & Bowling and A. Van Uxen were 
engaged in the dry goods business, and Azro Jones 
opened a store in 1855 and carried on a miscellaneous 
business for twenty years. 

F. G. Larzelere & Co. (the company was Daniel 
Larzelere and Babbitt) established themselves also in 
1855 and remained in business about twelv^e years, 
being succeeded by Archibald Jewell & Co. 

Gideon Gibbs, who began selling groceries in 1851, 
with Abram Townsend, established himself in the 
dry goods trade in 18G3. With hira were associated 
G. C. and Azro Jones, under the firm name of Jones 
& Gibbs, until 1869, and after that time G. C. and 



Horace C. Jones. In 1873, the firm became Jones, 
Gibbs & Co., the company being a Mr. Greene. 

A. M. Dickon & Co. and Thorp & Greene were in 
business for a short time. 

Oppenheim Bros, opened their dry goods and cloth- 
ing store in 1871; Dewey (B. L.), Defendorf (Mar- 
vin) & Lyle (Daniel) in 1873, and George H. Lyle 
& Co. at a subsequent date. 

In all of the foregoing houses dry goods formed the 
principal part of the stock. 

Mr. Hirsch, now of Chicago, began selling clothing 
in 1850. In 1859, the firm became Hirsch & Jacob, 
and in 1875 Hirsch & Phillipson, as it now remains. 
The senior partner retiring from active management, 
established the wliolesale clothing firm of Hirsch k 
Meyer in Chicago. 

William Houser opened and still carries on a large 
business in this line. 

In the line of hardware, J. C. and George W. 
Andrews were the pioneers, beginning in 1850, in 
the basement of the old American House and subse- 
quently building on Division street. J. C. Andrews 
sold out in 1853, and George W. carried on the busi- 
ness until 1877. He moved his building to Front 
street in 1854 ; was burnt out in 1864 and rebuilt a 
fine block on the same ground. 

F. H. Ross opened a stock of hardware in 1860, 
where the Republican oflice now is. He moved to 
Front street in 1864, and in 1874 first occupied the 
large store in which he now does business. 

Ira Brownell was engaged in the hardware trade 
for a number of years following 1850. 

H. C. Lybrook, G. C. Jones and T. McKinnon 
Hull, established themselves in this business in 1867. 
They were succeeded by C. W. Vrooman & Son 
(under the name of W. E. Vrooman k Co.), and this 
firm in turn by Bishop & Higginson, who are still 
carrying on the trade. 

Probably the first store in which groceries were 
exclusively sold or formed the principal part of the 
stock was that of Benjamin Cooper and Francis J. 
Mosher. Gideon Gibbs, as has been said, sold gro- 
ceries in 1851. 

Theodore Stebbins and A. G. Ramsey began in 
this line in 1857. Mr. Ramsey soon after died and 
the firm became Stebbins k Son, as it now exists. 
Other grocers have entered the business very nearly 
in the order here named : Carl Geoding, L. Brewer 
& Co., Louis Reshore, the Lee Brothers, Henry and 
Fred, W. D. Jones, Azro Jones, Adams & Hopkins, 
Jacob Sturr and G. I. Peck. 

Drugs were first sold by .\sa Huntington, and sub- 
sequently N. B. HoUister, Cady & Richards, John 
C. Howard. C. L. Sherwood and Lee Brothers, em- 




HON. BARTHOLOMEW W. SCHERMEKHORN. 

The subject of this sketch is descended from one of 
the old families in the colonial history of the State of 
New York. 

Some time previous to the old French war, the pro- 
genitors of the family earae from Rotterdam, Holland, 
and settled in Schenectady, where many of their de- 
scendants still reside. They were a staid, sober and 
industrious people, and devotedly attached to home 
and country. Bartholomew Schermerhorn, grand- 
father of the subject of this memoir, was a Revolu- 
tionary patriot and served during the continuance of 
that sanguinary struggle. His son, William B., was 
a native of Schenectady, and married Miss Sarah 
Taylor Kelly. She was of Scotch extraction and a 
woman of many ennobling qualities. They reared a 
family of nine children, Bartholomew W. being the 
third. He was born December 7, 1823, and received 
an academical education, and a^ the age of eighteen 
went to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 
1848, he embarked in company with his father in the 
grocery business in Schenectady. He was engaged 
in this business about two years, during which time 
he was married to Almera W.. daughter of Isaac 
Tice, of Albany. In 1850, he made his first visit to 
Michigan, on business for his father-in-law, who had 
extensive landed interests in Cass and Berrien Coun- 
ties. After the completion of his business he returned 
to New York, and in 1851 came back with his family 
and settled in Niles, where he remained until the 



spring of 1852, when he removed to Silver Creek and 

! engaged in farming. 

! Mr. Schermerhorn immediately took an active in- 
terest in township matters and in 1854 was elected 
Supervisor, which position he held until 1857. Since 

i this time he has been continuously before the people 
in some official capacity, and it can be said to his 
credit that in a career as a public officer extending 
over a period of over twenty-five years, that in no 

j instance has he done aught to mar his record as an 
oflBcial or a citizen. In 1858, he was elected to the 

I Representative branch of the Legislature, which posi- 
tion he filled with credit to himself and to the satis- 
faction of his constituents. On his return to Silver 
Creek, he was again elected Supervisor, and in 1860 
was elected Sheriff. Upon the expiration of his term 
of office he returned to his farm, which he sold in 

I 1866, and moved to Dowagiac, and shortly after he 

I received the appointment of Assistant Assessor of 

' Internal Revenue. In 1869, he was elected Magis- 
trate, which position he has held continuously to the 
present, and during six years of the time he has rep- 
resented Pokagon upon the Board of Supervisors. 

In his political affiliations he was originally a Whig, 
and made his debut on that ticket when twenty-five 
years of age as Alderman of the Fourth Ward of the 
city of Schenectaily. Upon the formation of the 
Republican party he joined its ranks and was an 
ardent supporter of the principles of that organiza- 
tion until about 1863, when in common with many 
others lie became a Democrat. 

' He has been prominently identified with the growth 
and development of the city of Dowagiac and in many 

' ways has left his name indelibly stamped on its his- 

I tory. 




Jilo (x^fmcs^^^^,^^ 



CiA^u^ 



HON. MATTHEW T. GARVEY. 

Matthew Garvey was born in North Ireland, near the bor- 
ders of Scotland, emigrated to Virginia about 1763, and settled 
in Rockbridge County, near Lexington, where his son, also 
named Matthew, was "born in 1787. The brothers engaged in 
the business of manufacturing hats and dealing in furs, in 
which they continued until the last year of the war of 1813, 
when they enlisted and served with honor until its close. 

Soon after the close of the war, Matthew married Miss Jane 
Caven, daughter of George Caven, a native of Scotland, who 
had emigrated to this country. Soon after his marriage, he 
emigrated to Ohio, with his family, accompanied by his 
brother John, his father-in-law and several relatives. Matthew 
Garvey located in the village of Monroe, Clark County, 
where Matthew T. Garvey, the subject of this memoir, was 
born May 13, 1831. For services rendered in the war of 1812, 
John Garvey received a pension from the Government until 
his death, which occurred a few years since in Piqua, Ohio, 
where he had lived since ISl.i. Two sons survive him— 
Samuel B., wlio resides in Piqua. Ohio; and William M., of 
the United States Land Offloc. in Cheyenne, Wyoming Terri- 
tory. As neitlier they or Mattlicw T. have any sous, the name 
of Garvey becomes e"xtinct witli this generation. 

Matlhew Garvey, not liking liis location, changed his resi- 
denc<' to Miami Counlj', and in about si.\ years located perma- 
nently in Sidney, Shelby County, where he resumed his old 
businiss (the manufacture of hats), which waa continued up 
to the time of his death, which occurred in 1837. Although 
cnlitlcd to a pension, he never applied for one. His wife, 
Jane, ilcceased in 1833. Matthew T. Garvey, having received 
a coiiitnon school education, engaged for a time as scliool- 
tcaclicr and in working at his trade, that of a cabinet-maker. 
Having li;arned of the attractions for enterprising young men 
at Klkhart, Ind.. he, in 1844, started for that place with his 
wardrobe tied up in a red bandana handkerchief. A portion 
of the distance was performed on foot, he walking forty 
miles the la.st day of the journey. He ceased working at his 
trade about the 1st of August, to make political speeches in 
behalf of Clay and Frelinghuysen, in the Presidential cam- 
paign of this year. In 1846, he came to Cassopolis, and the 
following winter taught school in the now extinct village of 
Geneva. 



About the 1st of March, 1848, he, in company with Ezekiel 
S. Smith, drew the first load of goods to where the village of 
Dowagiac now is, and commenced mi'rtli;niilis;in2: in tlic store 
now owned by .John Foster. In 184H. In was ilninl Justice 
of the Peace, and not long after was :i|i|hiiiii('.l I'usiniaster. 
and shortly after surrendered his position .is clnk tu att<>n(i 
to the duties of his office, to which was added that of Super- 
visor for Pokagon in 18.51. This latter office he held for five 
years, and in 1853. he removed to Pokagon Township, and 
engaged in farming. He was elected to the office of Judge of 
Probate in 1864, and two years after the expiration of his 
term of office removed to Jefferson, where he now resides. 
In addition to the many offices of honor and trust to which 
he had been elected, he was, in 1874, elected by the Republi- 
cans as State Senator for llir lounlics of Cass and St. Joseph, 
and discharged the duiirs of ilii- oilice faithfully and to the 
credit of himself ami hi- ronsiiiurnts, as he had all other 
offices to which he was clciliMi. As an evidence of his public 
spirit and progressiveness, he is cnMlited with giving more, in 
proportion to his means, for the Air Line and Grand Trunk 
Railroad tlian any other resident of Cassopolis. 

.Mr. Garvey exemplifies in his own life what can be accom- 
plished by those who rely entirely on their own exertions, 
and aim high in life; commencing life in a new country, with- 
out money or friends, he arose by his own efforts, to some of 
the hij^he'st positions in the gift of the people among whom 
he resided. 

Mr. Garvey has been twice married— fli-st to Mrs. Mary M. 
Bruce, November 25, 1851, who died in Cassopolis September 
18, 1867. and by whom he had one child— Rowena G., now 
Mrs. William L. Jones, who has three children. He was 
next married, December 8, 1869, to Mrs. Sarah E. Vary. Mrs. 
Vary was born in Massachusetts, January 18. 1828. For two 
years she attended tlie justly celebrated Mount Holyoke 
Seminary, of whicli Mi.ss Mary Lyon was princii)al. August 
30, 1848, she married W. L. Jones, and they came from 
Rensselaer County, N. Y., and settled on the farm where she 
now resides. Mr. Jones died July 8, 1851, leaving one son. 
William L., above-mentioned. Slie returned to New York 
State, and February 21, 18.54, married 3. C. Vary, who died in 
1860, leaving one son— Willit T. 



HISTORY OP CASS COTTNTY, MICHICrAN. 



185 



barked in the trade. Mr. HoUister remained at the 
business but a short time, beginning as early as 1858. 
The other two houses still exist and flourish. 

Books were sold by Ira Starkweather as early as 
1851 or 1852, and "by A.N. Alward and N. B. 
Hollister a few years later. 



H. B. Denman opened a private banking office in 
the village as early as 1856, and in 1865 was the 
leading spirit in establishing the First National Bank. 

Daniel Lyle and Joseph Rodgers started a banking 
office in 1865, and remained in partnership until 1868, 
when Mr. Rodgers retired. 'Mr. Lyle continued the 
business alone for one year. Up to this time Mr. 
Denman had retained the controlling interest in the 
First National Bank, but, in 1869, Mr. Lyle became 
the principal stockholder and the President of the in- 
stitution. Silas Ireland was chosen Vice President, 
and N. F. Choate, Cashier. All three of these officers 
have remained in place since 1869, and not a dollar's 
worth of stock has changed hands. The amount of 
capital is $.50,000. 

C. T. Lee began the business of a broker in 1867, 
and opened an exchange bank in 18^5, which he still 
carries on. 

MANUFACTURINCi. 

The most important mechanical industry carried on 
in Dowagiac, and for that matter in Cass County, is 
the foundry of P. D. Beckwith, at which is manufact- 
ured the round oak stove and the roller drill. Mr. 
Beckwith came to Dowagiac in 1854 from Niles (he 
had become a resident of the State ten years before)? 
and started a small foundry in which he cast plows, 
repaired mill machinery and did a variety of light 
work. He employed only one man at first, but he 
steadily enlarged his business, until after a period of 
fifteen years he had perhaps ten men engaged in fill- 
ing his miscellaneous orders. He at first occupied a 
small building opposite the Continental Hotel, removed 
in 1858 to the spot where the Warner Drill Works 
are now located, and ten years later bought two acres 
of the land which he now owns, southeast of the rail- 
road, and built two large brick buildings, which form 
a portion of his present manufactory. From time to 
time he has purchased more land and erected addi- 
tional buildings, and he now has six, which are fully 
occupied either as work rooms or store houses. The 
greatest increase in the business has been made since 
1876. Up to 1870, there was a very slow and even 
progression in Mr. Beckwith's property, but in that 
year he came very near being ruined by the deprecia- 
tion of values and the general stagnation of business. 
In the years intervening between 1870 and 1876, he 



had all he could do to hold his own and pull through 
a veritable slough of despond. In 1876, however, he 
felt solid ground beneath his feet, and his success 
since then has been phenomenal. IJe now gives em ■ 
ployment to about sixty men, and his foundry is run 
at its fullest capacity the year round. The round 

i oak stove, which is the principal article manufactured, 
was patented by Mr. Beckwith in the fall of 1870, 
and an apparatus, or appliance, for coal burning, in- 
vented in 1880, which is now manufactured exten- 
sively. Mr. Beckwith has also manufactured for marty 

i years the roller grain drill, and latterly F. E. Loe 
has been associated with him in this department of 
the business. This drill was first designed and 
patented by John S. Gage, of Wayne 1 wnship. Ile- 

i made a rude machine for himself, and . veral for his 
neighbors. When Mr. Beckwith bough an interest 
in it, he improved, perfected and again patented it, 
and introduced it to the Northwestern States. 

One of the most interesting features in the manu- 
facturing interests of Dowagiac, commencing as far 
back as 1857, and running up to a late period, was 
what was popularly known as the " Basket Factory. " 
Basket-making was first introduced here by Mr. H. C. 
Jones, who removed to this place from New Hamp- 
shire in 1857. He was assisted by his brother, G. C. 

i Jones, whobecame with him interested in the business. 
Basket-making began in a very small way. First the 
old-fashioned splint basket was made, and only a few 
dozen at first, because it was uncertain whether they 
would sell, so as to furnish a profit ; then more were 
made and still more, a ready sale being found for all 
that could be manufactured under the very slow and 
tedious process of " making by hand," this mode of 
manufacture continued up to 1S62 when a steam 

I engine was procured and an entire new style of basket 
was made, the one commonly known as the "stave 
basket." The manufacture of this basket was pro- 
tected by patents, one of which was held by parties 
at Milwaukee, Wis., who set up the claim of infringe- 

i ment, and, after much vexation of spirit, the Milwau- 
kee folks were appeased by Dowagiac paying them the 
nice little sura of $6,000. A party i ^ the northeast 
part of this State also cried infringer-ent ; it took just 
$1,000 to settle him. The business kept steadily 
increasing; more men and more machinery were 
demanded ; patents, one after another were secured 
at great expense. Lawyers were employed, not only 
here but in Chicago and in the city of Washington, 
to whom large sums of money were paid ; still the 
business went on increasing month by month and 
year by year ; thirty-four patents in all were secured 
during the space of fifteen years. The business now 
had become very large. Canvassers were sent all 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



through the Western States, likewise into Canada, also 
into New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 
100,000 feet of lumber were now being consumed 
yearly ; the works were enlarged and gave employ- 
ment to forty or fifty men besides a large number of 
boys. In the spring of 1878, a sale was made to 
one Fiska, of patents, machinery, good-will — every- 
thing the company had, and he removed the manu- 
factory to jQhicagQ. 

The manufacture of the Warner shoe grain-drill 
and the spring^ootbed harrow and cultivator com- 
bined is and has been a large business in Dowagiac. 
The shoe drill was patented February 5, 1867, by 
William Tuttle and S. H. Wheeler, in Decatur. 
Choffell Brothers began to manufacture them upon a 
royalty in Dowagiac in 1868. Their factory was 
burned out in 1872, with the exception of the mold- 



ing room. 



The business soon came into the hands of 



J. P. Warner & Co. (Tobias Byers), by whom the 
business has since been carried on until the fall of 
1881. Of late the principal manufacture has been 
that of the spring-tooth harrow, an implement on 
wheels that does the work of a cultivator and seeder 
combined, and can be used either with one or two 
horses. This was invented and patented in 1880, by 
J. P. Warner. In November, 1881, a stock company 
with $50,000 capital, was formed for the manufacture 
of the harrow and shoe grain-drill — the first stock 
company in the county organized to carry on manu- 
facturing. The company has erected new buildings 
and designs to push its business vigorously. The com- 
pany is officered as follows : M. E. Morse, Presi- 
dent ; C. W. Vrooman, Vice President ; R. F. Kel- 
logg, Secretary ; D. Lyle, Treasurer; J. P. Warner, 
Superintendent of Works. 

Colby's two mills do a thriving business. What 
is known as the Upper Mill, located on the west 
line of the corporation, is the old Spalding Mill, which 
has been elsewhere spoken of. It is now called 
the Crown Mill, and has been since 1868, when H. 
F. Colby purchased it of E. H. Spalding and rebuilt 
it. It contains three runs of stones and turns out from 
six CO eight thousand barrels of flour per year. It is 
conducted as an exchange or custom mill. What is 
known as Colby's Lower Mill wsis built by G. A. Colby 
in 1857, and after passing through various owner- 
ships, came, in 1879, into the hands of H. F. Colby 
and H. S. Buskirk, who rebuilt and still operate it. 
It contains five run of stones, rolls, grinders, purifiers, 
etc., of the most improved design, and is run as a 
merchant mill. About twenty-five thousand barrels 
of flour are manufactured per annum, most of which 
is shipped direct to special customers in New York 
and New England. A cooper shop is carried on in 



connection with this mill in which are made all of the 
barrels used by the Messrs. Colby & Buskirk. 

The planing-mill and sash and door factory of 
Mark Judd is an establishment of considerable impor- 
tance. It was built in 1860, by Ashley, Kays & Co., 
and has successively been the property of Kays & 
Judd, Judd & Cady, Judd & Harwood, and, since 1872, 
of Mr. Judd alone. Another planing-mill is operated 
by H. Defendorf and H. Armstrong. It was built in 
1866 by Starrett, Defendorf & Mason, and has been 
operated by its present owners since 1878. 

Thesteam saw-mill, owned by Frederick Hedrick,was 
built by Reed & Van Uxum, in 1860. About the 
same time the brewery of Vincent Harder was put in 
operation. In the same year, Amos Rouse began the 
manufacture of chairs in a little factory on the creek 
just below Dowagiac. He was burned out in 1875, 
but did not discontinue the business. Hervey Bige- 
low has carried on the manufacture of furniture since 
18.52. 

The first dealer in marble and maker of monuments 
was M. Pettingill. He carried on the business in 
Niles, and his branch shop in Dowagiac was the first 
in Cass County. It was purchased in IS'^O, by T. J. 
Edwards, who has, since that time, carried on a large 
business, and placed many beautiful monuments in 
the cemeteries throughout Cass and contiguous coun- 
ties. 

HOTELS. 

The first hotel built in the village was the Dowagiac 
House, which, with a large accumulation of additions, 
is now the Coiitinental. It was built by A. J. Wares, 
in 1849. Prior to t'le laying-out of the town, James 
McOmber had entertained the wayfarer and the 
stranger at his house, and the Humphrey line of 
stages stopped there. 

Nicholas Bock built the American House in 184!', 
or the following year, and has since then been its 
landlord most of the time. 

The Railroad House was kept as early as 1850, by 
Isaac L. Bull. It was the building on the corner 
where John T. Foster's store now is. 

The Exchange Hotel, which stood where Lee's 
Bank and the Post oflBce now are, was built by Mr. 
Turner and John Rodgers, in 1851. 

Another hotel, and one built earlier than that last 
mentioned was the Cataract House. 

POST OFFICE. 

A post ofiice was established in November, 1848. 
A. C. Balch was the first Postmaster. He was suc- 
ceeded by M. T. Garvey in July, 1849. During a 
portion of Mr. Garvey's occupancy of the office, 
Strawther Bowling was Deputy, and he was the first 



I 





ht5-'i^5 



'^i'^l 







^* ^. 




HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIOtAN. 



18? 



man who ever held that position in the village. Noel 

B. HoUister was appointed Postmaster, vice Garvey, 
in 1853. Since his time the following persons have 
served in the order named, viz. : James A. Lee. Will- 
iam H. Campbell, William M. Heazlitt, William H. 
Campbell, Henry B. Wells, David W. Clemmer artd 

C. L. Sherwood, the present incumbent. Julius 0. 
Becraft has been Deputy under Mr. Sherwood's admin- 
istration of the office. 

RAILROAD STATION — AHENTS — BUSINESS. 

The agents of the Michigan Central Railroad at 
Dowagiac Station from its establishment to the pres- 
ent have been, in the order named, the following: 
Charles Wood, William Bannard, Elias Pardee, S. R. 
Wheeler, S. C. Gibbs, Clark .Johnson, R. C. Osborne, 
Julius 0. Becraft, and W. H. Argabright since 1875. 

Dowagiac is commercially one of the most important 
stations on the Michigan Central Railroad. Its ship- 
ments have in some years exceeded those of any other 
point on the line. The amount of business transacted 
at this station in 1878, the last year for which the 
statistics are available, is set forth in the following : 

FREIGHT FOHWARUED AND RECEIVED. pounds. 

171 cars flour rf,420,000 

226 cars grain 4,972,000 

113 cars stock 4,260,000 

269 cars lumber , 6,380,000 

15 cars polatoes 300,000 

3626 barrels apples .'543,900 

Wool 70,087 

Miscellaneous merchandise 1 109,004 

Total 20,0-")4,991 

Freight received 6,788,245 

Total amount of freight handled at Dowagiac 26,843,236 

There was prepaid at Dowagiac $907 04 

ToUected on freiglit received 12,559 36 

Received for tickets 6,053 79 

19,.520 19 
Charges on freight forwarded and collected at other 

stations $24,939 01 

Charges on freight forwarded and received, including 

ticket sales $44,309 80 

The amount of freight handled at Dowagiac in 
1878 required for its transportation about 880 cars, or 
three per day for the entire year. 

CONOREOATIONAL CHURCH. 

The Congregational Church owes its existence to 
the action of a force far away. It was organized by 
a missionary sent out by the Connecticut Domestic 
Missionary Society, to look after the religious welfare 
of various new settlements in Michigan and the West 
generally. He was in Dowagiac in the early summer 
of 1849, and through his preaching succeeded in 
arousing a very considerable interest, both among 



those who had been church members elsewhere, and 
those who had never been identified with a religious 
body. In the summer of the year following, it was 
decided to effect an organization. This was accom- 
plished at a meeting held July 0, at the house of 
Patrick Hamilton. The missionary, to whom allusion 
has been made, the Rev. S. S. Brown, presided, and 
witnessed with satisfaction the results of his labors. 
Of about a dozen members who composed this church, 
the last resident in the village was Deacon Milton 
Hull. We have a record of the Trustees elected 
June 16, 1851, nearly a year after the church came 
into being, which shows the following names, doubt- 
less of those who were leading members of the society, 
viz., H. C. Hills, Hervey Bigelow, L. R. Raymond, 
J, S. Becraft, Gilman C. Jones, Patrick Hamilton, 
Milton Hull, Asa Dow and N. B. Hollister. Of the 
above list, Hervey Bigelow is the only one now iden- 
tified with the church. 

The first persons received into the church after its 
organization were William K. Palmer and wife, and 
the wife of Deacon Hull. All three are still living, 
and connected with the church, although Mrs. Hull 
has not been a resident of Dowagiac for the past year. 
Next to these three Hervey Bigelow is the oldest 
member of the organization. 

The first death among the members of the Congre- 
gational Church was that of Mrs. Pamelia Hamilton, 
second wife of Patrick Hamilton, which occurred 
May 1, 1851. 

Shortly after the organization of the church, the 
Rev. Thomas Jones became its pastor, Rev. Mr. 
Brown having no intention of remaining in that 
capacity, but going on to other fields of labor as rep- 
resentative of the Missionary Society. The first 
pastor was followed by a succession of ministers, in 
the order here given, viz.: L. F. Waldo, N. H. 
Barnes, T. C. Hill, T. W. Jones, H. Cherry, E. H. 
Rice, D. W. Comstock, E. F. Strickland, H. H. 
Morgan, A. S. Kedzie and 0. H. Spoor. Mr. Jones, 
however, served a second term as pastor, and Rev. T. 
W. Jones was also twice in charge of the flock. The 
pulpit has at various times been vacant, as it is at the 
present writing. 

The first Deacons of the church were Milton Hull 
and Edward Cowles. These have been followed by 
Deacons Patrick Hamilton, Levi Kerkham, B. F. 
Monroe, George Bassett. Leonard Whitney, Hervey 
Bigelow, T. T. Stebbins, A. W. Bu.slmell and A. 
Graham. 

A Sunday .school was organized in 1860, which 
.soon became and has ever since been a very flourish- 
ing adjunct of the church. Its first Superintendent 
was Deacon Milton Hull. L. Whitney was his sue- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cessor. The others have been Richard Stebbins, H. 
F. Colby and Hervey Bigelow, who at present fills 
the oflSce. 

The first place of meeting of the Congregational 
Society, other than Patrick Hamilton's house, was 
the old schoolhouse, which stood on the ground now 
occupied by the Methodist Church. Subsequently, 
meetings were held in the Methodist Church and 
other places until the spring of 1856, when the 
structure now in use by the Congregational ists was 
finished and dedicated. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The name Dowagiac does not appear in the pub- 
lished records of the Methodist Church until about 
the year 1852. But that does not say that Method- 
ism was not introduced into the town until that year. 
The Rev. Richard C. Meek preached the first sermon 
in the city in the " Cataract House" and afterward in 
the Railroad House. Mr. Meek was one of the pioneers 
of Methodism in this part of the State and did much 
service. As early as 1841, he preached at Center- 
ville. In the year 1843, he was appointed to Prairie 
Ronde Circuit, and in 1844 to Buchanan. The 
official records of the Dowagiac Church show that it 
was included in a wide circuit, the Stewards being as 
follows : Franklin Brownell, Sumnerville ; John 
Emmons, Peavine ; James Boyd, Cassopolis ; Peter 
Tietsort, Wayne ; Dolphin Morris, Little Prairie 
Ronde ; Joseph Spencer, North Wayne^, Charles T. 
Tucker, Decatur. The work was sustained previous 
to the regular conference appointees by the following 
lay preachers : Harvey Barker, L. D., Porter ; Milo 
Coney, L. D., Indian Lake ; Robert Watson, L. D., 
California ; John Byron, Sumnerville ; W. L. Jak- 
ways, Brooklyn ; Philo Simons, La Grange. The 
territory was thus mapped out before the village of 
Dowagiac was laid out, which was in the year 1845. 
As near as we can ascertain, Mr. Meek preached at 
this place in the year 1849, and at that time organized 
the church by instituting a class meeting, though 
before that the area of the village was traversed as 
early probably as 1843 by the circuit preachers, from 
Prairie Ronde orSilver Creek. In 1850, it was known 
as the Wayne Circuit, the Rev. George King, pastor. 
In 1851, Rev. L. W. Earl was Pastor of Wayne Cir- 
cuit. The next year the name was changed to Do- 
wagiac, which, because of its growth, became the 
head of the circuit. Rev. Robert Watson, L. D., 
was the first resident supply. As a lay preacher, Mr. 
Watson resided in the vicinity. The community 
lamented the death of this venerable minister in the 
year 1881. The first class leader was Strawther 
Bowling. 



The following _ ministers have indirect succession 
been appointed pastors : Revs. T. H. Jacokes, 1853; 
T. H. Bignett, 1854; I. W. Robinson, 1855-56 ; E. 
House, 1858; E. H. Day, 1859-60; H. Worthing- 
ton, 1861-64; J. I. Buell, 1864-65; S. C. Wood- 
ward, 1865-66 ; Levi Tarr, 1866-67 ; G. C. Elliott, 
1868; V. G. Boynton and G. D. Lee, 1869-70; N. 
L. Brockway, 1871-72 ; I. B. Tallmau, 1874-76 ; 
D. D. Gellett, 1876-77; A. Rolfe, 1877-78; T. H. 
Jacokes, 1878-79 ; H. Worthington, 1879-81. The 
present incumbent is Rev. W. H. Thompson. The 
first trustees were appointed in 1852, by Rev. L. W. 
Earl, Strawther Bowling, Aaron Henwood, Robert 
Watson, Samuel Bell, Benjamin Bell, John Huff", Eli 
Beach. In 1856, the following were appointed : I. 
S. Becraft, H. Harwood, Daniel Bates, Philo 1). 
Beckwith, James H. Lee, William R. Sturges, John 
Hawkes. 

The trustees at present are Daniel Lyle, Peter 
Hardy, William Griswold, H. S. McMaster and 
Samuel Johnson. The present substantial house of 
worship was built in 1859, under the labors of the 
Rev. E. H. Day, now pastor at Cadillac. The society 
is in a prosperous condition ; the Sunday school is a 
very interesting feature of the work. Mr. ferry 
Curtis is Superintendent ; Miss Myra Starkes, Secre- 
tary. A new library of interesting books has been 
recently added; Mrs. Byrns is Librarian. The offi- 
cers of the church at present are Daniel Lyle, Jacob 
Sturr, W. Griswold, H. S. McMaster, W. B. Nichols, 
C. S. Rouse, Charles Northrup, 0. B. Peck, Perry 
Curtis. The ladies have recently added a new pulpit 
set to the furniture of the church and take an active 
interest in making the house tasteful and attractive. 
Dowagiac Station grew out of the circuit system and 
from the commencement, by the peculiar itinerant 
system, has had its pulpit supplied without intermis- 
sion ; except for two months of 1881, when the la- 
mented Henry Worthington, who was for the second 
time serving the church, was suddenly stricken down 
with paralysis. His death occurring two months before 
conference, the pulpit was vacant for that period. Mr. 
Worthington was beloved by all who knew him, and 
as one of the early, active ministers of tlie State, was 
quite generally known, and very highly esteemed for 
his many amiable qualities. His funeral called forth 
a very general mourning in the community. He 
was one of those ministers whose names had become 
associated with the history of the State. 

THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

In the summer of 1851, a Baptist Church was 
organized under the labors of the Rev. S. H. D. 
Vaughn. The early records of the church having been 



I 




PyVTF^IChC \^/^fA\LJ0]4. 



PATRICK HAMILTON. 
Patrick Hamilton, one of the founders of Dowagiac, 
and a good man whose name is frequently mentioned 
in its history, was born July 29, 1794, in the town of 
Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass. His first settle- 
ment in Michigan was in Lenawee County, on the 
site of the present city of Adrian, in the year 1825. 
He came to Cass County in 1835, and settled on lands 
in Silver Creek Township, now in the corporate limits 
of Dowagiac, where he resided until his death, which 
occurred August 27, 1870, carrying on until not far 
from that time the avocation of farming. He was a 
man of much energy and force of character, positive 
and clear in his views, and of excellent judgment. He 



did much to aid and build up the village, which in 
part he laid out. He was first married to Rosanah 
Perry, at Lockport, N. Y., May 6, 1824. She died 
September 10, 1843, in Silver Creek Township. His 
second marriage was to Pamelia <xray, June 2, 1844. 
Her death occurreil May 1, 1851, and in the following 
year, December 25, he was united with Mrs. Lovinia 
Taylor. She died September 5, 1867, and Mr. Ham- 
ilton took as his fourth wife, October 1, 1868, Mrs. 
Mary Haight, who still survives. Mr. Hamilton was 
the father of four children, all by his second wife, two 
sons and two daughters. One son and one daughter 
still survive, both of whom live in Dowagiac. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



destroyed it is impossible to give a full history of this 
organization. 

It is remembered that Bruce McConnell and 
wife, Isaac Cross and wife and Archibald Jewell 
were among the original members. The first Trust- 
ees, as given in the county records, were I. S. 
Becraft Daniel M. Heazlett, Archibald Jewell, A. H. 
Reed, E. Ballenge, Jacob Allen, Simeon E. Dow, Isaac 
Cross and Hendrick B. Miller. A house of worship 
was begun in the summer, when the church was formed, 
and completed in 1852. The Rev. L. H. D. Vaughn 
was the first pastor and continued to serve the church 
until 1861. His successors have been the Revs. But- 
ler, Waldron, Van Buren, Portman, Dean, Barnes, 
Reed, McKendrick, C. D. Gregory, Ithmar Chapman, 
and the present incumbent, Rev. E. D. Rundell. 
The church has now a membership of about sixty and 
has had as many as 150 communicants. During Mr. 
Vaughn's pastorate there was a notable revival which 
gave the church great strength. 

disciples' church. 

The Disciples' Church was organized under the 
preaching of Elder William M. Roe, upon the 27th of 
May, 1875. Following are the names of the original 
members : James Finley, Eunice Finley, Jasper P. 
Warner, Urilla Warner, Samuel Ingling, Jane D. 
Ingling, Uriah F. Ingling (died July 5, 1881), 
Amelia G. Suits, Charles Smith, Frances Smith, 
Kate E. Brunner, Sarah Wixan, Thomas J. Caster- 
line, Rachel M. Casterline, Theodore T. Winchell, 
Louisa M. Winchell, Elias M. Ingling, Rachel Ing- 
ling, Mary Stoff, Lambert B. Dewey, Amy Dewy, 
Eliza Clark, Jennie Buckley (died December 16, 
1876), Charles Gardner, Mary Miller and Reason 
Williams. 

The first Elders chosen were Jonas Finley "and Lam- 
bert B. Dewey ; the first Deacons, Jasper P. Warner 
and Samuel Ingling. On the organization of the 
church, Uriah F. Ingling was chosen Clerk, and he 
served in that capacity until his death. 

The pastors who have served the church from its 
origin to the present, have been Revs. Elias Sias, 
George Clendening and William M. Roe. 

The year after its organization the society built, at 
an expense of about $3,000, its present tasteful house 
of worship. 

UNIVERSALISM. 

Organized Universalism had no existence in Dowa- 
giac previous to the fall of 1858, although occasional 
meetings had been held by the friends of that faith 
for two or three years before that time. 

A series of meetings of a deeply religious character, 
conducted by Rev. Justus Gage and Rev. D. P. 



Livermore, in the fall of 1828, culminated in the fol- 
lowing action : 

" We the undersigned do hereby associate ourselves 
together for the purpose of forming a religious society, 
to be known and designated as the first Universalist 
Society of the village of Dowagiac for the purpose of 
correct Biblical instruction; and for moral, religious 
and social improvement. In witness whereof we have 
hereunto set our hands this 18th day of December, 
A. D., 1858 : Justus Gage, C. P. Prindle, Mrs. A. 
S. Prindle, W. P. Bucklin, Mrs. Mary Ann Bucklin, 
Gideon S. Wilbur, G. C. Jones, Azro Jones " and sixty 
others. 

The Trustees were elected on the 5th day of Janu- 
ary following, and consisted of the following named 
persons: Justus Gage, D. M. Heazlitt, Gideon S. 
Wilbur, Joel II. Smith, J. S. Gage, Gilman C. Jones. 

The first meeting of the Trustees was held at the 
office of Justus Gage, on the 10th day of January, 
1859, and organized by the election of Daniel M. 
Heazlit, Chairman ; Justus Gage, Clerk ; and G. C. 
Jones, Treasurer. 

At this meeting, measures were inagurated looking 
to the establishment of regular preaching, and like- 
wise for the erection of a church building for the ac- 
commodation of the rapidly growing society. The 
efforts put forth by the society in support of the recom- 
mendation of its trustees were crowned with entire 
success during the year 1859. A minister had been 
settled, the church had been built and dedicated, a 
woman's aid society had been inaugurated, a Sabbath 
school formed, and the society was actively at work in 
all its departments, and a bright future loomed up in 
the distance. 

A committee had been chosen for the purpose of 
submitting a form of a church organization, and, on 
November 20, 1859, they reported one which was 
adopted, and of which the following is a part : 

ARTICLE I — NAMK AND OOVERNMENT. 

This church shall be culled the First Universalist Church of 
Dowagiac, its fo.-m of government shall be Congregational, and it 
shall consist of all those who unite together in its covenants of 
faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God and of obedience to His 
Gospel. 

AKTIOI.E II FAITH. 

Its only profession of faith shall be the simple declaration of 
the primitive Christians: " I believe that .lesus Christ is the Son 
of God and the Savior of the world ; that God is the common 
Father of the whole human rac3, and that all mankind are 
brethren, sharinc with us the love of God and entitled to our 
love and fraternal regards, and that ultimately all shall by the 
grace of God through Christ attain to conditions of holiness and 
happiness. 

In respect to these and all other moral and spiritual truths, 
contained in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, there shall be 
entire freedom of interpretation and private judgment, according 
to the understanding and private judgment of the believer. 



190 



HI8T0RY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ARTICLE III WORKS. 

Works of justice, mercy and truth, obedience to the mora' 
law and the precepts of the Gnspel ; the formation of a Christ- 
like character the spread of Christianity and the salvation of our 
fellow-man shall be considered the objects for which this church 
exists; the preaching of the Gospel ; the assembling ourselves 
together for worship ; the observance of Christian rites and the 
practice of Christian duties being regarded as means thereto. 

In this view, it is expected that the members of this church 
will be faithful to their opportunities, doing good to their fellow, 
men, relieving the poor, the injured and oppressed according to 
their abilities, doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly 
before God ; that they will take an interest in the welfare of the 
church, and in its meetings for conference and prayer, and for 
social, moral and religious improvement, and that they will 
engage with a hearty Christian zeal in every good word and work. 

ARTICLE IV CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 

When any persons wish to become members of this church 
they may do so by signifying their desire to the pastor or either 
of the church Deacons, and if there be no objection to their 
moral and religious character by signifying the following cove- 
nant in the book of church records, or in the records of the pas- 
tor. But if there be objection, all further proceedings shall be 
suspended until such objections shall have been fully examined 
by a committee of three members, appointed by the pastor (or 
minister for the time being), and a report made therson that said 
objections have been satisfactorily explained or removed. 

On January 4, 1860, the church was dedicated 
according to the usual custom of the denomination. 
Revs. D. P. Livermore, Otis A. Skinner. and A. G. 
Hibbard assisted in the services of the dedication. 

The following-named ministers have been pastors 
of the society in the order in which they are named : 
A. G. Hibbard, Jacob Straub, A. W. Bruce, Asa 
Countryman, Harvey Hersey, A. G. Harmon, Henry 
Slade, I. S. Fall and N. T. Glover. 

The Universalists of Dowagiac owe very much to 
Justus Gage for his zeal, energy and good manage- 
ment of matters pertaining to the society and church 
and also for his deep interest in and sacrifices for the 
Sunday school. 

The church building just at present presents a 
rough exterior, needing paint badly. But inside it is 
very comfortable and quite pretty. The names of the 
present Board of Trustees are as follows : President, 
G. C. Jones; Clerk, Hiram Bowling; Treasurer; 
C. T. Lee; Trustees, P. D. Beck with, Richard Heddon, 
Gideon Gibbs. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

In 1872, the Roman Catholics of Dowagiac erected 
a small but substantial and neat house of worship, 
which is now known as the Church of the Holy 
Maternity. It was dedicated August 30, 1876, by 
Bishop C. H. Borgess, D. D., of Detroit. Father 
John Cappou, of Niles, was the first priest who 
administered to the spiritual needs of the society and 
he was succeeded in January, 1877, by Father 



Christopher J. Roeper, of the Silver Creek Mission. 
The church has about fifty members, among whom are 
two Indian families. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF DOWAGIAC* 

There is not a scrap of record of the Dowagiac 
schools or of the School Board back of 1867, the 
school records and board records either having been 
either destroyed in the fire of 1»61, or otherwise lost. 
As the files of the local papers up to a still more recent 
date are missing, the history of the schools and the 
lists of school officers are necessarily fragmentary. 
The following history is as accurate and as complete 
as we have been able to make it, with the resources 
at hand. 

The first schoolhouse ever erected within the limits 
of the present city of Dowagiac was a log edifice 
rudely constructed of oak logs, within what was known 
as the old cemetery, land then owned by Patrick 
Hamilton. This was built about the year 1840 or 
1841. The first teacher who taught here was a Miss 
Hannah Compton, afterward Mrs. Elias Jewell, long 
since deceased. Tradition says that she was a good 
teacher, and spared not the rod, as D. M. and Jay 
McOmber, and Emmett Hamilton may testify. One 
other teacher who taught here was a Miss Melvina 
Edmunds, of Sumnerville. 

But few terms of school, however, were taught in 
this primitive schoolhouse. Dissatisfaction arose in 
regard to the morals of the pupils, some insisting that 
public schools bred rascality and immorality rather 
than virtue, withdrew their children until the school 
was broken up. 

When this school was finally closed, some of the 
pupils went to the school kept in the then new small 
frame schoolhouse in Wayne Township, just outside the 
present city limits, and known as No. 9. Others at- 
tended a select school started by Mrs. Henry C. Hills, 
then living on the farm in Silver Creek, now owned 
by William Moore, a half mile from the city limits. 
Her sister. Miss Cheesborough, attended to iier house- 
hold and domestic affairs while .she "kept the school. 
The log schoolhouse, a few years after, was pulled 
down, and reconstructed in another place by Patrick 
Hamilton, to serve as a barn for a number of years 
thereafter. 

From the time the village began its growth in 1847, 
until the next schoolhouse was constructed in 1850, 
select schools were kept in two or more places. A 
Miss Copley taught one of them in what was known 
as the "Cataract House" (now standing on the 
Stoff place, a part serving still as a dwelling house 

• The hiatory of the achoola has bfen chiefly cumpilod by H. S. McMaater, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and the rest as a barn, on the back part of the lot) ; 
another was taught in 1854 and 1856, by a Miss 
Mary Buell, in the house now owned by Miss Harriett 
Beckwith, just west of the Baptist church. 

In 1850, a small one-story frame schoolhouse was 
built on the ground now occupied by the First Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

At first and for a number of terms only one teacher 
was employed, but as the town grew and the number 
of pupils increased, it became necessary to employ 
two teachers, especially for the winter term. 

Among the many teachers employed in this build- 
ing we have learned the names of a few, which we give 
as follows, without attempting to place them in any 
order, as that is impossible from the data we have : 
Mrs. Dr. Keables, now of Decatur, Mich.; Mr. Van 
Buren, now of Galesburg, Mich.; Mr. Orrin T. Welch 
and Miss Abbie Simmons, afterward Mrs. O. T. Welch, 
now of Topeka, Kan., taught together. Miss Louisa 
Fuller, now Mrs. Turner J. Tuttle, of Kansas ; Miss 
Nellie Thomas, now Mrs. F. J. Atwell, of Dowagiac. 
The last teachers employed together were Miss Lucinda 
Hotchkiss, of Niles, and Miss Anna Lee (now deceased), 
daughter of J. A. Lee. In 1858 or 1859, this old school 
property was sold to the Methodist society, and 
the building moved to its present site on New York 
street, near the Harwood property, where it may now 
be seen well propped up to keep the wind from blowing 
it down. 

In 1856, a two-story frame schoolhouse was built, 
and in it was organized the graded school in the fall 
of the same year, by Prof. H. S. Jones, now Superin- 
tendent of the public schools of the city of Erie, Penn. 
He had at first three assistants, two of whom were his 
sisters. Prof. Jones was followed in the fall of 1858 
by Prof. Munson, who was assisted by a Miss Jones, 
sister of Prof. H. S. Jones, and two other lady teachers, 
whose names we are not able to learn. Prof. Munson 
remained but one year, and was followed by Prof. 
Wells in the fall of 1859. School had been in session 
but a week or two, when the building took fire upon a 
Friday evening and burned down. In 1861, the pres- 
ent fine brick Union School building was constructed 
upon the same site, the builder being Joel H. Smith. 
In the meantime, the school for nearly two years occu- 
pied temporary quarters in various buildings. One 
department (High School) was in the Reshore build- 
ing, afterward burned, where now stand Mrs. Reshore's 
store building. The Intermediate was in Mr. Daniels' 
cooper-shop, which was the old schoolhouse on New 
York street; this was kept the second year (1860-61) 
by the Misses McArthur, one of whom is now Mrs. 
D. M. McOmber, and the other Mrs. W. P. Stock- 
ing. The Primary Department was kept on the south 



side of Commercial street, in a building occupied for 
many years by the post office, and afterward burned 
down. Another department was taught on Front 
street, in a building that stood where now stands the 
residence of James At wood. This was taught by the 
lady who is now Mrs. Fayette Atwood. 

Prof. Wells remained two years, and was followed 
by Prof. J. A. Banfield, of Ohio, who organized the 
Union School in the new brick building in the fall of 
1861. 

In 1864, the Ward School building, standing in the 
Third Ward of the city, was built by George Spencer. 

The cost of the main school building was $7,000, 
and of the Ward building about $5,000. 

Under the old pro rata school system the following 
gentlemen served as trustees at different periods, viz. : 
G. C. Jones, Ira Starkweather, Dr. L. R. Raymond, 
Henry C. Hills, Daniel M. Heazlitt, I. S. Becraft, 
R. C. Denison and Joel H. Smith. The board of 
three trustees at the time the first union school build- 
ing was projected in 1856, consisted of Messrs. Den- 
ison, Starkweather and Smith. Mr. Denison re- 
signed his position to build the schoolhouse, and W. 
K. Palmer was elected to fill the vacancy. 

As has been already said, many of the books con- 
taining the records of the Dowagiac schools are miss- 
ing. It is, therefore, difficult to present full and per- 
fect lists of trustees and instructors for all of the years' 
but the following is believed to be essentially correct 
for the period extending from 1861 to 1868. For 
the years from 1861 to 1868, we present the names of 
the two new members elected each year : 

1861— Daniel Lyle, Justus Gage. 

1862— Enos H. Rice, Gideon Gibbs. 

1863— Daniel Larzelere, H. F. Colby. 

1864— Justus Gage, D. Lyle. 

1865— Jacob J. Van Riper, P. D. Beckwith. 

1866— Joel H. Smith, B. L. Van Buren. 

1867 — D. Lyle, Azro Jones. 

The records being perfect from 1868 to 1881, we 
are enabled to present the full lists of members of the 
board for the years embraced in that period. They 
are as follows : 

1868— One year, Joel H. Smith, B. L. Van Buren ; 
two years, Daniel Lyle, Azro Jones ; three years, P. 
D. Beckwith, G. D. Jones. Officers— Moderator, P. D. 
Beckwith; Director, Joel H. Smith; Treasurer, Daniel 
Lyle. 

1869 — One year, Daniel Lyle, Azro Jones ; two 
years, P. D. Beckwith, G. D. Jones ; three years, 
Joel H. Smith, William K. Palmer. Officers— Mode- 
rator, P. D. Beckwith ; Director, Joel H. Smith ; 
Treasurer, Daniel Lyle. 

1870— One year, P. D. Beckwith, G. D. Jones ; 



HI8T0KY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



two years, Joel H. Smith, William K. Palmer ; three 
years, Daniel Lyle, Azi-o Jones. Officers — Modera- 
tor, P. D. Beckwith, Director, Joel H. Smith ; Treas- 
urer, Daniel Lyle. 

1871— One year, Joel H. Smith, William K. Pal- 
mer ; two years, Daniel Lyle, Azro Jones ; three 
years, Thaddeus Hampton, Henry B. Wells. Officers 
—Moderator, H. B. Wells; Director, J. H. Smith; 
Treasurer, Daniel Lyle. 

1872 — One year, Daniel Lyle, Azro Jones ; two 
years, Thaddeus Hampton, H. B. Wells; three years. 
Freeman J. Atwell, William K. Palmer. Officers — 
Moderator, H. B. Wells; Director, Thaddeus Hamp- 
ton ; Treasurer, Daniel Lyle. 

1873— One year, Thaddeus Hampton, H. B. Wells, 
two years, F. J. Atwell, William K. Palmer ; three 
years, Justus Gage, D. Lyle. Officers — Moderator, 
H. B. Wells ; Director, T. Hampton ; Treasurer, 
Daniel Lyle. 

1874— One year, F. J. Atwell, William K. Palmer; 
two years, J. Coney, Daniel Lyle ; three years, Mrs. 
M. L. Foster, Mrs. A. Reshore. Officers — Modera- 
tor, William K. Palmer ; Director, F. J. Atwell ; 
Treasurer, D. Lyle. 

1875 — One year, J. Coney, D. Lyle ; two years, 
Mrs. M. L. Foster, Mrs. A. Reshore ; three years, 
William K. Palmer, Gideon Gibhs. Officers— Mod- 
erator, Gideon Gibbs ; Director, William K. Palmer ; 
Treasurer, D. Lyle. 

1876— One year, Mrs. M. L. Foster, Mrs. A. 
Reshore ; two years, W. K. Palmer, G. Gibbs ; threp 
years, Cyrus Tuthill, D. Lyle. Officers — Moderator, 
Gideon Gibbs; Director, W. K. Palmer; Treasurer, 
D. Lyle. 

1877— One year, W. K. Palmer, Gideon Gibbs ; 
two years, Cyrus Tuthill, D. Lyle ; three years, B. 
L. Dewey, Thomas W. Adams. Officers — Modera- 
tor, Gideon Gibbs ; Director, W. K. Palmer ; Treas- 
urer, D. Lyle. 

1878 — One year, Cyrus Tutliill, D. Lyle ; two 
years, B. L. Dewey, Thomas W. Adams ; three 
years, W. K. Palmer, Gideon Gibbs. Officers — Mod- 
erator, Gideon Gibbs ; Director, W. K. Palmer ; 
Treasurer, D. Lyle. 

1879 — One year, B. L. Dewey, Thomas W. Adams ; 
two years, W. K. Palmer, Gideon Gibbs : three 
years, Daniel Lyle, Hamilton S. McMaster. Officers 
— Moderator, Gideon Gibbs ; Director, W. K. 
Palmer ; Treasurer, D. Lyle. 

1880— One year, W. K. Palmer, Gideon Gibbs ; 
two years, D. Lyle, H. S. McMaster ; three years, 
Richard Heddon, B. L. Dewey. Officers — Moder- 
ator, Gideon Gibbs ; Director, W. K. Palmer ; 
Treasurer, D. Lyle. 



1881— One year, D. Lyle, H. S. McMaster ; two 
years, Richard Heddon, B. L. Dewey ; three years, 
Gideon Gibbs, Arthur Smith. Officers — Moderator, 
Gideon Gibbs ; Director, H. S. McMaster ; Treas- 
urer, D. Lyle. 

The Principals or Superintendents of the schools 
have been numerous, as the following list will show : 

The first was Henry S. Jones, who taught during 
1856 and 1857. He is now Superintendent of the 
schools of Erie, Penn. Mr. Prince taught during 
the fall of 1857 and the greater part of 1858, and 
was followed by Mr. Munson, whose term extended 
from 1858 to 1860, and he by Mr. Wells, who taught 
until the fall of 1861. Since that time the following 
gentlemen have served : 1861-62, J. A. Banfield ; 
1862-63, J. A. Banfield and C. L. Whitney ; 1863-67, 
C. L. Whitney; 1867-68, D. E. Wilbur, Daniel 
Thomas ; 1868-69, Daniel Thomas, D. P. Simmons ; 
1869-70, D. P. Simmons; 1870-71, John C. Magill ; 
1871-73, Thomas F. Shields ; 1873-74, H. M. Fish ; 
1874-77, Edwin C. Thompson ; 1877-80, Cyrus 0. 
Tower; 1880, M. W. Smith. 

I. 0. 0. F. 

The first organization of this order, and, indeed, 
the earliest secret society of any kind in the town was 
that of Dowagiac Lodge, No. 57, which was instituted 
September 12, 1851. The organizing officer was G. 
B. Turner, Deputy Grand Master, and he was assisted 
by Henry Tietsort, A. Wood, D. A. Clews and L. V. 
Tietsort of Cass County Lodge, No. 21, of Cassopolis. 
The charter members, eight in number, were J. W. 
Maitland, W. G. Wiley, E. Ballengee, D. H. Wagner, 
E. A. Allen, C. A. Mills, M. L. Pond and K. B. 
Miller. 

The following were the first officers: N. G., J. 
W. Maitland ; V. G., K. B. Miller ; Secretary, W. 
G. Wiley ; Treasurer, E. Ballengee ; Warden, D. H. 
Wagner; Conductor, M. L. Pond. 

The lodge owns the hall in which its meetings are 
held together with very fine furnishings, regalia, etc., 
and is in a prosperous condition. 

Olive Wreath Encampment, No. 50 (I. 0. 0. F.), 
was instituted April 13, 1871, with the following as 
its charter members, viz. : Henry Michael, R. H. 
Wiley, B. E. Coon, J. H. Cullom, N. B. Crawford, 
W. 0. Van Hise and W. H. Debolt. The institution 
was conducted by D. G. Palmer, G. P., and F. S. Day, 
G. S., assisted by J. H. Hollenbeck and J. McKin- 
ney, from Monitor Encampment of Lawton. The 
first officers elected : C. P., Henry Michael ; H. P., 
R. H. Wiley; S. W., N. B. Crawford; Scribe, J. H. 
Cullom ; Treasurer, W. 0. Van Hise ; J. W., B. E- 
Coon ; J. S., W. H. Debolt. 







ISAAC T. Tl CE 



ISAAC T. TICE. 

Isaac T. Tice, for many years a resident of Silver 
Creek Township, was born in Pine Bush, Orange 
County, N. Y., August 2, 1796. His father, Henry 
Tice, was of German birth and parentage and came 
to this country when a child. But little is known of 
his history further than that he was a soldier in the 
war of 1812. He reared a family of eleven children, 
Isaac T. being the seventh son. 

Isaac was thrown upon his own resources at an 
early age, and in his boyhood learned in the bitter 
school of experience those lessons of economy and 
perseverance that afterward became the salient points 
in his character. He acquired the trade of a black- 
smith, which avocation he followed in Orange County 
until 1821, at which time he was married to Miss 
Sarah, a daughter of Samuel Lockwood, one of the 
esteemed citizens of Pine Bush. Shortly after his 
marriage, he removed to New York City. There he 
followed his trade until his removal to Albany in 
1829, where, for many years, he prosecuted a success- 
ful business in the manufacture of iron doors, railings. 



bank vaults, locks, etc. About 1844, he purchased 
of Erastus Corning, of Albany, a large tract of land 
in Cass and Berrien Counties, to which he removed 
with his family in 1851, settling in Silver Creek, near 
Indian Lake, where he resided until his removal to 
Dowagiac in 1871, where he died in June of the fol- 
lowing year. Mrs. Tice, who was born in 1803, died 
in Silver Creek in 1855. She was an estimable 
woman, and the mother of ten children — Samuel, 
William, Mary, Almera, Isaac, Joseph, Charles, Mar- 
garet, Myron and Susan — all but two are now living. 
In 1856, Mr. Tice was again married to Sarah A., 
daughter of Moses and Sarah Buncombe, of Van 
Buren County. She was born in Canada in 1820. 
By this marriage there was one son, Talmadge, now- 
residing in Dowagiac. 

Mr. Tice was emphatically a man of affairs, and by 
a long life of industry, economy and honorable deal- 
ing accumulated a fine competency. In his religious 
belief he was at one time a Presbyterian, but later in 
life became an Adventist, in which faith he died. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



193 



MAf<ONIC. 

The first Masonic oi-ganization in the town was 
Dowagiac Lodge, No. 10, F. & A. M., the organ- 
ization of which was effected January 11, 1855, with 
a small number of members — exactly how many or 
who they were does not now appear. Following are the 
names of the first officers : M., A. M. Worden ; S. 
W., George Shrackenhast ; J. W., E. H. Foster; 
Secretary, D. H. Wagner; Treasurer, S. M. Spencer; 
S. D., — Dickson ; J. D., P. B. Holmes. 

Keystone Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M., was organ- 
ized (under a dispensation) November 12, 1864, and 
the following-named gentlemen were elected as its 
first officers : H. P., I. A. Shingledecker ; K., James 
M. Spencer ; Scribe, Hubbell Warner ; C. H., A. N. 
Alward ; P. S., Henry Tietsort ; R. A. C, William 
Houser ; M. 3d V., Joel Andrews ; M. 2d V., D. C. 
Marsh; M. 1st V., H. C. Parker; Sentinel, A. M. 
Alward. 

Peninsular Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M., was 
organized November 19, 1836. The first officers 
elected were: M., Arthur Smith; S. W., E. 0. 
Adams ; J. W., Thomas Shidler ; Treasurer, Thomas 
Ambrose; Secretary, Charles Fletcher; S. D., D. 
W. Clemmer; J. D., C. R. Miller; Tiler, A. H. 
Reed. 

Dowagiac Council, No. 28, was organized January 
17, 1870, with the election of the following officers, 
viz.: T. L G. M., Rev. J. Boynton ; Deputy T. L 
G. M., E. T. Avery; P. C. 0. W., D. W. Clemmer; 
Treasurer, R. C. Osborne ; Recorder, C. L. Sher- 
wood ; C. 0. G., George Miller ; C. 0. W., Charles 
Starrett; Sentinel, A. H. Reed. 

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN. 

Hope Lodge, No. 40, of this order, was organized 
in Dowagiac March 8, 1878, by George R. Penning- 
ton, of Detroit, with thirty-eight charter members. 
The following were elected officers for the first year : 
P. M. W., C. 0. Tower; M. W., E. 0. Adams; 
Foreman, C. L. Sherwood ; Overseer, A. H. Mason ; 
Recorder, C. H. Bigelow ; Receiver, F. H. Ross ; 
Financier, F. E. Burked ; Guide, Hiram Scoville ; 
I. W., Samuel Ingling; 0. W., William Bedell; 
Medical Examiner, Dr. H. S. McMaster; Trustees, 
Arthur Smith, Richard Holmes, Imman Andrews. 
The lodge has now a membership of about seventy 
persons. 

The object of this order is to furnish a cheap 
and reliable insurance. The family of any member 
upon his or her death receives the sum of $2,000. 
Since the organization of Hope Lodge there have been 
but two deaths among its members, those of 0. M. 
Sherwood and U. F. Ingling. 



KNIGHTS OF HONOR. 

The lodge of this order was instituted December 18, 
1877, with the following charter members, viz. : C. 
L. Sherwood, Dr. Thomas Rix, Dr. H. S. McMaster, 
A. J. Rouse, E. 0. Adams, T. W. Adams, H. A. 
Farwell, W. H. Argabright, H. M. Argabright, J. 0. 
Becraft, Dr. M. 1). Jewell, Thomas J. Rice, Rev. 
Elias Sias, E. B. Jewell, C. F. Clark, A. Thorp, H. 

D. Bowling, Eli Green, F. M. Sanders, C. H. Chase, 
Dr. W. L. Marr, Dr. E. C Prindle, 0. J. Parker, 
Edward Wells, P. Oppenheim, G. B. Sullivan, L. A. 
Andrews. Following are the names of the first offi- 
cers : Dictator, Thomas Rix ; V. Dictator, M. D. 
Jewell ; A. Dictator, J. 0. Becraft ; Reporter, H. D. 
Bowling; F. Reporter, T. W. Adams; Treasurer, 
H. S. McMaster ; Chaplain, A. J. Rouse ; Guide, 

E. 0. Adams; Guardian, H. A. Farwell; Sentinel, 
C. F. Clark ; Past Dictator, C. L. Sherwood ; Trustees, 
Eli Green, F. M. Sanders and W. H. Argabright. 

AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR. 

Dowagiac Council, No. 116, of this order (the first 
organized in the State) was established March 11, 
1880, by Henry H. Porter. The following is a list 
of the charter members : Henry H. Porter, William 
W. Easton, Edward C. Prindle, E. Whitney Jewell, 
Cornelia B. Jewell, Nellie E. Jewell, M. D. Jewell, 
E. Barlow Jewell, Georgianna Porter, Marion Bowl- 
ing, James E. Clark, Abigail Thompson, M. A. Wheeler, 
Rowena Morton, Constant S. Rouse, Ann Rouse, Susan 

A. Rouse, Margaret Jarvis, James M. Somers, Jasper 
P. Warner, Ziralda Warner, Thomas Rix, Hattie Rix, 
Ella E.Clark, C. Fred Clark, Ninrod Monsy, Alma A. 
Easton, Frank M. Sanders, Hattie C. Sprague, Al- 
mira Peck, Homer D. Nash, Gilbert I. Peck, Martha 
R. Farwell, Mary L. Banker, Frank Morton, Jane 

B. Clark. The first officers elected were : P. C, 
Henry H. Porter ; C, William W. Easton ; V. C, 
Jasper P. Warner ; Orator, Hattie C, Sprague ; Sec- 
retary, E. Barald Jewell ; Treasurer, Thomas Rix ; 
Collector, Georgianna Porter ; Chaplain, E. Whitney 
Jewell ; Guide. Nellie E. Jewell ; Warden, James M. 
Somers ; Sentry, James E. Clark ; Medical Examiner, 
Dr. William W. Easton. 

THE DOWAGIAC UNION MEDICAL SOCIETY. 

The Dowagiac Union Medical Society was organ- 
ized in August, 1871; Dr. C. J. Curtis,* Presi- 
dent; Dr. A. W. Morse, Vice President; Dr. J. H. 
Wheeler, Secretary aud Treasurer. 

The other members were Drs. L. V. Rouse,t 
P. I. Mulvanc, George W. Fosdick,|" H. S. Mc- 
Master,* E. B. Weed,t and T. Rix, dentist. 

♦Eclectic. tHorooopath. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The Society held monthly meetings, and continued 
them for a year and a half or more. 

During the winter of 1871 and 1872, there were 
several medical students in Dowagiac. F. Clen- 
dening, William Morris, E. A. Curtis, Edward 
Gale and Guy S. Mulvane and some others who de- 
sired to pursue the study of anatomy, as C. J. Green- 
leaf, the artist, and Drs. T. and John llix, dentists, 
joined with the students, and, procuring " subjects " 
from Chicago, dissected three or four. This dissect- 
ing business was carried on quietly evenings, in a 
building then vacant, on Beeson street. Dr. G. W. 
Fosdick, of the medical society, was instructor or 
•'demonstrator of anatomy," a part of the time. 

At times it was difficult to procure the necessary 
dissecting material, and once when a "subject" 
had been properly prepared, paid for, boxed and 
directed to a medical firm in Dowagiac, a curious 
drayman intentionally burst it open in the depot in 
Chicago and delivered it over to the police authorities. 
This furnished material for many columns of sensa- 
tional matter for the Chicago dailies. The students 
demanded their " subject," but without avail. Others 
had to be procured, and these were obtained under 
tribulations by the agents of the Dowagiac students in 
Chicago. 

The Union Medical Society was revived and re-or- 
ganized in 1881, with Dr. C. D. Morse as President, 
Dr. H. S. McMaster, Vice President, and Dr. W. W. 
Easton as Secretary and Treasurer. 

Monthly meetings are still held, in which papers 
are read and discussions held upon subjects that are 
of interest to the profession. 

The present officers are Drs. H. S. McMasters,* 
President; William Ketcbam, Vice President; W. 
W. Easton,* Secretary and Treasurer. 

The other members are Drs. C. W. Morse, L. V. 
Rouse,t E. A. Curtis,* E. C. Prindle, J. H. Lud- 
wig,t and D. W. Forsyth.* 

THE LIBERAL LE.4GUE OF DOWAGIAC. 

The liberal element of the city associated themselves 
together in an organized form in March, 1870. The 
first meeting was held at the office of Dr. Rix, where 
Constitution and By-Laws were presented and adopted. 
The preamble to the constitution set forth the follow- 
ing objects of organization : " The objects which the 
members of this society have in view in organizing are 
in general terms — to stimulate free thought and inves- 
tigation among the people in relation to their civil, 
religious and political rights, and encourage the inves- 
tigation of questions relating to religion, science and 
reform, and to that end sustain free-thought speakers, 

•EclecticB. tHomeojiathn. 



hold liberal meetings, and circulate liberal, scientific 
and reformatory papers and periodicals." 

About fifty signed the constitution and articles of 
association, and the following officers were elected : 
President, Henry Straub ; Vice President, Abram 
Fiero; Secretary, C. J. Greenleaf; Treasurer, Mrs. 
R. Heddon. An Executive Committee, consisted of 
P. D. Beckwith, James Heddon and Mrs. Abbie 
Knapp. 

As the organization progressed, lecturers were pro- 
cured, a library was formed, meetings were held each 
Sunday, when questions of general interest were dis- 
cussed, essays, poems and selections read. Occasion- 
ally, miscellaneous meetings were held where any 
member read whatever they thought would be accept- 
able, or spoke on any subject they wished. The pres- 
ent officers are : President, R. Heddon ; Vice Presi- 
dent, T. J. Foster ; Secretary, Dr. Thomas Rix. 

THE ladies' library ASSOCIATION. 

For several years the need of a public library was 
felt by the citizens, which culminated in a meeting 
held at Young Men's Hall in the city of Dowagiac, 
April 9, 1872. A Constitution and By-Laws were 
presented and adopted, which provided for the election 
of a board of nine Directors, three members of said 
board to be elected each succeeding year. 

The following Board of Directors were elected at 
this meeting : Mrs. G. C. Jones, Mrs. Samuel John- 
son, Mrs. F. J. Atwell, Mrs. W. K. Palmer, Mrs. S. 
Tryon, Mrs Dr. Mulvane, Mrs. E. C. Chappell, Mrs. 
P. D. Beckwith and Miss Florence Cushman. From 
this board the following officers of the association were 
chosen : President, Mrs. G. C. Jones ; Vice Presi- 
dent, Mrs. S. Johnson ; Corresponding Secretary, 
Mrs. Tryon ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. F. J. Atwell ; 
Treasurer, Mrs. Mulvane; Librarian, Miss Florence 
Cushman. 

The following names appear signed to the constitu- 
tion as charter members : Mrs. Maria Palmer, Aman- 
da W. Jones, Mrs. Mary E. Lyle, Mrs. H. D. Bowl- 
ing, Mrs. Lurany B. Dickson, Mary W. Sherwood, 
Mrs. Emma E. Van Riper, Miss Gertrude Reshore, 
Mrs. Jerusia E. Bailey, Caroline J. Mulvane, Lillie 
A. Curtis. The city was then canvassed for subscribers 
to the capital stock, the amount of which was fixed at 
$1,000, divided into 500 shares at $2. About two 
hundred sliares were sold, and the enterprise was fairly 
started. Books were loaned under proper regulations, 
and citizens began to feel an interest in the movement. 

At the second annual meeting, Mrs. S. Johnson was 
elected President, Mrs. A. S. Prindle, Vice President 
(she having been elected to fill vacancy by removal of 
Mrs. Mulvme) ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. F. J. At- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



195 



well ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Tryon ; Treas- 
urer, Mrs. Palmer. It was decided that other than 
one of the Board of Directors was eligible to the office 
of Librarian, and Miss Kate Kenney was elected to 
this office. The present officers are : President, Dr. 
H. S. McMaster; Vice President, Mrs. A. Reshore; 
Secretary, Mrs. C. J. Greenleaf; Treasurer, Miss 
Deda Adams ; Librarian, Miss Grace Reshore. 
Board of Directors, Dr. McMaster, Mrs. Reshore, 
Mrs. C. J. Greenleaf, Miss Deda Adams, Mr. D. 
Lyle, Mrs. F. J. Atwell, Mrs. W. M. Farr, Mrs. H. 
D. Bowling, Mrs. Hattie Sprague. 

The library now contains about eight hundred vol- 
umes, to which additions are constantly being made. 
At the annual meeting held in April, 1881, the report 
showed that 2,268 volumes had been drawn during 
the year. The number drawn during the last quar- 
ter of 1881, was 915, and the number in January, 
1882, was 248. 

INCORPORATION — OFFICERS FROM 1858 TO 1881. 

The first step taken toward the incorporation of 
Dowagiac as a village was the serving of a notice that 
application would be made for such purpose, to the 
Board of Supervisors of Cass County. This notice 
was dated " Dowagiac, December 22, 1857, and 
was signed by James Sullivan, Moses Porter, A. 
Jones, Daniel Larzelere, F. J. Mosher, S. Bowling, 
J. H. Smith, Jolin Hawks, Noel B. Hollister, A. 
Townsend, D. H. Wagner, George H. Andrews, R. 
C. Denison, Gideon Gibbs, A. M. Dickson, James 
Patton, T. T. Stebbins and James A. Lee. 

On the 1st day of February, 1858, the petition was 
granted, and an election was ordered to be held on 
Tuesday, the second day of March, at the public 
house of Nicholas Buck, which was the American 
Ilouse, now known as the Commercial. 

In pursuance of the order of the Board of Super- 
visors, the election was duly held, Daniel Larzelere, 
James A. Lee and A. Townsend acting as inspectors. 
The officers balloted for were a President (Mayor), 
si.K Trustees, two Assessors, a Marshal, Treasurer, 
Clerk, three Street Commissioners, a Pound Master 
and Fire Wardens. The total number of votes cast 
for President was 197. Of these Justus Gage re- 
ceived 127, and Ira Brownell sixty-nine. The highest 
number of ballots recorded was 202. 

The officers chosen at this the first corporation 
election in Dowagiac were as follows : 

President, Justus Gage ; Trustees, Harvey Bige- 
low, Azro Jones, Joel H. Smith, Daniel Larzelere, 
A. Townsend, Ira Brownell ; Assessors, RoUin C. 
Denison, Elias Jewell ; Treasurer, Henly C. Lybrook ; 
Clerk, David H. Wagner ; Marshal, John Letts ; 



Street Commissioners, Francis G. Larzelere, James A. 
Lee, Charles B. Foster ; Pound Master, Moses Ami- 
don. 

In 1859, the whole number of votes polled in the 
village election was two hundred and fifty-five — a gain 
of fifty-three over the total vote of the preceding year. 

Following are the names of those who were elected : 

1859 — President, Joel H. Smith ; Trustees, Azro 
Jones, Daniel Larzelere, Daniel Lyle, Ira Brownell, 
Silas Ireland, Daniel M. Hazelitt ; .Marshal, James 
A. Lee ; Treasurer, Francis J. Mosher ; Clerk 
Strawther Bowling; Assessors, Rollin C. Denison, 
Gideon Gibbs ; Street Commissioners, Daniel Bates, 
Daniel McOmber, Henry Michaels ; Fire Wardens, 
William K. Palmer, Isaiah S. Becraft, J. C. Squier, 
Noel B. Hollister, Asa Huntington. 

1860 — For this year the officers were : President, 
James Sullivan ; Trustees, Silas Ireland, Charles B. 
Foster, Hubbell Warner, John D. Olney, Morris S. 
Cobb, David H. Wagner ; Treasurer, William H. 
Campbell ; Assessor, Ira Brownell ; Marshal, Peter 
Hannan ; Street Commissioner, William K. Palmer ; 
Fire Wardens, John Hawks, Daniel Bates ; Pound 
Master, Nicholas Bock. 

1861 — ^President, Joel H. Smith ; Trustees, Gideon 
Gibbs, P. D. Beckwith, William Griswold, William 
R. Sturges, William K. Palmer, Azro Jones ; Clerk, 
Strawther Bowling; Treasurer, Daniel Lyle; 
Marshal, Henry Michael ; Assessor, George W. 
Andrews; Street Commissioner, Hubbell Warner; 
Fire Wardens, C. Squier, John Hawks. 

1862 — President, Henely C. Lybrook ; Trustees, 
Abel Townsend, Fredrick H. Ross, Hervey Bigelow, 
John G. Howard, Elias Pardee, Patrick Hamilton ; 
Assessor, Joel H. Smith ; Marshal, Ebenezer M. 
Taylor; Treasurer, Daniel Lyle; Street Commis- 
sioner, William K. Palmer ; Fire Wardens, John 
Hawks, Asa Huntington, Abel Townsend. 

1863 — President, Daniel Lyle; Trustees, Daniel 
Sanders, Philo D. Beckwith, Fredrick H. Ross, 
C. P. Prindle, Azro Jones, Daniel Larzelere ; 
Clerk, Strawther Bowling ; Treasurer, Albert N. 
Alward ; Marshal. John I. Dennison ; Assessor, 
Elias Pardee ; Street Commissioner, Isaiah S. 
Becraft ; Fire Wardens, John Hawks, Theodore 
Stebbins. 

1864— President, Daniel Lyle ; Trustees, Philo D. 
Beckwith, Joel Andrews, Francis J. Mosher, Evan P. 
Townsend, Daniel Henderson, Frederick H. Ross; 
Marshal, Peter Hannan ; Assessor, Elias Pardee ; 
Treasurer, Albert N. Alward ; Street Commissioner, 
James A. Lee; Fire Wardens, Gideon Gibbs, John C. 
Comstock. The record of the election of 1865 has 
not been preserved. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1866 — President, Joel H. Smith ; Trustees, Austin 
M. Dickson, Gideon Gibbs, Daniel McOmber, Alex- 
ander H. Mason, Philo D. Beckwith, Daniel Hender- 
son ; Treasurer, Archibald Jewell ; Assessor, Elias 
Pardee ; Marshal, Peter Hannan ; Street Commis- 
sioner, A. H. Reed; five Wardens, Richard Heddon, 
George Lyle. The officers for 1S67 are not recorded. 
It appears, however, that the clerk, during 1864-65- 
66 and '67, was Strawther Bowling and that G. C. 
Jones was elected President in the last-mentioned 
year. 

1868— President, Philo D. Beckwith; Trustees, 
George D. Jones, Gideon Gibbs, Henry B. Wells, 
Austin M. Dickson, Daniel Lyle, Frederick H. Ross; 
Treasurer, Daniel Lyle ; Assessor, Elias Pardee ; 
Marshal, Charles M. Fletcher ; Street Commissioner, 
Charles M. Fletcher; Fire Wardens, Theodore S. 
Stebbins, Thomas W. Adams. 

1869— President, Joel H. Smith ; Trustees, Alex- 
ander H. Mason, Edwin F. Avery, Williard Wells, 
Francis 0. Van Antwerp, Mark Judd, Daniel S. 
Sanders; Clerk, Henry Michael; Assessor, Elias 
Pardee; Treasurer, John C. Comstock ; Marshal, 
Peter Hannan; Street Commissioner, Peter Hannan ; 
Fire Wardens, Charles H. Bigelow, Daniel R. Marr. 

1870 — President, Elias Pardee ; Trustees, Alex- 
ander H. Mason, Francis 0. Van Antwerp and Will- 
iam C. Gardner for two years ; Thomas W. Adams, 
Jacob J. Van Riper and George D. Jones for one 
year ; Treasurer, John C. Comstock ; Assessor, John 
Patton ; Marshal, Levi S. Henderson; Street Com- 
missioner, Levi S. Henderson ; Fire Wardens, Daniel 
R. Marr, Gideon Gibbs. 

1871 — President, Lewis E. Wing ; Trustees, 
Thomas Rix, Jacob J. Van Riper and James Atwood 
for two years ; Clerk, David W. Cleramer ; Treas- 
urer, William G. Howard ; Assessor, Elias Pardee ; 
Marshal, Levi S. Henderson ; Street Commissioner, 
Levi S. Henderson ; Fire Wardens, Daniel R. Marr, 
Charles Bigelow. 

1872 — President, Lewis E. Wing ; Trustees, Zadoc 
Jarvis (to fill vacancy), Francis E. Warner, B. W. 
Schermerhorn and Frederick H. Ross, for full term ; 
Treasurer, Alexander H. Mason ; Assessor, Elias 
Pardee ; Marshal, Charles H. Brownell ; Street Com- 
missioner, Charles H. Brownell ; Fire Wardens, 
George D. Jones, Charles Larzelere. 

1873 — President, Alexander H. Mason ; Trustees, 
Edwin F. Avery, Eli Green and Willard Wells, for 
two years; Clerk, David W. Clemmer; Treasurer, 
Rollin C. Osborne ; Assessor. Elias Pardee ; Marshal 
and Street Commissioner, Levi S. Henderson. 

1874 — President, B. W. Schermerhorn ; Trustees, 
F. J. Mosher, Samuel Ingling, Daniel McOmber; 



Clerk, David W. Clemmer ; Treasurer, ; 

Assessor, W. K. Palmer ; Marshal and Street Com- 
missioner, Levi S. Henderson. 

1875 — President, B. W. Schermerhorn; Trustees, 
Hiram Scoville, Daniel Henderson, Daniel Smith ; 
Clerk, Charles H. Bigelow ; Treasurer, Burgett L. 
Dewey ; Assessor, George W. Andrews ; Marshal 
and Street Commissioner, Levi S. Henderson ; Fire 
Wardens, Orson Buttrick, Edward Wells. 

1876 — President, Aldis L. Rich ; Trustees, Azro 
Jones, George W. Adams, Philo D. Beckwith ; Clerk, 
Charles H. Bigelow ; Treasurer, Burgett L. Dewey ; 
Assessor, Henry Michael ; Marshal and Street Com- 
missioner, Peter Hannan ; Fire Wardens, George 
H. Genung, Silas C. Doolittle. 

1877 — President, David W. Clemmer; Trustees, 
Thomas W. Adams, George D. Jones, Daniel Mc- 
Omber; Clerk, Frank W. Jones; Treasurer. Bur- 
gett L. Dewey ; Assessor, Henry Michael ; Marshal 
and Street Commissioner, Orlando J. Parker ; Fire 
Wardens, Daniel Rummel, Levi S. Henderson. These 
oflicers remained in service less than a month. The 
last village corporation election was held March 6 of 
this year (1877), and on the 3d day of the following 
April was held the first election of officers for the 
city of Dowagiac, which resulted as follows : Mayor, 
Freeman J. Atwell ; Aldermen, Philo D. Beckwith, 
George W. Adams, Hiram Scovill, Daniel Blish, 
Francis 0. Van Antwerp, Alexander H. Mason ; Re- 
corder, Frank W. Jones ; Treasurer, Hiram D. Bowl- 
ing ; Supervisor, Arthur Smith ; Justice of the Peace, 
B. W. Schermerhorn ; Collector, Richard Heddon ; 
Marshal, Orlando J. Parker ; Constables, Levi Gray, 
Frank E. Peck, Alexander W. Duff, Levi S. Hender- 
son. 

1878 — Mayor, Thomas W. Adams; Aldermen, 
Theodore N. Winchell, Lorenzo Dillingham, Thomas 
J. Edwards ; Recorder, Julius 0. Becraft ; Super- 
visor, Arthur Smith; Treasurer, Burgett L. Dewey; 
Collector, Richard Heddon ; Marshal, Orlando J. 
Parker ; Constables, Alexander W. Duff, Alexander 
S. Hubbard, Levi S. Henderson, Orlando J. Parker. 

1879 — Mayor, Burgett L. Dewey ; Aldermen, 
Gideon Gibbs, Willard Wells, William P. Grannis ; 
Recorder, Julius 0. Becraft ; Treasurer, Tiiomas VV. 
Adams ; Supervisor, Arthur Smith ; Collector, Rich- 
ard Heddon ; Justice of the Peace, George W. An- 
drews; Marshal,' Alexander W. Duff; Constables, 
Alexander W. Duff, Orlando J. Parker, William 
Larzelere, Levi S. Henderson. 

1880— Mayor, Hiram Scovill; Aldermen, Willis 
M. Farr, Mark Judd, Silas Doolittle; Recorder, 
Julius 0. Becraft ; Treasurer, Thomas W. Adams : 
Supervisor, Arthur Smith ; Collector, Richard Hed- 




D0VV/\GIAC UNION SCHOOL, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



don ; Marshal, Charles H. Dawes ; Constables, Charles i 
H. Dawes, George B. Moore, William Larzelere, : 
Alexander W. DufF. 

1881— Mayor, Philo D. Beckwith; Aldermen, 
Thomas J. Edwards, Myron Stark, Thomas Harwood ; 
Recorder, Julius 0. Becraft; Treasurer, William Gris- 
wold ; Supervisor, Arthur Smith; Collector, Ephraim 
C. Adams; Justice of the Peace, B. W. Schermerhorn ; 
Marshal, Alexander W. Duff; Constables, Alexander 
H. Hubbard, Alexander W. Duff, William Larzelere, 
Levi S. Henderson. 

FIRE DEPARTJIENT. 

It is probable that the earliest action in regard to 
the prevention or control of fires in the village was 
taken in the year 1854. On the 18th of December 
of that year, a meeting of citizens was held for the 
purpose of effecting some sort of an organization for 
the protection of property from the most dreaded of 
the elements. L S. Becraft was chosen President of 
this meeting and E. D. Morley, Secretary. A com- 
mittee was appointed, consisting of R. C. Denison, 
Gideon Gibbs and Daniel Lyle, who were authorized 
to examine the stores, shops and other buildings of 
the village, and ascertain whether proper precautions 
had been observed by their owners and occupants to 
guard against the outbreak of fire within them. It 
was resolved that ladders should be procured and held 
in readiness for use should an emergency require. 
After making a few other provisions for the common 
safety the meeting was adjourned and there does not 
appear to have been a very active interest in the 
matter from this time until the year 1858. Under 
various dates of this year, the corporation records 
contain mention of such matters as the procurement 
of buckets and the building and repairing of cisterns. 
It was finally decided best to purchase an engine, 
and on the 10th of November the Council appointed 
Messrs. Hervey Bigelow, Ira Brownell and Joel H. 
Smith as a committee to carry into execution 
these designs. In the following winter, there was 
bought of Messrs. Corning & Co., of Seneca Falls, 
N. Y., the excellent hand engine still in use, together 
with all of the necessary appliances. The total cost 
was nearly $1,200, as is shown by the fact that an 
order drawn January 18, 18G0, for one-half of the 
sum due the manufacturers amounted to $592.50. 
The present engine house was built at the time the 
apparatus was procured, and an organization was per- 
fected, having the name of the Hamilton Fire Com- 
pany No. 1, of Dowagiac. It was named after 
Patrick Hamilton, one of the proprietors of the 
village. About the time it was organized, there was a 
great Fireman's Tournament at Battle Creek, in 



which the Hamilton boys took part. The excellence 
of the machine and the company who worked it was 
attested by a triumph in this contest. The first prize 
was fairly won by the Dowagiac company but for 
some reason bestowed upon another organization. 
The second prize was offered to, but indignantly 
refused by, the Hamiltons, and some time afterward 
the Messrs. Corning, who manufactured their engine, 
gave the company a handsome silver trumpet, in com- 
memoration of the victory they had won and the 
spirit they had exhibited in declining to accept the 
second prize when they had honorably earned the 
first. This trumpet is now in the possession of Peter 
Hannan, who was the Chief Engineer of Hamilton 
Fire Company. The company has maintained an 
almost unbroken existence until very recently. In 
the winter of 1879-80, a new company was organized, 
bearing the old name, however, and using the same 
engine and apparatus that has served the village for 
over twenty years. Uniforms were procured for the 
members of the new volunteer organization at a cost 
of about $250. 

THE DISASTROUS FIRES OF 1864 AND 1866. 

On the 2d day of January, 1864 — during one of 
the severest and coldest snow-storms ever known in 
this latitude — a devastating fire occurred, destroying 
over one-half of the business portion of the town. 
It was first discovered in a two-story frame build- 
ing owned by Wells II. Atwood. The lower story 
was occupied by Andrews k Cooper as a grocery 
store, the upper by T. J. Martin, as a barber shop. 
Here the fire was first seen, and it was supposed to 
have originated from a defective chimney. The wind 
was blowing a gale at the time, and the flames soon 
spread to the adjoining buildings. The property de- 
stroyed by the fire was estimated at from $30,000 to 
$35,000. The fire engine was rendered almost use- 
less from freezing, and before it could be put in work- 
ing order every building between the southeast corner 
of Commercial- and Front streets and Huntington's 

' drug store, at the intersection of Beeson street, were 
burned to the ground. The buildings destroyed were 

i as follows : The building in which the fire originated 
— two-story frame ; a two-story frame building owned 
and occupied by D. Larzelere & Co., with dry goods, 
groceries, etc. ; buihling valued at $3,000; no insur- 
ance ; a two-story building occupied by Mr. Sturgis 

i as a dry goods store, building owned by a gentleman 
in New York ; valued at $3,500 ; no insurance. 
Next door north of Mr. Sturgis' store was a small 
structure, occupied by Henry Michael as a gun shop. 
This was pulled down as was also a small structure 
next door north. The razing of these two buildings 



198 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and active exertions of the citizens with wet blankets 
prevented the further spreading of the flames in this 
direction. The building next south of where the fire 
started was owned and occupied by William Griswold 
as a grocery store ; building and goods valued at 
$5,500 ; no insurance. The next was a two-story 
frame building, owned by John Denniston, and occu- 
pied by A. G. Townsend & Bro. as a bakery. Goods 
saved ; no insurance. South of this was a building 
owned by J. Denniston and occupied by D. Pond as a 
confectionery shop. Then came a building owned by 
Eastern parties and occupied by A. N. Alward as a 
book store and T. Campbell as a jewelry store, from 
which the goods were partially saved. The next was 
a two-story frame structure owned by J. G. Howard, 
who occupied the lower floor with a drug and book 
stock. In the second story was a saloon kept by E. 
Pattison. Then came N. B. Hollister's twostory 
building, the lower portion being occupied with a 
stock of drugs owned by Mr. H., and the upper story 
of which was used by S. Bowling as a Justice's ofiice. 
To the north of this, on the corner of Commercial 
and Front streets, was a two-story structure, owned 
by Gideon Gibbs, the occupants were Jones & Gibbs, 
dealers in dry goods, in the rear, on Commercial 
street, being the post oSice. The upper story was 
occupied by Dr. Armstrong, dentist ; J. J. Van 
Riper, lawyer, and 0. B. Dunning, photographer. 
This building was insured for $1,200, being the only 
one insured out of the twelve destroyed. 

The fire broke out about 8 o'clock Saturday morn- 
ing, January 2, and raged with fury all day, and until 
no more material was left on the north side of Front 
street to be consumed. 

The fire of January, 1866, occurred upon the 
7th of the month, which was Sunday. It was dis- 
covered at a little before 3 o'clock in the morn- 
ing after it had been burning at least half an 
hour. The fire had evidently broken out in the 
store of the Messrs. Stebbins, but within a very 
brief time extended north to Lyle & Co.'s store, 
which it consumed, and then made its way across the 
alley to Jones k Flinn's, sweeping out of existence 
the whole block of frame buildings on Commercial 
street, from which most of the goods, however, were 
saved. The flames also spread from Stebbins' store 
westerly, along Front street down to Harley's gro- 
cery, where it was arrested by pulling down Denman's 
Bank building, and by throwing water on Harley's 
building with pails. The engine was worked unceas- 
ingly and well, but the torrent of water was not judi- 
ciously directed, and was wasted on buildings which 
there was no hope of saving. Men, boys, and even a 
few ladies worked to extinguish the flames, and to 



save goods from the'burning buildings. It is remem- 
bered that among others, William Patton, James Hed 
don, James A. Lee, Joel H. Andrews, Thomas Foster 
and Dr. C. P. Prindle, rendered valuable services. 
As is usual in fires of similar extent occurring in the 
night, there were several exciting incidents. No lives 
were lost but a number of persons who had their 
places of dwelling in what was known as the Ex- 
change Building, owned by Messrs. Jewell, Comstock, 
Dickinson, Hirsh and Lybrook, narrowly escaped 
being enveloped in the flames. 

So far as can be ascertained, the losses occasioned 
by this fire were as follows : On Front street, Messrs. 
Stebbins' store and goods, $10,000 ; insured for 
$3,000; F. H. Ross' store, $2,500; insured for 
$1,100; Daniel Lyle & Co., goods, $6,000; no 
insurance; F. M. Smith, merchant, loss, $6,000; no 
insurance ; McEwin, saloon keeper, $800 ; no insur- 
ance ; Messrs. Lombard, boots and shoes, loss, $7,000 ; 
insured for $4,500 ; Stephens & Co., grocers, loss, 
$2,500 ; insured for $1,000 ; Exchange Building, 
owned by Jewell, Comstock, Dickenson, Hirsh and 
Lybrook, $3,000 ; Lyle & Rogers, banking house, 
$500; Howard's store, loss, $3,000, insured for 
$1,000; loss on goods about $8,000, insured for 
$4,000; B. Cooper's store, loss $800: insured for 
$500 ; Cooper & Johnson, grocers, loss small ; cov- 
ered by insurance ; Arthur Smith's harness-shop : loss 
about $250 ; fully insured. Mrs. King, who owned 
the building, lost about $800 ; Munger and Dewitt 
lost on their saloons about $800 ; Mr. Denman's loss 
on the old Stebbins' store, and the bank building 
was about $800. 

On Commercial street, the principal losses were : E. 
Jones, of the firm of Jones & Flinn, store, $1,200, 
insured for $800 ; loss on goods, $400 ; fully insured ;, 
W. McNab, billiard saloon, loss, $800 ; no insurance ; 
Peck & Co., grocers ; loss on building, $900 ; in- 
sured for $800 ; loss on goods, $300 ; fully insured ; 
Merwin & Coney, loss on building, $700 ; insured. 

The total amount of the direct losses was not far 
from $50,000, and the insurance did not greatly 
exceed one-third of that sum, or, in other words, was 
about $17,000. 

TiDRIAL PLACES. 

Very early in the history of the village, a piece of 
ground, near where the Union Schoolhouse now stands, 
was set apart for a burying ground. It was in this 
lot that the remains of Bogue Williams, the first per- 
son who died in the community, were interred. Sev- 
eral other persons were buried there, but after the 
elap.se of a few months, the fast growth of the village 
made it obvious that a larger burial ground, farther 
removed from the nucleus of the settlement, would 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



199 



very soon be needed, and, accordingly, Patrick Hamil- 
ton, the ever beneficent proprietor of the northern 
part of the town, donated the piece of land now known 
as "the old cemetery." The Dowagiac Cemetery 
Association, organized in accordance with the law, 
February 21, 1851, had the control of this burial- 
place, and divided it into 210 lots, nearly all of which 
have been disposed of and occupied by the mortal 
remains of those who have passed over to the silent 
majority. The first deed of the society recorded in 
the books conveyed a burial lot to Patrick Hamilton. 
This was upon the 8th of March, 1852. Upon the 
same day deeds were made out to M. T. Garvey, Dr. 
L. R. Raymond, David H. Wagner, Philip Tlardman, 
J. W. Maitland, Silas T. Howell and Thomas Bray- 
ton. Shortly after this time, the remains of several 
persons which had been interred in the first burying- 
ground were removed to the new one. 

The association had as its oiBcers, in 1851, the fol- 
lowing persons, viz.: President, S. R. Henderson; 
Treasurer, I. S. Becraft ; Collector, Strawther Bowl- 
ing ; Sexton. H. C. Hills, and Clerk, Dr. L. R. Ray- 
mond. The organization has been maintained, and, 
even now, remains in existence, although it has but 
few duties to fulfill. 

The new Riverside Cemetery was laid out in 1870, 
the first deed of a lot being given in November of that 
year, and the first interment made upon the 6th of the 
same month — the body of Louis Reshore, removed 
from the old cemetery. In 1879, the whole number 
of interments in Riverside Cemetery was 3.34, of which 
151 were re-interments of remains originally deposited 
elsewhere, principally in the old village burying- 
ground. 

Riverside Cemetery consists of a tract of land in 
the southern or southeastern part of the corporation, 
which will be ample for the purpose intended for many 
years to come. It was platted and arranged by Mr. 
Hale, of Niles, and originally divided into 1,400 lots. 
The larger divisions are denominated blocks and 
parks. There are ninety-eight of the former, and 
twenty-one of the latter. The natural charm of the 
location has been supplemented by very tasteful work 
of the landscape gardener, and the cemetery is one of 
the most appropriate and beautiful resting-places of 
the dead possessed by any similar town in Michigan. 

DOWAGI.AC UNION FAIR ASSOCIATION. 

The Dowagiac Union Fair Association was organ- 
ized in 1879 with the following officers and Directors, 
viz. : President, Daniel Lyle, of Dowagiac ; First 
Vice President, Abram Fiero, La Grange ; Second 
Vice President, George Bedford, Silver Creek ; Treas- 
urer, John Cady, Pokagon; Secretary, John F. Tryon; 



Dowagiac. Directors, James A. Lee, Dowagiac ; C. 
W. Vrooman, Dowagiac ; Baltzer Lybrook, Silver 
Creek ; Samuel Johnson, Wayne ; Henry Richards, 
Pokagon ; Gideon L. Wilbur, La Grange ; James 
Atwood, Dowagiac. 

The society was successful from the very start. 
The grounds at present in use, consisting of twenty- 
one and a half acres, situated on Division street, or 
the Cassopolis road, were purchased of the heirs of 
James Andrews, for about $55 per acre, and fitted 
up for the holding of the first fair, which was a very 
creditable exhibition, and attended with pecuniary 
success. The grounds and buildings cost the society 
$5,150, and the premiums and miscellaneous expenses 
amounted to $1,000 more. To meet this outlay, the 
stockholders paid in the first year $6,000. 

The second year, about $1,100 was laid out on the 
grounds and buildings, and paid premiums, amounting 
to $1,900. The total receipts of the fair were $3,- 
282.85, and the Treasurer had a balance left of over 
$300 

The society is, at present, composed of about two 
hundred and seventy-five stockholders, and the amount 
of stock is over $3,300. The grounds and buildings 
are now estimated to be worth from $12,000 to 
$15,000. An excellent half mile track is one of 
the features notable among the improvements. The 
buildings are well arranged and tastefully built. 
Floral Hall, in the form of a cross, measures one hun- 
dred and five feet each way. The other structures 
are of a similar scale of commodiousness, but the 
society has not yet all of the accommodations in this 
line which it needs, and additional buildings are soon 
to be erected. 

The officers for the year 1881 were the following: 
President, Daniel Lyle, Dowagiac ; Vice President, 
Elias Pardee, Dowagiac ; Treasurer, John Cady, 
Pokagon ; Secretary, John F. Tryon, Dowagiac. 
Directors, Abram Fiero, La Grange ; C. W. Vroo- 
man, Dowagiac ; R. J. Dickson, Pokagon ; Erastus 
Osborn, Hamilton ; Henry Richards, Pokagon ; 
Gideon S. Wilbur, La Grange ; James Atwood, Do- 
wagiac. 

The following are the by-laws of the society : 

Section 1. This association 8ha1l be known as the Dowagiac 
Union Fiiir .Society. 

Sei?. 2. The object of tliis association shall be the encourage- 
ment of Agriculture, Horticulture, the Mechanic and Household 
Arts. 

Seo. 3. The officers of this society shall consist of a President, 
Vice President, a Treasurer and Secretary, who shall be elected 
annually ; seven Directors, who shall hereafter be elected for two 
years, and until their successors shall have been duly elected and 
signified their acceptance. 

Skc. 4. The election of officers shall be held al the anuual 
meeting on the last Saturday of October in each year, at 2 o'clock 



200 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



p. M., in the city of Dowagiac. The President, Secretary and 
Directors, or a majority of them, shall conduct the election, whicli 
shall be by ballot. 

Sec. 5. The official term of the officers so elected shall com- 
mence on the first Monday of January following, and all officers 
so elected shall signify their acceptance, in writing, to the Secre- 
tary, prior to that time, otherwise the board may assume the office 
to be vacant. 

Sec. 6. When any office shall become vacant by non-acceptance, 
or by the death, resignation or removal of the incumbent, the 
Board of Directors may appoint to fill vacancy for the unexpired 
term 

Sec. 7. An annual fair shall be held by this society at such 
time as may be designated by the Board of Directors. 

Sec. 8. There shall be regular meetings of the Board of Directors 
on the first Saturday of June and the last Saturday of October in 
each year, at 10 o'clock A. M. The Board of Directors may call 
special meetings upon giving ten days' notice. 

Sec. 9. The President shall annually, at a meeting in October, 
appoint from the Directors an Executive Committee, a Committee 
on Premiums, and Judges, aad a Committee on Rules and Regu- 
lations, each composed of three members, who shall be standing 
committees, and discharge the usual duties, and such other as 
may be reiiuired by the Board of l>irectors, and the President 
shall be ex officio a member of these several committees, and assist 
them in the performance of their duties. 

Sbc. 10. The President and Secretary of the society shall per- 
form the duties which usually appertain to their respective offices, 
and such as may be required by the Board of Directors. The 
Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the society, and pay out the 
same only on orders signed by the President and Secretary. He 
shall annually, at the meeting in October, submit to the Board of 
Directors a detailed financial report for the preceding year; and, 
at the time of the annual election, he shall furnish the Secretary 
with the names of the members entitled to vote. 

Sec. 11. At the meeting in June, the President shall classify 
the business by departments, and assign to each department such 
superintendent and assi.stants as he may think proper, and the 
board shall adopt the rules and regulations to be observed during 
the succeeding fair. 

Sec. 12. One dollar entitles any person to the privilege of an 
exhibitor, without which they cannot make an entry for a pre- 
mium. The exhibitor's ticket is not of itself a card of admission, 
but the purchaser will receive with it four admission tickets, or 
one s'ason ticket good for one person only. Admission tickets 
will be sold for '2-5 cents each 

Sec. 13. Exhibitors will be required to pay 2.5 cents as an entry 
fee on each additional entry over the first, provided no person 
shall be required lo pay an additional entry fee on any article in 
case the premium offered on said article be $1 or less. Such 
entrance fee must be paid at the Secretary's office at the time 
of entry. 

Sec. 14. No officer of the society shall be entitled to compen- 
sation for his services, except the Secretary, who shall receive a 
salary of J.'JO per annum, and his necessary disbursements. 

Sec. 15. The Viewing Committees shall be assigned by the 
Board of Directors at the meeting in June. Should vacancies 
occur, they may be supplied l)y the Superintendent of Divisions. 

Sec. 1G. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute 
a quorum to transact the ordinary business of the society. 

Sec. 17. These By-Laws may be amended only by a vote of 
two-thirds of the members present at an annual meeting of the 
society. 



PHILO D. BECKWITH. 
Philo D. Beckwith was born in the Township of 
Pike, Allegany County, N. Y., March 6, 1825. 
This section was at this time a new country and was 
a portion of the " Holland purchase." His father, 
Stephen Beckwith, was a cooper by trade. He mar- 
ried Miss Narcissa, daughter of Daniel Beach, an 
early settler in an adjoining township. The elder 
Beckwith died at the age of forty, his wife at the age 
of fifty. At the age of nineteen, Philo D. was mar- 
ried to Miss Catherine M. Scott, who was three years 
his junior. Five years subsequent to their marriage, 
the young couple decided to come West, and the autumn 
of 1844 found them in Detroit with stout hearts but 
slender purses ; in fact, Mr. Beckwith was obliged to 
dispose of a small quantity of cloth in order to liqui- 
date his indebtedness at the hotel and pay his fare to 
Ypsilanti. The winter of 1844-45, he spent in 
Yysilanti and in the spring went to Battle Creek, 
where he found employment in a woolen factory. 
Here he remained four years, when he went to work 
in a machine shop. In 1851, he removed to Michi- 
gan City, where he was engaged in the shops of the 
Michigan Central Railroad. The following year he 
came to Niles, and after a few months came to Dowa- 
giac and built a small iron foundry, which he opera- 
ted with the assistance of one man. In 1858, he 
bought a small tract of land on the creek, of Justus 
Gage, and built a foundry which he ran for nine 
years, and when he commenced the manufacture of 
" The Roller Grain Drill" during this time, it was 
only by the most rigid economy and untiring energy 
and industry that he was able to avert financial ruin. 
In 1858, he invented and commenced the manufact- 
ure of " The Round Oak Stove," in connection with 
the drills. The stoves soon found an extended sale 
in this and ailjoining States, and in 1868, he built the 
nucleus of the works as they now exist. From this 
time he began to reap the reward of his years of toil 
and persistent effort, and he now gives employment to 
about sixty men. Mr. Beckwith is a gentlemen of 
whom the Latin phrase, '■'■ Faher suce fortumv" is emi- 
nently applicable. Commencing life with only his 
natural resources for his capital, he has conquered 
success in all departments of life. Mr. Beckwith 
has identified himself largely with the best interests 
of Dowagiac. He was President of the village before 
its incorporation, and in 1881 was elected Mayor. 

FKED H. KOSS. 
Fred II. Ross was born in Essex, Essex County, 
N. Y., .\ugust 3, 1834. He was the son of Henry 
H. and Susannah Ross, who reared a family of eight 




fHON'.M- B.WELLS. 



jMF^S.h.B.V/ELLS. 



IIOX. IIKNKY 11. WELLS. 
Ilonry B. Wells was born in Hartwick, Otsego 
County, N. Y., February 4. I8ili>. His parents. 
Worden and Julia (Baker) Wells, were natives of Rhode 
Island, and reared a family of nine cinldreu, si.x boys 
and three girls. The elder Wells in early life fol- 
lowed the vocation of a saddler and harness maker, 
but later became an extensive manufacturer of lasts 
and boot trees; he was successful in his business op- 
erations, and was possessetl of many admirsible traits 
of character. He wivs an Abolitionist of the old 
school, and a man of decided opinions in everything. 
In 1835, he c«me to Michigan with his family, and 
settled in the town of Charleston, Kalamazoo County, 
where he still resides. Henry was at this time six 
yeai-s of age : he i-eceived such advantages for educa- 
tion as were afforded by the log schoolhouse of the 
early days, and remained at home until the death of 
his mother, which occurred when he was fourteen 
years of age. when he went to live with a man by the 
name of Tubbs, witii whom he remained two years, 
when he commenced life as a fiirm hand, working dur- 
ing the summer and attending the district school in 
winter. In 1848. he came to Cass County, and the 
fi^llowing year made his first investment in land in 



Wayne Township, wiiere he has since resided. He 
h.os identified hini.self prominently with the best inter- 
ests of his township, and has occupied many positions 
of trust and responsibility. In 1860, he was elected 
Supervisor, and continued to serve his fellow-towns- 
men in that capacity until 18(i6. when he was elected 
to the Representative branch of the Legislature, which 
position he filled with credit to himself and to the 
entire satisfaction of his constituents, who recognized 
in him an able exponent of Republican principles. 
For fifteen years he was a resident of Dowagiac, where 
for a short time he wivs engaged in merchandising. 
In company with Mr. Z. Jarvis, he built the present 
grain elevator, and for several years was extensively 
engaged in the produce business. 

In 1854, he was married to Miss Phebe E., daugh- 
ter of Gary Carr. of Wayne. Mi-s. Wells is a native 
of Yates County. N. Y., where she was born in the 
town of Barrington October !\ 1837; four children 
have been born to them, two of whom are living ; 
.\lice, wife of H. B. Tuttle, of Michigan City, Ind.. 
and Elbtrt C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wtlls are consist- 
ent members of the Congregational Church of Dowa- 
giac. and among the representative families of Wayne» 
they hold a prominent position. 



1 




ELIAS JEWELL. 



IvIRS. ELI^S JEW'ELL. 



KLIAS JEWELL. 1 

The family from which Mr. Jewell is descended 
was originally from Holland, and according to family 
tradition the progenitors were three brothers, who 
emigrated from Holland to this country about the 
time of the Revolutionary war. One of the brothers, 
whose name was John, was the grandfather of Elias ; 
he reared a family of three boys and three girls, the 
eldest of whom, the father of Elias, bore the patro- 
nymic of his father ; he was born near Monmouth, N. 
J., where his father had settled shortly after his arrival 
in this country. Here, in a region made historic by 
one of the decisive battles of the Revolution, he grew 
to manhood's estate, imbibing, as it were, from the very 
atmosphere, those principles that distinguished the 
men of those days. About 17U8, he was married to 
a Miss Catherine Reed, and in 1811 Elias was born. 
Six years subsequent to this event (1817), the family 
removed to Butler County, Ohio, then a new country, 
and settled in the vicinity of Middletown, where the 
elder Jewell purchased a farm, and where he resided 
until his decease, which occurred in his seventy-first 
year. Elias received such advantages for education 
as were afforded by the primitive schools of that day, 
and remained with his father until 1837, at which 
time he started for Michigan. A brother, Iliram. 
(me of the first settlers of La Grange, had emigrated 
in 1830, and the fall of this year found Mr. Jewell a 
member of his brother's family, with whom he resided 
several years ; he purchased a new farm on McKen- 



ney's Prairie. In 1843, he was married to Miss 
Hannah Compton, of Niagara County, N. Y., where 
she was born in 1821. Mr. Jewell lived in La 
Grange many years, and was intimately connected 
with its development. In 1854, he was called upon 
to mourn the loss of his wife, who had been the part- 
ner of his joys and sorrows, and had shared with him 
the privations and hardships of his pioneer days. 
Two children had been born to them — Osee and 
Augustus — the former of whom died in 1862, in 
which year he was again married to Mrs. Cordelia 
(Lampson) Hough, daughter of Solomon Lampson, 
of Washington County, N. Y., where she was born 
1831. Six years subsequent to her birth, the family 
removed to Wayne County, N. Y., and in 1844 came 
to Cass County and settled in La Grange. By this 
union there have been two children — Carrie and Ar- 
thur. Two years after his last marriage, Mr. Jewell 
disposed of the farm which had been his home for so 
many years, and removed to Dowagiac, but city life 
was not congenial, and in 1860, he removed to his 
present residence, in Wayne. The life of Mr. Jewell 
has been an active one, his early surroundings were 
such as to develop habits of industry, perseverance 
and economy ; these qualifications, coupled with a 
firm desire to succeed and correct habits, have been 
productive of a rich reward, and Mr. Jewell is enjoy- 
ing, in the evening of his days, a well-earned compe- 
tency and the respect and esteem of all those with 
whom he has been brought in contact. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



201 



children. The elder Ross was a lawyer of marked I 
ability, a contemporary of Silas Wright, and occupied 
many prominent positions. Fred H. received a colle- 
giate education, graduating at Burlington College in 
18>2. After his graduation, he entered the office of 
his father, and commenced the study of the law, but 
was obliged to abandon it on account of his eyes. In 
1854, he came West, stopping at Detroit, where he 
entered a large hardware house as porter. From De- 
troit, he came to Kalamazoo, where he remained but a 
short time, when he removed to Dowagiac in the 
autumn of 1860, and engaged in the hardware trade. 
Mr. Ross is emphatically a self-made man, and his 
' success is attributable wholly to his own efforts. He 
has identified himself prominently with the growth 
and development of Dowagiac, and for many years 
has been one of its most prominent merchants. In 
1859, he was married to Miss Francis J., daughter of 
F. L. Dixon, of Burlington, Vt. Two daughters 
have been born to them — Francis M and Susannah 
D. In his religious affiliations, he is an Episcopalian, 
and in politics a Republican. 

THOMAS W ADAMS. 
Thomas W. Adams was born in Buffalo, N. Y., 
March 6, 1832. His parents, John and Lilly (Shank- 
land) Adams, were natives of Scotland, and came to 
this county in 1826. The elder Adams was a manu- 
facturer of " Paisley shawls" in the old country, but 
established himself here in the wholesale and retail 
dry goods business, which he carried on extensively 
for many years. Thomas W. received a liberal com- 
mon school education and at the age of sixteen com- 
menced life as a clerk in a hardware store in Palmyra, 
N. Y. After several changes of location, he came to 
Dowagiac in 1868, where, with the exception of a 
few intervals, he has since resided. He first engaged 
in the grocery business, but that class of merchandis- 
ing not proving congenial, he engaged in the express 
business, and after a brief connection with a hardware 
house in Chicago, he returned to Dowagiac, and asso- 
ciated himself with the hardware firm of Ross & Co. 
In 1868, he bought into the firm, and has since been 
a member. Mr. Adams has not only connected him- 
self prominently with the business interests of this 
city, but has in all matters of public import taken a 
prominent part. He has filled acceptably several 
positions of trust and responsibility. In 1879, was 
Mayor of the city. In 1854, Mr. Adams was united 
in marriage with Miss Adelia, daughter of Asa Lyon, 
of Van Buren County. She was born in Catherine, 
Schuyler County, N. Y., April 15, 1832. They 
have a family of four children — Adelia, George, 
Thomas W., Jr., and Charles W. 



STHAWTHER BOWJ^ING. 
Strawther Bowling was one of the early comers to 
Dowagiac, who was well and favorably known to its 
people as a good citizen and most worthy man. He 
was a native of Virginia, and emigrated from there to 
Ohio, and thence to Michigan, locating in Dowagiac in 
1848. He lived in the town until his death at the 
age of fifty-six years, in 1870. He was a shoemaker, 
and carried on that tradi^ during his entire term of 
residence in Dowagiac, except when filling the office 
of Justice of the Peace. With him, or at later 
periods, came to Michigan several of his brothers — 
Benjamin F., who is now in Marcellus Township; 
Thomas, who afterward removed to Indiana, and 
several others. Mrs. F. M. Sanders, a daughter of 
the latter, and H. D., a son of Strawther Bowling, 
now reside in Dowagiac. 

THE McOMBER FAMILY. 
The McOmber family became residents of the south- 
west corner (Section 30) of Wayne Township in the 
year 1837, and a portion of the village of Dowagiac 
was subsequently built upon their land. James Mc- 
Omber was born in the town of Berkley, Mass., Feb- 
ruary 28, 1801. His father died before he was born, 
and his mother still a widow, in 1805, removed with 
her children to Vermont. James was there married 
in 1824, to Nancy Mc Arthur, and the pair took up 
their residence in Castleton. To them were born 
several children. In 1832, they removed to New 
York, and in 1834 to Michigan. They stopped in 
Adrian one winter, removed to Jackson in the spring 
of 1835, and, as we have said, to Wayne Township 
in 1837. They settled on the farm now owned by 
David McOmber (and owned also a part of the Jay 
McOmber farm). They had some trials in coming to 
their new home, that part of the journey between 
Kalamazoo and the site of Dowagiac alone occupying 
four days. Mr. McOmber was a surveyor, and spent 
much of his time in seeking locations for those who 
intended to become settlers, or who had a speculative 
interest in seeking purchases. He surveyed the 
road through the swamp by the Watson settlement, 
assisted by his sons, Patrick Hamilton, the Hills and 
the Watsons. Mr. McOmber continued to reside on 
his Wayne farm until his death (with the exception of 
two years spent in Kalamazoo), and was once elected 
Supervisor of the township. He entertained in his 
little log cabin many men who were passing through 
the country in the early forties, and five years after 
he made his settlement he built a larger house, in 
1 which he kept hotel. The stages of the Humphrey 
1 line stopped there until the railroad was built and the 
I old-fashioned means of travel superseded by the iron 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



horse. A store was also kept in a portion of the 
house before the village was laid out, by Messrs. Goas 
& Darling. James McOmber died in December, 
1848, and his wife in May, 1851. Their children 
were Susan N., born in April, 1825 ; Jay W., in 
1826; Daniel M., in 1828; Angeline S., in 1830, 
and Marietta. The last named died in 1839. Susan 
N. married A. J. Wares in 1S41, and built the 
Dowagiac House soon after the village was laid out. > 
Their daughter Frankie, now Mrs. C. J. Geenleaf, j 
was the first girl child born in Dowagiac. Jay W. Mc- 
Omber was married in 1861, and still lives in Dowagiac; 
Daniel M. still claims Cass County as his home ; 
Angeline S. was married to Charles Northrup in 1847, 
and died in 1861 ; Mrs. Wares is still living, a resi- 
dent of Fargo, D. T. 

G. C, HORACE C. AND AZRO .JONES. 
The Jones brothers, G. C, Horace C. and Azro, 
were from Hopkinton, Merrimack County, N. H. G. 
C. was the first to emigrate to the West. He located 
in Cassopolis in 1846, and in 1850 removed to Dowa- 
giac and went into business with Joshua Lofland and 
Henley Lybrook, for whom he had clerked two years 
in Cassopolis. He has been actively engaged in busi- 
ness until very recently when he was succeeded by 
his son, W. D. Azro Jones came to Dowagiac in 
1855, and Horace C. in 1857. Both have been 
prominently identified with the mercantile and gen- 
eral business interests ofthe town. 

THE MOSHER FAMILY. 
Ira D. Mosher and family settled on the site of 
Dowagiac in the fall of 1847, before the railroad was 
built. Mr. Mosher was one of the pioneers of the 
county, having located in Wayne Township in 1837. 
He was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., October 26, 
1802. He married Fanny Johnson (who was born 
June 24, 1800), upon the 22d of May, 1822. They 
emigrated to Michigan in 1828, and settled in Wash- 
tenaw County, where they remained until they re- 
moved to Cass County in 1837. They were the 
parents of seven children, viz., Harriet D., born July 
2,1823; Zebedee, born July 13, 1825; Francis J., 
'born March 22, 1828 ; Elizabeth S., born December 
20, 1831 ; Marinda J., born September 18, 1833 ; 
Ethan, born November -8, 1838, and Elmer E., born 
June 12, 1842. Of these there now living — Zebedee, 
who resides in Iowa ; Ethan, a resident of the north- 
ern part of the State, and Francis J., the well-known 
grocer of Dowagiac. Elmer E. Mosher died in the 
service of his country. He enlisted in August, 1861, 
in Bustead's Battery of the Chicago Light Artillery, 



and was very soon afterward transferred to Battery 
G, of the First New York Artillery. He died in the 
Mill Creek Hospital at Fortress Monroe, on the 15th 
of September, 1862. He possessed and deserved the 
reputation of being a brave soldier. Ira D. Mosher 
the pioneer and father of this family, died November 
27, 1880, aged seventy-eight years. His wife, Fanny 
J. Mosher, died October 5, 1851. 

I. S. BECRAFT. 
In 1849, I. S. Becraft and family became settlers 
here. They boarded with the McOmbers until Mr. 
Becraft built, near the Methodist Church, a comfort- 
able dwelling (the first house in Dowagiac having an 
L or wing.) Mr. Becraft was a carpenter and builder, 
and, in connection with Daniel Heazlett, reared the 
Baptist Church and many other buildings in Dowagiac. 
He was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1811, and 
died in 1865. His widow and a son, Julius 0. 
Becraft, Deputy Postmaster, still reside in Dowagiac. 

JOEL H. SMITH. 
Capt. Joel H. Smith, who came into the embryo 
village from Cassopolis in January, 1848, with the 
first stock of goods, was born in 1820, in Oneida 
County, N. Y. He became a resident of Cassopolis 
in 1846. During the war of the rebellion, he organ- 
ized and commanded Company A, of the Nineteenth 
Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry. 

HENLEY C. LYBROOK. 
Mr. Lybrook has been a resident of Dowagiac since 
1850, and one of the heaviest merchants and general 
business men of the place during a long term of years. 
Few men in Cass County have had a wider acquaint- 
ance or a larger number of friends among its people. 
Perhaps none have enjojed a fuller or better merited 
confidence than has he. For many years wher there 
was no bank in the village, and even after one had 
been established, it is said that it was a common thing 
for the farmers of the surrounding country who had 
a few hundred dollars they did not want to use, to 
deposit the same for safe keeping with Mr. Lybrook. 
Although his business was quite successful and he 
accumulated considerable property, his later years 
have brought reverses which have left him consider- 
ably poorer in worldly goods than in reputation and 
character. He was a native of Giles County, Va., 
and born November 28, 1802. He came to Cass 
County in 1830, and located in the southwest por- 
tion of Pokagon Township, where he taught school 
far a short time. In 1832, he moved to Cassopolis, 
where he resided until coming to Dowagiac, eighteen 



years 



later. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN., 



NICHOLAS BOCK. 
Mr. Bock was one of the earliest arrivals in the 
infant village, coming in the year 1848. He was 
born in Belgium, in May, 1800 ; came to American in 
1832. He lived for a time in Missouri, and moved 
from that State to Michigan in 1840. He was thus 
a pioneer beyond the Mississippi before he became a 
pioneer in the Wolverine State. Shortly after his 
arrival in Dowagiac, he built the American House 
(now the Commercial), which he still owns, and of 
which he has been most of the time landlord. He has 
accumulated considerable property and recently built 
a fine brick residence, which is known as the Bock 
House, where he entertains " the wayfarer and the 
stranger" as he did in earlier years at the American. 

GEOP.GE W. ANDREWS. 
In 1850, came to the new village George W. and 
Julius C. Andrews, moving from Portage County, 
Ohio, whither the family had emigrated from Ver- 
mont. They opened the first hardware and tinning 
establishment in Dowagiac, occupying at the start the 
basement of the old American (now the Commercial) 
House. Julius C. Andrews removed in 185.3, to Cali- 
fornia. George W. Andrews, who brought with him 
to the village his wife, Sarah A. (Jones), and two 
children, has ever since resided in Dowagiac and been 
one of its leading citizens. Soon after coming to the 
place, he was elected Justice of the Peace and has 
served most of the time since in that capacity. His 
brother, Luman, came to the State also in 1850, and 
to Dowagiac three or four years later. 

CYRUS TUTHILL. 
Cyrus Tuthill came into the county in 1855, from 
Middletown, Orange County, N. Y. (where he was 
born in the year 1827), and began the mercantile 
business in Dowagiac, which he followed for about 
six years. For fifteen years, or thereabouts, farming 
engaged his sole attention, but for the past six he has 
been Secretary of the Cass County Farmers' Mutual 
Insurance Company. 

WILLIaM K. PALMER. 
William K. Palmer came to Dowagiac in 1854. 
He was born in Livingston County, N. Y., in 
1825, and came to Tecumseh, Mich., with his parents 
when a boy; in 18-37, removed with them to Wayne 
Township, Cass County, and subsequently to La 
Grange. He has been engaged in woolen manufact- 
ure, the dry goods and livery business, and is at 
present, a grocer (of the firm of Mosher & Palmer.) 
He was Sheriff of Cass County from 1861 to 1865, 
and has held several appointive Federal offices. 



GIDEON GIBBS. 
One of the most enterprising and well-to-do of 
Dowagiac's old residents is Gideon Gibbs. He has 
probably done more for the material improvement of 
the town — erected more substantial buildings within 
it than any other one man. He now owns, among 
otlier property, several fine business blocks which are 
ornaments to Front street. Mr. Gibbs and his wife, 
Martha (Hilton), whom he married in 1846, came into 
the village in 1851, and have resided in it ever since. 
Mr. Gibbs came into the county in 1841, with his 
father, David Gibbs, and removed to La Grange in 
1843, where he resided until coming to Dowagiac. 
He was born in Litchfield County, Conn., September 
16, 1820. 

DANIEL LYLE. 
Daniel Lyle, who is perhaps the most successful 
citizen of Dowagiac, came to the village in 1853, and 
began on a very small scale the harness and boot and 
shoe business. In 1865, he went into the hanking 
business, which has since engrossed his attention. In 
1869, he bought a controlling interest in the First 
National Bank, and has since then been its President. 
He was born in England in 1830, and came to this 
country with his parents when a child. His bi-other, 
G. H. Lyle, was born in Van Buren County, and 
located here in 1857. 

BRIEF PERSONAL NOTES. 

Thomas H. Adams, of the F. H- fioss hardware 
house, came to Dowagiac in 1861, from Steuben 
County, N. Y. 

Dr. Thomas Rix has practiced dentistry in Dowagiac 
since 1864. He came from Clinton, Mich., but was 
originally from Vermont, where he was born in 1834. 

William Griswold came to the village in 1857, 
from Battle Creek, where he had located in 1842. 
He came to Michigan in 1838, from Genesee County, 
N. Y. 

William Houser, whose parents were early settlers 
in Pokagon Township, has resided in the town since 
1862, and has been engaged in his present bnsiness 
since 1876. 

Richard Ileddon came here in 1860, from Keeler 
Township, Van Buren County, to which place he 
came from Genesee County, N. Y., in 1849. He 
was born in Devonshire, England, in 1820. For two 
years he was connected with the Basket Manufactur- 
ing Company of Dowagiac, and since the removal of 
the works to Chicago, has been traveling for the 
house operating. His son James, who also lives in 
Dowagiac, is a noted bee culturist. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



J. G. Defendorf and family arrived in 1857. His 
sons are well known business, men in the community, 
Marvin, in the dry goods business, a member of the 
firm of Dewey, Defendorf & Lyle, and Harmon the 
proprietor of a planing mill. 

Louis Reshore, a native of France, a man who took 
a leading part in the business of the town, was an 
arrival of 1857 from Huron County, Ohio. He died 
in 1870, and the business which he established has 
since been carried on by the family. 

Henry, a son of Adam Michael, of Virginia (who 
settled in Pokagon in 1830, and afterward removed to 
Berrien County, where he died in 1838), came to 
Dowagiac in 1851, and has ever since been a resident 
of the town, following the trade of a gunsmith. 

Samuel Ingling (connected with the F. H. Ross 
hardware house) has been a resident of Dowagiac since 
1864, at which time he left the array. He came to 
Michigan in 1847 from Ohio, and located at Browns- 
ville, Calvin Township, from which place he removed 
to Newberg Township. 

Hervey Bigelow came to Dowagiac in 1851, from 
La Grange village and began the furniture business 
which he still carries on. He was from Connecticut 
originally and settled in La Grange as early as 1837. 

In the same year as the above came Abram Town- 
send, from Flowerfield. 

The Larzeleres, Daniel, F. G. and William, came 
to the village in 1855 from Clinton, Lenawee County, 
Mich., where their parents were early settlers. Will- 
iam, who now resides in Dowagiac, has carried on the 
livery business since 1875. F. G. Larzelere, it will 
be remembered, was shot by a burglar in Carlin's 
store about twenty years ago, and quite seriously 
hurt. 

Arthur Smith has been a resident of Dowagiac 
since 1863, and since 1877 has represented the town 
in the Board of Supervisors. He was born in Penn- 
sylvania in 1834; came to St. Joseph County, Mich., 
in 1857, and soon after removed to Cassopolis, where 
he was in business for five and a half years, most of 
the time with J. P. Osborne. He carried on harness- 
making for a number of years after his removal to 
Dowagiac, but was compelled to abandon it on account 
of poor health. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

POKAGOX. 

Arrival ot Putnam— Incidents of his J jiirney— Baldwin Jenliins— 
Sfjuire Thompson— Lewis Edwards— Alexander Rogers— The Pio- 
neer Plow and First Crop- Townsends— Marltharas- The First 
Religious Meeting— Organization of the Township— First Marriage 
—First Roads— Early Postal Facilities— Sauk War— Assessment of 
1R34—Shakspeare — State Hatchery — Churches— Civil List— Land 
Entries. 

In the history of Cass County an especial interest 
attaches to Pokagon Township. It was the cherished 
dwelling-place of the last, lingering remnant of a once 
powerful Indian tribe, the name of whose "good 
chief" it perpetuates. The corn fields of the Potta- 
wotamies spread their verdure over the prairie for 
many summers, before the white man disputed posses- 
sion of the rich domain, and the region abounds in the 
legends and traditions of the race that has well-nigh 
passed away. But while the red man's occupation of 
the country affords romantic material for the imagina- 
tion, and is a fascinating field for the research and 
speculation of the antiquarian student, it is the fact 
that here was made the first white settlement which 
constitutes Pokagon as the " classic ground " of Cass 
County. Here came the vanguard of the pioneers — 
Uzziel Putnam. Here the little beginning was made 
of that development which, in half a century, has 
completely conquered the wilderness^ and added it to 
the mighty realm of civilization. In its primeval 
condition, the region now known as Pokagon was a 
beautiful one, and this circumstance, which had made 
it one of the favorite localities of the Indians, in- 
fluenced the white settler to choose it for his future 
home. The beauty of the scene was supplemented by 
the promise of rich reward for the husbandman's toil. 
The fertile prairie was ready for the plow, and the 
luxuriance of the lofty forest trees attested the wealth 
of the soil which upbore them. The aspect of nature 
was kindly and inviting. And yet it was only through 
toil, privation and suffering, and incessant little acts 
of every day life, humble in themselves, but making 
up an aggregate of noble heroism that " the soil was 
won" by the pioneers and wrought into a splendid 
heritage for their children. 

It is our purpose in this chapter to give some idea 
of the trials of Putnam, the pioneer, and to show who 
and what manner of men were those who followed 
him into Pokagon Township. 

As early as 1821, the fame of the valley of St. 
Joseph had been carried by Indian traders and 
trappers to the frontier settlements in Ohio, and it 
excited in the minds of many adventurous individuals 
a desire to explore the region and to substantiate the 
representations made of its beauty, fertility and 
natural resources. Among the number was Baldwin 




;^^^|SP 



"r\ 




U 



(tP. 



(fi) 



Ti.^cj.^-X^ ^r^ytzza^i^i-H, 



HON. UZZIEL PUTNAM, JR. 

The late Hon. Uzziel Putnam, Jr., was the flrat white child b.>rn";fa Casa 
<^ounty, " and be thus seemed to rightfully inherit the privilege of always 
being closely identified with its histiry." H4 wiis the son of the earliest 
pioneers of thf county and the descendant of the old Green Mountain stock' 
which from time to time made the name of Putnam famous in tlie history of 
the country. 

The subject ot our sketch was born in P.)kagon Township August 12, 182G. 
considerably less than a year from the time when his parents Uz'/.iel and Anna 
(Chapmin) Putnam built their first little cabin upon the prairie. A friend says 
of him: "He early manifested a thirst for knowledge, but in tint primitive 
d^y his home advantages for schooling were very limited." He made the most' 
however, of such opportunities as he had, and early in his teens attended school 
for two years in Niles. Then he went to Keysville, N. Y., where lie remained 
a year; afterward he went to .Albion and sp-^nt two years in study, and finally 
to Anil Arbir University, from which institution he graduated with high 
hinors, aft«r a four years' course, in ISjIi. Mr. Putnam then read law for two 
years with Messrs. E. C. A C. I. Walker, a prominent firm in Detroit. In July, 
K5.5, ho was admitted to the bir, but he never made very strenuous attempts 
to gain a practice, and devoted himself to the profo^^ion for only a brief period. 
He opened a biwoftinw in the then newly platted village of Pokagon, but soon 
abandoned it for the quiet home life upon the farm, to which he wss accustomed 
and warmly attacheii. 

Mr. Putnam's strong native ability, his fine education and th ■ unwavering 
integrity of his nUiire comnaanded the respect anil conftienceof thr proile, 
and they called him to assume various public trusts. Ho was School Inspector 
a numberof years, Jurtico of the Peace for twelve years and was Circuit Court 
1 onimlBsioner for one or two terms. The higher olBc'M which he filled, like the 
liumble ones, came to him unsought, simply through the recognition and lui 
the rewirds .>f his m inliness of character. Ho was a life-long Bepubllcm . 
While he took a deep Interest In public measures and in the success of party, he 
was not ill any sense a politician. He was elected, in ISli.'i, n Ri-preaentutive to 



the Lower House of the Legislative Assembly, and in 1870,choaeu as State Senator . 
While in the Senate, in 1871-72, he served upon three committees — those on 
Agriculiure, on Enrolled Bills, and on State Library, being chairman of the 
last named. He eerv.d his constituency with ability and faithtulness, at the 
same time keeping in consideration alt of the broader duties which he owed to the 
people at large. In January, 1874. he was appointed by Gov. Bagley a member 
of the Board of State Commissioners for the supervision of charitable, penab 
pauper and reformatory institutions, and in January, 1S77, was re-appointed by 
Gov. Cro.iwell, and held the position until his death. He was also President of 
the Casa County Pioneer Society, a position for which he seemed peculiarly 
fitted, not alone Irom the fact that he was the oldest native of the county, but 
because of the lively interest which he exhibited in all matters of early history 
and pioneer experience. 

Mr. Putnatl was twice married. His first wife was Jane, daughter of Lewis 
Clyborne, one of the pioneers of Pokagon— though at the lime of the marriage. 
January 9, 1862— the family resided at Galesburg, 111. Mrs. Putnam died 
February 14, 1871, leaving one child, Mabel, born April 8, 1809. Upon the 16th 
oi February, 187.0, after remaining four yeai-s single, Mr. Putnam was united 
with Miss Lizzie Finch, daughter of Col. Calob Finch, who was one of the early 
settleis of Knox County, 111. The offspring of this union was one child, Hilda 
L.. born November 29, 187.0. 

Surrounded liy the blessings of family life, enjoying the friendship of thou- 
sands, possessing the respect of all who knew him. when Uzziel Putnam had 
scarcely passed he.vond the prime of life he was taken from life. His death oc. 
curred February 1(1, 1879. 

One who know him very Intimately, writes: " He was a friend to the poor, 
a friend of education, of good morals and of everything that would elevate and 
enoblo his fellows. His character rested on a granite basis and sustained a 
high public virtue and private integrity that nothing could corrupt. He has 
left streaming behind the bright effulgence of hn ch>iractor, to illumine the 
way for others, and to lighten and soothe the aorrou'S of bereavement. Ills life 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Jenkins, who, in company with five others, left his 
hotne in Ohio for a tour of exploration in October of 
1824. On their arrival at the trading-post at Fort 
Wayne, his companions declined to go any further 
into the unbroken wilderness. Sending a hasty dis- 
patch to his wife, and taking a pack of provisions on 
his back, he started alone, taking the direction of the 
Wabash River, and followed it down to a trading post, 
where the present city of La Fayette now stands. 

Retracing his steps to a French trading post, on 
the present site of the city of Logansport, he struck 
north toward the St. Joseph River, reaching it where 
South Bend nowstands, and following down the south 
bank to Gary Mission, one mile west of the present 
city of Niles. 

After exploring the southeastern part of Cass and 
Berrien Counties, he returned up the St. Joseph 
River to mouth of the Elkhart, and, after following the 
course of that stream some distance, he took a south- 
easterly direction to Fort Wayne, and from thence to 
his home in Ohio. 

In the same year, Abram Townsend, who then re- 
sided in Sandusky County, Ohio, visited the St. 
Joseph country for the purpose of exploration. On 
his return home, he gave a most flattering account of 
what he had seen, and prepared to remove with his 
family to Pokagon Prairie ; his statements were cor- 
roborated by an Indian trader by the name of An- 
drus Parker, who had also explored the valley of St. 
Joseph. 

The neighbors of Townsend listened with interest 
to his narratives ; they were convinced that beautiful 
homes, located in a rich and fertile valley, and easily 
won competences were within their reach. Public 
meetings were held for consultation, and it was re- 
solved that they would emigrate as a colony with 
him to the beautiful region which he had explored. 

Among those who attended this meeting was Uzziel 
Putnam, then thirty-two years of age and in the prime 
of his strength. The glowing accounts of fertile prai- 
ries, extensive meadows luxuriant with native grasses, 
affording hay and pasturage in prodigal abundance; 
of its belts of majestic timber, its oak openings car- 
peted with flowers, and offering a broad and unob- 
structed highway, awakened in him a spirit of advent- 
ure, and he was thoroughly convinced that it was a 
favored spot for one commencing the world with only 
his natural resources for his capital. 

Having made up his mind to emigrate to Michigan, 
lie at once commenced to dispose of his effects, and to 
get ready for the long and difficult journey. His wife, 
equally ardent, and resolute as himself, cordially co- 
operated with her husband in the work of preparation. 



On the 17th day of May, 1825, all preparations being 
complete, Putnam with his wife and child, a little 
daughter two years of age, now Mrs. Ziltha Jones, 
began their journey. They had a wagon to which 
were attached three yoke of oxen, a horse, and had sev- 
enteen head of cattle. Aside from himself, wife and 
child, the party consisted of Abram Townsend and 
his son Ephraim, and Israel Markham. There had 
been continual rains, and the roads through the heavi- 
ly-timbered lands were nearly impassable, and although 
the oxen were fresh and strong, they only accomplished 
seven miles the first day. At night a fire was built, 
and Mrs. Putnam soon had a comfortable supper for 
the whole party. The oxen were unyoked, and, while 
they were turned loose to feed, the travelers made their 
beds under the wagon, and, after the fatigue of the 
day, all slept soundly during the night. Mrs. Put- 
nam was up early in the morning and had breakfast 
ready by the time the cattle were collected and the 
oxen yoked, and, at 8 o'clock, were ready to resume 
their journey. The rain, which had fallen all day, 
increased to a violent storm ; they had made about a 
half-dozen miles and then the whole party, chilled and 
wet, took refuge from the storm in the wagon. The 
next morning, Mrs. Putnam was the first to be moving. 
She built the fire and prepared a warm breakfast for 
the wet and hungry people. Refreshed by their meal 
of good coffee, hot bread and fried bacon, in good spir- 
its, and, full of hope, they started again on their jour- 
ney through the mud. After a halt at noon, to rest 
the weary oxen and to take their own dinner, they 
toiled on through the wet clay till night, when they 
encamped by a blazing fire. The next day was but a 
repetition of the preceding one, and, at night, they put 
up at the house of a frontiersman, by the name of 
Johnson, who had settled in the wilderness and was 
beginning a new farm. 

After four or five days of diligent labor and constant 
struggle, they reached the then very small town of 
Urbana. The road from this place to Fort St. Mary, 
on the river of that name, runs across a flat country, 
low, heavily timbered with beach and elm. Owing to 
the heavy spring rains, it was in a terrible condition ; 
much of it was miry ; but few settlers, as yet, had ven- 
tured to locate in this forbidding locality. There was 
no way of getting round it, the only course led across 
it, and so our travelers set out again on their journey, 
and at night camped in the woods. The next day 
was cold, gloomy and rainy, an<l when about half way 
to the fort, they had to descend a short but steep hill, 
and Mrs. Putnam and child, for safety, got out. When 
near the bottom of the hill, the wagon, in its rapid 
descent, struck a log, which was almost concealed in 
the mud, the axle broke and the wagon, a complete 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



wreck, settled down to the ground. This was late in 
the afternoon, and Mr. Putnam, being aware that a 
settler's house was within two miles, placed hfs wife 
and child on the horse, and set out through the driv- 
ing rain, hoping to reach the cabin of the settler before 
it became dark. This they did, and drying their 
dripping clothes before a fire of logs burning in a fire- 
place, without a chimney, and occupying the entire 
side of the cabin, and after partaking of a comforta- 
ble supper, they forgot, in sweet slumber on their 
rude beds, all the cares of the day. 

Early in the morning, Putnam returned to the scene 
of disaster, and set about repairing the broken axle. 
A suitable tree was selected and cut, and from it the 
broken part was replaced by a new axle, and by night 
the whole party were at the cabin, where Mrs. Put- 
nam was waiting. Despite their ill-fortune, not a 
murmur was heard, or a regret expressed ; their ardor 
was not at all dampened by the unfortunate mishap ; 
they only talked of the success in repairing the wagon, 
and consoled themselves with the fact that it was un- 
doubtedly stronger than before, and would stand the 
heavy test that awaited it in the Black Swamp, that 
most appalling and impassable of all the thoroughfares 
of the West. The next morning, Mrs. Putnam again 
had the party ready for an early start. The mud was 
up to the bellies of the oxen, and the wagon often 
sunk to the axle, they dragged themselves wearily 
along until night, and camped by a cheerful fire and 
ate their frugal meal with a relish which perhaps 
they had not known at home. 

The next day, they reached what was then known 
as "Old Fort St. Marys." It consisted of ar-few 
scattered buildings, and though small, was a town 
where travelers could find shelter and rest. It now be- 
came evident to the Putnams that the wagon was over- 
loaded, and that it could not be hauled to Fort Wayne, 
as the oxen's feet had become sore ; a Shawnee In- 
dian, who could speak English, happened to fall in 
with the travelers, and from them learned of their 
difficulty. He told them that in one day, he could 
make a bark canoe that would carry the entire party, 
with all tlieir goods, in which they could float down 
the St. Mary's to Fort Wayne, a distance of sixty or 
eighty miles. He was so confident of being able to 
successfully carry out his proposition, and the plan 
appearing feasible, two of the party accompanied the 
Indian to the woods, cut down a large elm tree, and 
from it took the bark to the length of twenty-five or 
thirty feet. The ends were carefully shaved down to 
a proper thickness, and were then brought together 
and tied with a strong rope made of bark ; before 
this was fully done, and while the work was in prog- 
ress, the rude vessel was kept in proper shape by 



means of transverse sticks, giving the whole the form of 
a large canoe seven or eight feet wide, and two feet 
deep. It required but a day for the construction and 
launching of the craft, and, after being laden, it 
proved the statement of the Indian " that it would carry 
all they had, and more, too," to be correct. 

The next morning, Townsend, accompanied by his 
son, embarked in the canoe and floated off" down the 
river, leaving Putnam and Markham to pursue their 
journey alone. They set out with the wagon and cat- 
tle, and after a tedious journey of five or six days 
over the low, flat country, with its clayey soil, arrived 
in Fort Wayne on the 4th day of June. Here they 
found Townsend, who had arrived safely some days 
before, and who was anxiously watching some miles 
out of town for the arrival of his friends. They put 
up at the house of William Rockhill ; the goods were 
carefully stored away, and the cattle turned loose to 
feed and recruit, it being evident that it was not pru- 
dent to attempt to pursue the journey further, owing 
to the condition of the cattle's feet ; they agreed to 
stop until the 1st of August, giving the cattle time 
to recover before proceeding further. Townsend had 
some business at Sandusky, which he now wished to 
attend to, and he proposed that he and his son and 
Markham should return, leaving Putnam and his wife 
to care for the cattle, and pledging his word to return 
by the 1st of August, and proceed on their way to 
Michigan. Accordingly, the three embarked in a 
canoe and went down the Maumee River to Fort 
Meigs, and from thence on foot to Sandusky. Put- 
nam, not desiring to remain idle in the interim, tended 
a field of corn, for his host. Rockhill. 

He next made a trip to the Wabash River, at a 
point about thirty miles distant from Fort Wayne, to 
transport thither two adventurous hunters by the 
names of Slate and Calloway, with their traps, fishing 
tackle, canvas and provisions. They were setting out 
for a long excursion, expecting to be gone until the 
following spring, and for this service agreed to send 
Putnam a barrel of flour by the way of the lakes and 
St. Joseph. The last of July they commenced mak- 
ing preparations for their final departure, the first of 
August being the time appointed by Townsend for his 
return. From day to day, he anxiously waited, but in 
vain, and at last, on the morning of the 9th of Au- 
gust, wearied with delay, and knowing that the season 
for cutting hay for the cattle was rapidly pa.ssing 
away, by resolved to wait no longer. He had gone 
but a short distance, however, before he was delighted 
to hear the well-known ?oice of Townsend, hallooing 
for him to stop. After a brief consultation and 
explanation, they returned and gathered their cattle 
together, and once more resumed their journey. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



207 



They crossed the St. Joseph at the mouth of the Elk- 
hart, and following the track by the way of Cobert's 
Creek and Beardsley's Prairie, they reached in safety 
the cabin of William Kirk, which then stood about 
sixty rods east of the present railroad depot at Niles. 
On the following day, Baldwin Jenkins and Mr. 
Kirk piloted Putnam and Townsend through the 
woods to Pokagon Prairie, a distance of six miles, 
where they examined the ground and selected places 
for farms. They found small bands of the Pottawato- 
mies living on the prairie, where they cultivated, in 
their rude way, small patches of corn and beans. 
Among them was Pokagon himself, one of their prin- 
cipal chiefs. They explained to him their wish to 
settle there and cultivate land. He objected to this, 
saying that his corn would be destroyed by their 
cattle, that they would move oflf in the fall to their 
hunting grounds, and then the whites could come on 
and build their houses. 

The whole party returned, and, upon consultation? 
Putnam and Townsend concluded to drive their cattle 
back to Cobert's Creek, a mile east of the place where 
Edwardsburg now is, and there cut hay and winter 
them. 

Putnam now returned with his wagon and oxen to 
F"rt Wayne, and in a few days thereafter, all arrange- 
ments begin made for the final removal, he left Fort 
Wayne with his family on the 16th day of October. 
Allowing himself to rest for a week, Putnam, with a 
yoke of fresh oxen, which he borrowed from Mr. 
Kirk, and accompanied by Edward Smith, set out 
again for Fort Wayne in search of his cattle that had 
strayed away. He found them near South Bend. 

He purchased a barrel of flour and ten bushels of 
corn, and, after a brief delay, again set out to return, 
and reached Mr. Kirk's safely after a week's travel. 
He remained with Mr. Kirk until the 18th day of 
November ; he then moved to a shanty twelve feet 
square, covered with bark, and without floor or chim- 
ney, which Mr. Markham had put up for his conven- 
ience while cutting hay during the summer. Poor 
and uncomfortable as was this hut, they remained in 
it until the 22d of January, 1826, when they removed 
to the new and more comfortable cabin which Putnam 
had built. The new one, however, was not a paragon 
of convenience, as it had neither floor, door nor 
windows. These were afterward supplied, the material 
for the floor and door having been hewed from a log, 
and cut with a saw, as at that time there was not a 
saw-mill in the Territory. The cabin, however, was 
made comfortable and warmed by a huge fire, which 
was kept going day and night. 

Early in the spring of 1825, Baldwin Jenkins, in 
company with Benjamin Potter and his wife, who 



was a niece of Mrs. Jenkins, started for the new 
country. After a tedious journey they arrived near 
the site of the present city of Niles. Mr. Potter 
settled one mile north, on the Sumnerville road. Mr. 
Jenkins succeeded in putting in a small patch of corn 
in what was then known as the " Old Indian Fields," 
his only implement being a hoe. After getting in 
his corn, he, in company with a man by the name of 
Coon, started down the St. Joseph River in a canoe 
to ascertain the navigability of the stream. 

During the season, he cultivated his corn and cut a 
quantity of hay on the present site of Niles. In the 
fall he returned to Ohio, rented his property, and, on 
the 1st day of November, with his family, which con- 
sisted of his wife and seven children, started for his 
future home in Pokagon. His equipment consisted 
of thirty-five head of cattle, including three yoke of 
working oxen, five hogs, a wagon, household goods, 
etc., etc. On the 10th they arrived in Fort Wayne, 
Ind , where he laid in an extra stock of provisions, 
and pushed on, arriving at Wolf Lake on the 15th 
day of November. 

On the night of their arrival at this place, the snow 
fell to the depth of ten inches, in consequence of 
which Mrs. Jenkins got into the wagon to ride for 
the first time, she insisting upon walking, in order 
that more of the necessary articles for their future 
home might be carried. They arrived at Squire 
Thompson's on the I8th, and the following day 
reached Mr. Potter's when he learned that the Indian 
ponies were destroying the corn he had planted in the 
spring. Here he remained until the crop was secured. 
This detention deferred his arrival in Pokagon until 
the 24th, six days later than that of Putnam. 

The location of Mi*. Jenkins was a short distance 
north of Sumnerville, where he utilized an Indian 
wigwam as a place of abode during the winter. 

At this time there were but nine families in Cass 
and Berrien Counties, excepting the mission — two in 
the former and seven the latter, and comprising a 
population of about sixty persons. 

The winter of 182.'3-26 was replete with privations 
and hardships for the families of Putnam and Jenkins. 
The hay which Jenkins had made in the summer was 
burned by the Indians while he was gone for his 
family, leaving nothing on which to winter his cattle, 
and meeting one of the Mark hams, who wished to 
move out in the spring, he made an arrangement with 
him to take his oxen back to Ohio, using them on his 
return in the spring. Putnam was better supplied 
with hay, and from him Jenkins obtained a quantity, 
and by felling timber for them to brouse on, most of 
them lived through the winter, which was a severe 
one, the snow falling to the depth of two feet. He 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



was obliged to carry all the grain for their breadstuff 
on his back to the mission, a distance of nine miles, 
where it was ground in a hand-mill, with the exception 
of what was pounded at home in a wooden mortar. 
The trip during the severe weather required two days. 

The family of Putnam was scantily supplied with 
provisions ; their stock of flour was soon exhausted, 
they could get but few vegetables of any kind and they 
had but little meat. Their food consisted chiefly of 
boiled corn, and for weeks in succession they subsisted 
mainly on this scanty fare. A little parched corn 
pounded in a mortar, and thus reduced to flour and 
made into a " Johnny cake," was a luxury. Now and 
then a fish was caught, or wild game obtained from 
the Indians. 

During the winter, the Putnams and Jenkins con- 
ducted a vigorous campaign against the wolves, and 
thirteen of these ferocious animals were killed. The 
fat obtained from the carcasses was used in making 
soap. 

The winter, while it was quite severe for a time, 
was fortunately of short duration. Early in March, 
the snows disappeared, and the balmy air indicated the 
near approach of spring. 

Immediate and vigorous preparations were made for 
sugar-making. Both families manufactured a large j 
quantity which materially added to their comfort, j 
Putnam obtained a supply of bacon and cornmeal 
from the Mission, and the family regarded the "win- j 
ter of their discontent" as having passed. 

On the 28th of March, an accession to the family j 
was made in the person of Isaac Duckett, who, by a 
previous arrangement, had come to assist Putnam in 
putting in a crop. He brought a yoke of oxen and 
some provisions, and, shortly after his arrival, they 
commenced making rails and soon had a sufficient 
number to inclose forty acres. 

Putnam had brought from Ohio the iron portion of 
a plow, Duckett made the wood work and attached it 
to the fore-wheels of a wagon. Five yoke of oxen 
were used as a team, and some time in the latter part 
of April the first plowing was done. The plow worked 
admirably, and in two weeks six acres had been broken. 
Pioneer plowing was attended with much difliculty, the 
roots of the prairie grasses were tough and strong, and 
soon dulled the shear. Putnam had foreseen this diflS- 
culty, and had brought with him from Ohio a small 
grindstone; on this the irons were sharpened. The 
operation was a tedious one, as it required a half day 
of diligent labor to complete the work, but, when done, 
it was, as Putnam afterward remarked, "as good as 
new." 

A small piece near the cabin was plowed for a gar- 
den which Mrs. Putnam fenced and cultivated with 



her own hands; like a thrifty housewife she had not 
neglected to bring her seeds. The corn and potatoes 
for planting they obtained from the people of the mis- 
sion, for Mr. McCoy most readily assisted them, giving 
them credit until they found it convenient to pay. 
The season was favorable; nothing untoward happened. 
The Indians were peaceable, and, by the month of June, 
they had vegetables of the earlier kinds, and by Au- 
gust they had a full supply of the products of the gar- 
den. Their cows had supplied them with milk and 
j butter, and, before the end of September, Putnam had 
' 350 bushels of corn ripe in the field, and his cattle and 
hogs were fat ; in fact, he was a full-handed farmer. 
In the meantime, his neighbor Jenkins had not been 
idle; he had made substantial improvements, and had 
raised a bountiful crop, and, with that liberality which 
was one of the salient points in his character, was 
ready to assist those who needed his aid. The pioneer 
summer was prolific of events. Squire Thompson, the 
pioneer farmer of the St. Joseph Valley, had joined 
the little settlement — he was the advance guard of the 
host that in a few years filled this part of the State. 
In the fall of 1822, he visited the region in the vicin- 
ity of the Carey Mission; arriving before the comple- 
tion of the buildings, he spent a few days in examin- 
j ing the country, and returned to Union County, Ind., 
j from whence he came. In the spring of 1823, he 
returned to the mission, and, after a few days' survey, 
j made clioice of a location and built a cabin on the 
banks of the river. He cleared and planted several 
acres of land, and returned for his family, which con- 
sisted of his wife and four children. They remained 
without neighbors during the winter, but early in the 
spring of 1824, William Kirk, an old acquaintance of 
his, emigrated from Indiana, and, for a time, lived in 
the cabin with Thompson ; from this place, Thompson 
removed, as before stated, to Pokagon, settling on Sec- 
tion 20. where he resided until his removal to Califor- 
nia about 1850. 

In April, Abram Townsend returned from Ohio, 
and the July following, Gamaliel and his family, in 
company with the Markhams, Israel, Sr, Israel, Jr., 
Samuel, Lane and Ira Putnam arrived. Townsend 
built a cabin on his land which adjoined that of Put- 
nam's, and during the larger part of the summer was 
engaged at the mission. During the winter he 
fenced forty acres and in the season following, planted 
twenty acres of corn. Israel Markhara and his son, 
Israel, Jr., settled in land adjoining that owned by 
Uzziel Putnam. The elder Markhara was a black- 
smith by trade, and the first one that carried on a 
shop in the county. It is related, that, on one occa- 
sion, a man came from Beardsley's Prairie with a 
plowshare to be sharpened, for which Markham 





johK rodgef^s 



]v1F^S.J0H,nI F^ODGER^S. 



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ifn m( 



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l\ESlDEI\fOE OF JOHj^ RODGER^S, POK/^GOJsf, fvllCH. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



charged STJ cents, which he objected to as being too 
much. Markham admitted that the price was high, 
but told him that it was a necessity, as he was obliged 
to have money to buy seed wheat. Ira Putnam also 
located in the immediate vicinity. 

There was now (juite a little settlement, and Poka- 
gon Prairie was rising rapidly in prominence as one of 
the favored localities of the West. Immigration con- 
tinued even during midsummer, for, on the 12th of ^ 
August. 1826, Uzziel Putnam, Jr., came to town, I 
being the first white child born within the present 
limits of Cass County. The first summer in Poka- 
gon's history passed pleasantly. Nature seemed dis- 
posed to render all the assistance in her power, the 
Indiatis were kindly disposed, and the small plantings 
in the spring had yielded ample returns, and the 
autumn found the settlers amply supplied with pro- 
visions for the subsistence of their families and with 
comfortable cabins. 

The success of those who had settled in the vicinity '' 
of the Mission and on the prairie, had been carried , 
East, and many, on the strength of the representations 
made, came to investigate for themselves. During I 
the summer, several had visited the township; among 
the number was Lewis Edwards, from Warren County, 
Ohio. He made a location on the south side of the 
prairie, being the one previously occupied by Pokagon 
for garden purposes. He hired Gamaliel Townsend 
to build a cabin upon his land, and during harvest 
time was employed at Carey Mission. For his services 
there, he received three bushels of wheat, which 
Uzziel Putnam put in for him on shares. From this, 
sixty bushels of excellent wheat was harvested the 
next season, and which was the first crop of wheat 
grown in Cass County. In the fall, he returned to 
Ohio to make final preparations for the removal of 
his family, and on the 18th of January, 1827, left 
his old home in Warren County. His household 
goods were loaded in a covered wagon, and drawn by 
by a yoke of oxen and span of horses. 

Owing to the cold weather and deep snow, the 
journey was attended with much inconvenience and 
privation. At Fort Wayne, he was joined by 
William and Jesse Garwood; the track was unbro- 
ken and their progress was difficult, as the snow was 
two feet deep and the weather extremely cold. To 
Mrs. Edwards it was a trying time ; her little daugh- 
ter was a babe of one year, and it was with some 
difficulty that they kept from freezing. In crossing the 
Elkhart Bottoms, the hounds of one of the wagons 
was broken. A rude sled was constructed, upon 
which the contents of the wagon were placed. The 
following morning the Garwoods started with the 
wagon, Mr. Edwai-ds going to the river in search of I 



corn, leaving Mrs. Edwards in charge of the sled, 
with no companion but their trusty dog. Previous to 
his return, she was startled by the growling of the 
dog, and looking up beheld three Indians. One drew 
a long knife, and sticking it into a coal from the camp 
fire, lit his pipe. Seeing that she was not intimi- 
dated in the least, they took their departure. The 
journey from Elkhart to where Edwardsburg now is, 
a distance of ten miles, occupied two days. On their 
arrival at the cabin of Mr. Beardsley, who was the 
only settler in that portion of the county, they con- 
cluded to wait for better weather, and with him they 
remained four weeks. Their arrival was a fortunate 
occurrence for Beardsley, as he was entirely out of 
fuel, and as his boys were gone to Ohio with the 
teams for goods, had no means of obtaining a supply, 
owing to the deep snow. They arrived in Pokagon 
the last of March, and for two weeks were the guests 
of Mr. Putnam, when they moved into the cabin 
built the previous summer. Mr. Edwards immedi- 
ately entered into the improvement of his home and 
the development of the township, with that energy 
and determination that was prominent in all his opera- 
tions. He resided in Pokagon until his decease, and 
during his lifetime was one of the successful farmers 
of the township. He was the first Collector and the 
first Justice of Cass County. An amusing story is 
told in connection with his first term as Magistrate, 
that goes to show something of the character of the 
man. Shortly after receiving his appointment, he 
was called upon to officiate at a wedding, and in order 
that he might be able to perform the ceremony with 
credit to himself, he undertook to commit his part of 
the programme to memory, but fearing that it might 
fail him at a critical time, made a copy of the cere- 
mony, which he placed in his pocket. Arriving at 
the house, he found the parties waiting for the knot 
to be tied, and acting on the princi[)le that business 
should precede pleasure, he ordered them to take their 
positions. Everything progressed favorably until his 
treacherous memory faded to respond, much to his 
discomfiture, the bewilderment of the bride and 
groom, and to the amusement of the wedding guests; 
but he was soon master of the situation, for, drawing 
the copy from the depths of his pants pocket, he com 
menced where ho had left off, and read in a loud tone 
of voice the remainder of the ceremony. 

In June, 1827, the elder Townsend came with his 
family, which consisted of his wife and daughters, 
Mary, Eliza and Amy, and his son-in-law, Abram 
Loukes. He lived with his son, Gamaliel, until the 
following yeir, 1828, when he moved to La Grange, 
and located upon the prairie which for many years 
bore his name. 



210 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The pioneers of Pokagon were not negligent of that 
first care of all thoughtful American citizens, the 
schoolhouse. In the fall of 1828, they procured the 
cabin built by Potter, and in it Mrs. Gamaliel Town- 
send taught the first school that was held in that 
State west of Detroit and Monroe, with the exception 
of the mission school at Carey. The first religious 
meeting in Cass County was probably held about this 
time at the residence of Uzziel Putnam. The Rev. 
Luther Humphrey was undoubteiUy the first clergy- 
man who administered to their spiritual wanes. He 
was sent out by the Presbyterian Church of New En- 
gland as a missionary, and labored for several years 
through Cass and Berrien Counties. He was an 
eccentric man, and held many peculiar ideas, one of 
which was that every family should consume as nearly 
as possible all that they raised. Hi^^ prejudice against 
slavery was of the most ultra character, and he would 
not buy, nor use anything that was the product of 
slave labor. 

Pokagon Prairie had now become the center of a 
thriving and busy settlement, capable of sustaining its 
people and furnishing supplies to new-comers. Its 
history from this time to the present is not marked 
by many remarkable reminiscences. It only presents 
the ordinary trials and incidents common to new set- 
tlements, remote from the comforts and conveniences 
of older portions of the country. Looking back from 
to-day to those pioneer times, we can but faintly picture 
in our minds the contrast existing between the beauti- 
ful homes and fertile fields of to-day, and those rude 
log cabins of the forefathers in the wilderness. At 
the time of which we write, the nearest mill was at 
Fort Wayne, with the exception of the mill at the 
Carey Mission, which was a very primitive affair, i 
operated by horses or oxen. It was a decided im- 
provement, however, upon the hand-mills, which were 
quite common, a description of which is given in the 
general history. One feature of the mill at the mi.ssion 
is still vivid in the recollections of the pioneer, the 
excessive toll, by some stated to be one half, notwith- 
standing the fact, that its customers were obliged to 
furnish the motive power and do all the work. 

The pioneer plow also deserves special mention. 
The land side and shire was the only part made of 
iron, the mold-board was of wood, worked from a piece 
of winding timber, in order to give it its concavity. 
The handles were made from the roots of trees, the 
lower portion of which run into the body of the tree. 
These plows, rude as they were, did good service, 
and were in use up to about 1840. Grain was har- 
vested with cradles, although sickles were in occasional , 
use. The grain was either tramped out with horses 
or oxen, or thrashed with flails; it was winnowed | 



with hand fans, or by pouring it from one blanket to 
another on a windy day. The graia thus obtained 
was fre(iuently drawn long distances to market, and 
the price received was frequently as low as 50 
cents per bushel for wheat, and 75 cents was considered 
to be a fair compensation for the labor expended. 
Notwithstanding the extremely low prices of farm 
produce, when compared with those of to-day, few 
were so poor as to need aid. There were many who 
struggled along in their conflict with the wilderness, 
'< submitting with true American grit and pride, to the 
severest pressure of fortune, rather than call on others 
for assistance. There was generally something to eat, 
and every farmer's family calculated to make their 
own clothing; but money was scarcer than people can 
well comprehend at the present day, even in the 
hardest of hard times. "Your taxes are 75 cents," 
said the collector to a Pokagon farmer in the early 
days." 

" Bless my soul, sir, I haven't got 75 cents in the 
world, and I don't know where I can get it, or when 
I can get it." " Well, now, that is bad," replied the 
official, " but you will have to manage it in some way. 
We have got to have the taxes sure." After much 
negotiation, it was agreed that the collector should 
take two bushels of wheat and assume the taxes him- 
self. 

In the latter part of September of 1828, Alexander 
Rodgers and his family, which consisted of his wife 
and eight children — Samuel, Alexander, Jr., John, 
Thomas, William, Rebecca, Margaret and Isabel — left 
Preble County, Ohio, for Pokagon. He had previ- 
ously made two trips of exploration to the new coun- 
try, traveling on foot. With hira came John McKinsey 
and his family, and John Morton and family, 
making a party of twenty-five, exclusive of a 
man by the name of Adny, who had been hired 
to assist them in their removal. Their route lay 
through a dense wilderness ; occasionally they came 
to the cabin of some adventurous Frenchman, who 
had commenced the construction of a farm. Their 
journey was devoid of any incident worthy of record, 
and soon after their arrival, Rodgers settled on the 
nortii half of Section 31, on land now owned by W. A. 
and Thomas Rodgers. The elder Rodgers soon took a 
prominent part in the affairs of the little settlement, 
and his name is connected with nearly all of the 
important events in its pioneer history. He was 
probably the first Supervisor, or at least the first of 
whom we have any positive knowledge, being elected 
in 1831, but for reasons stated elsewhere, did not 
represent the township at the meeting of the first 
Board of Supervisors held in October, 1831. He was 
an athletic man, industrious and energetic, and it is 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



stated that he could wield the ax with much dex- 
terity and execution, an important qualification in the 
make-up of a pioneer, and one in which they took a 
laudable pride. He was also fond of the chase, an 
excellent shot and a successful trapper. Four of his 
sons are now prominent residents of the town — John 
and Alexander in the north and Thomas and W. A. 
in the southern portion of the township. 

McKinsey settled on Section '61, but removed to 
Berrien County about 1830. 

The Burks were also a prominent family ; they came 
from Giles County, Va., in the autumn of 1828, and 
settled on Section 19,just north of the location of Rod- 
gers ; the family consisted of eight children — William, 
Thomas, Andrew L., Nancy, Polly, Rebecca, Rachael 
and Margaret. William filled many positions of trust, 
and responsibility, and his name is found among those 
who have represented the county in the Legislature. 
With the Burks came Mrs. Lybrook, and her two 
sons, Baltzer and Isaac. She was a woman of much 
force of character and energy, and was endowed with 
more business ability than most women. With her 
needle she earned a sum sufficient to purchase 120 
acres of land in Berrien County, where the family re- 
moved in 1810, where Isaac now resides. Baltzer 
is a prominent farmer and early settler in tlie town- 
ship of Silver Creek. 

Archibald Clyborn and family, consisting of his 
wife and three children — Louisa, William L. and 
Thomas K., came from Giles County, Va., in Novem- 
ber of 1828. He stayed with Squire Edwards during 
the winter, and in the spring bought the improvements 
of Gamaliel Townsend, who removed to La Grange. 
He died in Pokagon in 1846. He was one of the 
leading spirits in the early times, and was prominent 
in all the initial enterprises of the pioneer days. 

In common with the organization of the county was 
the erection of the four original townsiiips — Pokagon, 
La Grange, Ontwa anil Penn. The act by which 
Pokagon .was erected was approved November l;3, 
1829, and reads as follows : " That all that part of 
the county of Cass, known and distinguished on the 
survey of the United States as Townships numbered 
5 and 6, and the north half of Township 7, south of 
Range 16 west, be a township by the name of Poka- 
gon, and the first township meeting therein shall be 
held at the house of Baldwin Jenkins." There is no 
record of a township meeting being held in the spring 
of 1830, but there is strong presumptive evidence 
that the latter clause in the organic act was complied 
with, and an election held, as the township had an 
Assessor and Collector in that year, and undoubtedly 
a full complement of officials. H. C. Lybrook relates, 
that shortly after his arrival in Pokagon, in May, 



1830, he was called upon by Ashbill W. McCollum, 
who assessed his horse, saddle and bridle, and that in 
the fall of 1830, he paid to Lewis Edwards a tax of 
6 cents. 

In 1831, the following officers were elected: Alex- 
ander Rodgers, Supervisor; Joseph Gardner, Township 
Clerk; Uzziel Putnam. William Boon and Ashbill 
W. McCollum, Assessors; Squire Thompson, Joseph 
Gardner and Joseph Garwood, Commissioners of 
Highways; Samuel Morton and Calvin Sullivan, 
Constables; Uzziel Putnam, Pound Master; Isaac 
Duckett and Archibald Clyborn, Fence Viewers; 
John Ray and Samuel Markham, Overseers of High- 
ways; Lewis Edwards, Collector. 

By reference to the proceedings of the first Board 
of Supervisors, in October, 1831, it will be seen that 
Squire Thompson represented Pokagon. The history 
of the matter is that Rodgers was elected and (jualified, 
and in August was taken seriously ill, and Squire 
Thompson was appointed in his place by the Township 
Board. 

March 20, 1837, Silver Creek was set oflf, and the 
following year, 1838, the north half of Township 7 
was detached, and with the south half of the same 
township the present town of Howard was erected. 

The most important event of this year, aside from 
the organization of the county and its four townships, 
were the land sales, which at that time were held at 
Monroe. The United States law required that every 
piece of land should be put up at auction, after which, 
if not bid off, it was subject to private entry, at $1.25 
per acre. To avoid competition and the risk of losing 
the improvements they had made, each one quietly 
kept his own counsel, and after the land had been 
offered, made application and received his certificate- 
Alexander Rodgers, Squire Thompson, Samuel and 
Israel Markham, Baldwin Jenkins, Archibald Cly- 
born, Lewis Edwards, Joseph Gardner, Jesse Toney, 
Uzziel Putnam, Isaac W. Duckett and N. Haines 
were the only ones who made entries in this year. 
The following comprises the names of all who made 
the original entries in Pokagon, giving the section, 
number of acres, date of entry and residence of the 
parties. 

It will be noticed that the residences of those who 
entered these lands in June, 1820, is given as Len- 
awee County ; this is accounted for in the fact, that, at 
this time, the present county of Cass was a part of 
the township of St. Joseph, which included all terri- 
tory lying west of Lenawee, to which the Indian 
titles had been extinguished by the treaty of Chi- 
cago. Thi.s township was created by act of the Ter- 
ritorial Legislature, approved April 12, 1827, and 
attached to Lenawee County for judical purposes, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Skctio.n 1. 

ACRES. 

Jesse G. Beeson, Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1833 40 

William Sheldoa. Niagara County, N. Y. Aug. 11, 183.5 80 

Aaron M. Collins. Wayne County, Ind.. Oct. 14, 1835 80 

George Hamilton, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 4, 1835 80 

Jacob Silver, March 14, 1836 100 

A. H. Edwirdi, Berrien County, Mich,, July 18, 



Titus Hustei, C*ss County, Mich., .\pril 23, 1836 

Section 2. 

Henry Salladay, Cass County, Mich., June 21, 1832 

J. G. Beeson. Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1833 

Nathan Wells, July 21, 1835 

Joshua Sheldon, Nov. 4, 1835 

John Mufley. St. Joseph County, Mich, Jan. 21. 1836 

Hirim Dodge, Lenawee County, .Mich., March 14. 1836 

William Mosher, Washington County. N. Y., July 13, 1836.. 
Henry Albert, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 9, 1857 



59 



Section 3. 

Thomas H. Davis. Erie County, N. Y., Nov 27, 1835 

James Davis, Jr., Erie County. N. Y.. Nov. 12, 1835.. 

Chester Comings, Worcester t^unty, .Mass., March 1, 1837 
James L. Glenn, Berrien County, Mich., March 3, 1837 — 
Jackson Myers. Cass County, Mich., April 7, 1818 



Sbction 4. 

Samuel Markham, Ciss County, Mich., Jan 4, 1836 

Isaac Mills. Cass County, Mich., April 29, 1836 

Thomas A. H Edwards, Berrien County, .Mich., July 18, 

1836 .'v- 

Chester Comings, Worcester County. Mass.. March 1, 1837... 

Jacob S. Everding. Cass County, Mich.. March 3. 1848 

Michael Dewey, Berrien County, Mich., March 7, 1850 



Section 5. 
Alexander Rodgers, Sr.. Cass County, Mich., April 10, 1834. 

Isaac Williams, C>ws County, Mich.. Dec. 29, 1835 

Samuel Rodgers, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 

John Kingrey, St. Joseph County, Ind., Jan. 29, 1836 

Jesse Mills, Cass County, Mich.. April 29, 1836 

Isaac Williams, C*ss County, Mich., June 28, 1837 

Isaac Williams, Cass County, Mich.. March 1, 1847 



Section 6. 
Alexander Rodgers, Sr., Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1834.. 
Alexander Rodgers, Sr., Cass County, Mich., July 1, 1834.... 

James Herron, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 6, 1834 

Peabody Cook Cass County. Mich. Feb. 4, 183 1. 

.Jacob Silver, Cass C<junty. Mich.. March 14, 1836 

Delonson Curtis, Cass County. Mich., April 29. 1836 

Walter G Beckwith, Ontario County, N. V.. Ju 



8. IS 



Sbction 7. 

James Herron. Berrien County. Mich.. Nov. 6, 1835 

Jacob Barnharl. Cass County. Mich.. Dec. 2, 1835 

Jacob Barnhart, Cass County, Mich.. July 7, 1836 

Thomas A. H. Edwards. Berrien County, Mich., July 18, 

1836 

Jacob Simmons, Cass County, Mich., April 29. 1837 



Section 8. 
, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 2, 1832.... 



AshbiU Ward McColl 

Isaac Smith, Berrien County, Mich., April 10, 1884 



Isaac Smith, Berrien County, Mich., May 9, 1834 40 

Isaac Smith, Berrien County, Mich., April 10, 1834 120 

Jonathan Brown. 

Isaac Smith. Berrien County, Mich.. May 20, 1836 40 

Alexander Rodgers, Sr., Cass County, Mich., July 1. 1836... 80 
Thomas A. H. Edwards, Berrien County, Mich., July 28, 

1836 120 

Edwards & Gill, New York Ciiy, July 28, 1836 80 

Section 9. 

John Witter, Cass County, Mich., May 30, 18.30 8tl 

Elias Brewster Sherman, Cass County, Mich.. Dec. 24, 1833.. 40 

Frederick VeJder, Monroe County, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1836 80 

James Devoe, Berrien County. Mich., Nov. 25, 1835 160 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 27, 1836 40 

Gill & Edwards, New York City, July 18, 1836 240 

Section 10. 

Samuel Markham, Cass County, .Mich., Feb. 11, 1834 40 

James Emmons. Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 10, 1834 80 

John Emmons, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 10, 1834 40 

William True, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 16, 1835 40 

James Emmons, La Purte, Ind., July 20, 1835 40 

James Devoe, Berrien County. .Mich., Nov. 25, 1835 80 

Hiram Dodge. Lenawee County. Mich., March 14, 1835 160 

Thomas A. H. Edwards, Berrien County, Mich , July 18, 

1835 160 

Section 11. 

JonatJian Dewey, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1835 40 

Hiram Dodge, Lenawee County, Mich., March 14, 1836 240 

William Mosher. Washington County. N. Y., July 13, 1836.... 160 

Theophilas A. Gill, Cass County. Mich., Jan. 15, 1842 80 

Richard McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 26, 1847 40 

Richard McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 21, 1848 40 

Sectio.n 12. 

John Simpson, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 17, 1835 40 

Andrew Y. Moore. Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835. 80 

William Duncan, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835... 80 

Elias Simpson, Cass County, Mich. Jan. 9, 1831) 40 

John aifion, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 14, 183G 40 

William Thompson, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 183t; 40 

Thomas A. H. Edwards, Berrien County. Mich., July 18, 

1836 320 

George N. Warner. Erie County, N. Y., March 10, 1837 80 

Section 13. 

Henry Dewey. Union County, Ind., Oct. 16, 1830 160 

Isaac Dewey, Union County. Ind., Oct. Ill, 1830 80 

James A. Woods, Ross County, Ohio Nov. 22, 1830 80 

Solomon Dewey. Cass County, Mich.. Dec. 14, 1835 40 

John J. Chasteer, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 2, 1837 40 

John Heath, Cass County, Mich., March 2, 1837 DiO 

Section 14. 

i Joseph Stretch. Cass County. Mich.. July 29. 1831 80 

Hiram Dodge, Lenawee County. Mich., March 14, 1831; 80 

.lames Husted, Ca«s County, .Mich.. March 30, 1837 80 

Titus Husted, Cass County, Mich., March 30, 1837 40 

John Heath, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1837 80 

Nathan Wells, Cass County. Mich.. Aug. 19, 1837 40 

John Stretch Cass County. Mich., Oct. 23, 1846 40 

Richard McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 26, 1847 40 

Henry Stretch, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 21, 1848 40 




JVIOSES W. SIJ^PSO^I. 



|/1FIS.^0SES W. SIMPSO^f. 



MOSES W. SIMPSON. 
Moses VV. Simpson, one of the pioneers of Poka- 
gon, was born in Pembroke, N. H., May 16, 1808. 
He was the eldest in the family of Samuel and Re- 
becca (Dickerman) Simpson, which consisted of seven 
children, four boys and three girls. The elder Simp- 
son was a farmer, and possessed of those elements of 
character that have always distinguished the sons of 
the Granite State. Moses was reared on the farm, 
and the rugged hills and sterile soil aided in the de- 
velopment of a robust constitution and many admir- 
able traits of character that might perhaps have 
remained dormant under other circumstances. He 
early evidenced a desire for books, which was fostered 
by his parents, and he received a liberal academical 
education. He remained under the parental roof un- 
til he was twenty-five years of age, at which time he 
was married to Miss Sarah H. Blaisdell, of Hopkin- 
ton, N. H., where she was born September 8, 1811. 
Her parents, Samuel and Dorotha (Straw) Blaisdell, 
were of English parentage and New England birth. 
Mr. Blaisdell resided in New Hampshire until his 
death, which occurred in 1841. His wife came to 
Michigan, where she died at the home of her daugh- 
ter, in 1859. In 1».36, Mr. Simpson and his family 
came to Pokagon and settled on the farm which was 
ever afterward his home ; he purchased 380 acres of 
new land on Section 20, and with that energy which 
was one of the salient points of his character, com- 
manded the development of his home. He took an 
active interest in all matters pertaining to the advance- 
ment of the township, and largely identified himself 
with its growth and prosperity ; his ability was soon 



recognized by his fellow-townsmen, and he filled 
many positions of trust and responsibility, with credit 
to himself and to the satisfaction of all ; although 
not a politician, according to the present definition of 
the term, he was prominently connected with county 
and State politics. His death occurred on June 16, 
1849. He had been to Cassopolis as a delegate to a 
political convention, and as he was near his home his 
horses became frightened, by the breaking of the har- 
ness, and ran away; he was thrown from the wagon and 
instantly killed ; his death was a serious loss to the 
county, and although he had only been a resident 
thirteen years, he had attained a prominent position, 
and was a recognized leader in matters both social 
and political. In the accumulation of property, Mr. 
Simpson was successful ; he was possessed of more 
than an ordinary amount of energy, which, coupled 
with good judgment and keen discrimination, assured 
his success in every department of life. His social 
qualities were of a high order, and his generosity and 
hospitality were proverbial. He left two daughters 
— Rebecca, now Mrs. Edwin Austin, and Lydia T. 
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Simpson as- 
sumed the management of the estate, which she con- 
ducted successfully until 18.50, when she was again 
married to John H. Simpson, brother of her first 
husband. He was a native of New Hampshire, and 
a man universally esteemed ; he died August 19, 
1879, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. Mrs. Simp- 
son is still living upon the old homestead. She has 
passed apparently unscathed through the " pioneer 
times," and is enjoying in the evening of her days 
the fruition of a well-spent life, surrounded by her 
family and a large circle of appreciative friends. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Sbction 15. 

1CRI8. 

Jonathan Goble, Franklin County, Ind., Aug. 28, 1835 120 

Andrew Y. Moore, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835 IdO 

William Duncan, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835... KIO 

Hiram Dodge. Lenawee County, Mich., March 14, 183U 320 

Mitcbell Robinson, Cass County, .Mich., May 12, 1836 40 

Skction 17. 

Baldwin Jenkins, Cass County, Mich. March 11, 1830 80 

Alexander Rodgers, Sr., Cass County, Mich., Nov. 5, 1831... 148 
Alexander Rodgers, Jr., Cass County, Mich., June 5, 1835.. 

Samuel Rodgers, Cass County, Mich., June 5, 1835 

Jonithan Hartsell, St. Joseph County, Ind., Dec. 12, 1835.. 

Samuel Rodgers, Berrien County, Mich. Jan. 29, 183(; 

Jonathan Brown, Berrien County, Mich., April 21, 183tj 

Soplironia Sherman, Berrien County, Mich., May 21, 183li.. 

Josiah B. ScoviU, Orwell bounty, Vt., July 21, 18.3tj 

Ebenezer Runnell, Ontario County Vt., July 25, 1830 

Samuel I. Rodgers, Cass County, Vt., March Hi, 18-52 



Section 18. 

Alexander Rodgers, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 2, 1832 IGfi 

Jehiel Luddington, Cass County, Mich., March 25, 1836 72 

Lewis Edw.irds, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837 GO 

Joseph Gardner, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 2, 1837 104 

Peabody Cook, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 2, 1837 104 



William Beach, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 3, 1842.... 
Williiim Beach, Cass County, .Mich., Aug. 3, 184lj... 
William Beach, Cass County, Mich., April 11, 1848., 



40 



Section 23. 

Robert Farris, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832 

James C. Farris, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1832 

Joseph Garwood, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 7, 1833 

George Van Vlear, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1833. 

Solomon Dewey, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 31, 1833 

Richard McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 15, 1835 

Jesse G. Beeson, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 183G 

Henry Sifford, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 25, 1836 

Joseph Garwood, Cass County, Mich., March 25, 1836... 

Richard McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 20, 1836 

John Collins, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1836 



Section 24. 
Minerva Barnaby, Wayne County, Ind., Nov. 30, 183i;. 

William Taylor, Ross County, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1831 

Henry Dewey, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 9, 1831 

Robert Farris, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832 

John Clifton, (^ass County, ^Hch., Feb. 23, 1833 

George Van Vlear, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1833. 
Thomas Simpson, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1833.... 

William Taylor, llass County, Mich., Jan. 29, 1834 

John Collins, Wayne County, Ind., Oct. 14, 1835 

John Clifton, Wayne County, Ind., Dec. 7, 1835 



Section 19. 

Alexander Rodgers, Lenawee County, Mich., June 20, 1829.. 80 

William Burk, Cass County, Mich., April 13, 1830 120 

Thomas Burk, Cass County, .Mich., Nov. 16, 1830 66 

Thomas Burk, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 20, 1830 40 

William Burk, Cass County, Mich., July 24, 1835 40 

Thomas A. H. Edwards, Berrien County, Mich., July 18, 

1836 120 

Theresa A. Bertrand, Berrien County. Micb., April 27, 1836 78 

Thomas Burk, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 28, 1836 40 

Section 20. 

Squire Thompson, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829.... 306 

Squire Thompson, Cass County, Mich., June 23, 1834 60 

Joseph Bertrand, Berrien County, Mich., March 30, 1836.... 81 

Section 21. 

Squire Thompson, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829.... 80 

H. McGwin, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 2^, 1830 59 

JohuCurran, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 29, 1830 59 

James Hopkins Hatch, New York City, June 27, 1836 154 

Eli W. Veach, Case County, Mich.. Aug. 3, 18.35 40 

Andrew Y. Moore, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835. 80 

William Duncan, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835... 80 

Daniel Pringle, Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1836 80 

Jonathan Hartsell, St. Joseph County, Mich., Dec. 12, 183'>.. 80 

Jonathan Hartsell, St. Joseph County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1835.. 40 

Section 22. 

.Samuel Markham, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 2, 1832 80 

James Hopkins Hatch, New York City, Jan. 27, 1836 80 

John B. Gohle, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 24, 1835 120 

John B. Goble, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1835 IGO 

Hiram Dodge, Lenawee County, Mich., March 14, 1836 40 

John B. Goble, Cass County, .Mich., Feb. 27, 1837 40 

Henry Albert, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 28, 1837 120 



Section 25. 
Jesse Garwood, St. Joseph County, Ind., May 13,1832.. 

Robert Farris, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1832 

Jesse Garwood, Cass County. Mich., Feb. 7, 1833 

Joseph Gardner, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1835 

Jacob Silver, tiass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835 

Aaron M. Collins, Wayne ('ounty, Ind., Oct. 14, 1835.. 
James Dickson, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 



] Section 26. 
1 William W. Welch, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 15, 1832. 
j Richard McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 12, 1832.... 
I C. B. Tucker, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1832 

C. A. Fletcher, Chautauqua County, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1831 

John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835 

Moses W. Simpson, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 30, 1836. 

James Dickson, Cass County, .Mich., Oct. 28, 1835 

W. G. Straw, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1835 

Amos Dow, Cass County, Mich., July 16, 1836 



Section 27. 

Richard Mc(?oy, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 9, 1832 

Lane Markham, Cass County, i\Hch , Oct. 2, 1832 

Thomas Clyborn, Cass County, Mich., April 23,1833 

.Tames Hopkins Hatch, New York City, April 8, 1834 

Stephen Paine, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1835 

W. G. Straw, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1835 

Welthy Hartwell, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 

Reuben Haynes, Worcester County, Mass., Nov. 29, 1836..., 
Samuel Markham, Worcester (^unty. Mass , Feb. 2, 1837.. 
James Husted, Worcester County, Mass., March, 1887 



Section 28. 
Samuel Markham, Lenawee County, .Mich., June 19, 1829.. 
Israel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829.... 
Squire Thompson, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829.... 

.Samuel Markham, t!as8 County, Mich., May 11, 1830 

Davis Sink, (Xsa County, .Mich., Nov. 14, 1830 

I James Hopkins Hatch, New York City, June 27, 1835 



214 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 29. 

ACEE8, 

Israel Markham. Jr., Lenawee County, Mich., June 22, 1829 80 

Samuel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., .Tune 29, 1829... 80 

Baldwin Jenkins, Len.awee County Mich., June 29, 1829 320 

Israel Markham, Jr., Lenawee County. Mich., July 16, 1829 80 

Samuel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., July 27, 1829 80 

Section 30. 

Alex Rodgers, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 144 

Archibald Clyborn, Lenawee County, Mich., Nov. 5, 1829 183 

Baldwin Jenkins, Cass County, Mich., March 11, 1830 45 

Alex Rodgers, Cass County, Mich., April 13, 1830 42 

Delonson Curtis, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1830 65 

Isaac Sumner, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1830 80 

Section 31. 

Alex Rorlgers, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829......... 212 

Lewis Edwards, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 104 

Joseph Gardner, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 98 

Jesse Toney, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 83 

Samuel Morton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 25, 1831 7i 

Section 32. 

U. Putnam, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

A. Clyborn, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

Uzziel Putnam, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

Archibald Clyborn, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829... 80 

Isaac W. Duckett, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829.... 80 

L. Edwards, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

J. Gardner, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

J. Gardner, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

J. W. Duckett, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

Nathan Haines, Cass County, .Mich., Oct. 6, 1829 80 

Jonas Rible, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 7, 1832 80 

Section 33. 

Joseph Garwood, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 160 

Uzziel Putnam, Cass County, Mich., April 10, 1830 80 

Joseph Garwood, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 19, 1831 80 

Samuel Markham, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 5, 1832 40 

Henry Sifford, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 19, 1832 40 

James Beverly Hobart, Cass County, Mich., May, 11, 1833... 80 

Lewis Edwards, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 2, 1834 120 

Henry Sifford, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1836 40 

Section 34. 

Nehemiah C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., .Tune 25, 1835. 160 

William L. Clyborn, Cass County, Mich., July 13. 1835 40 

John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1835 160 

Nathan McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 40 

Charles Barton, Cass County, Mich., Nov. .30, 1836 80 

GiUman Wilherell, New York State, Nov. 30, 1836 160 

Section 35. 

Nehemiah C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., June 25, 1836. 400 

John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835 240 

Section 36. 

Elizabeth Lowe, C.ss County, Mich., Nov. 1, 1830 80 

Joseph McPherson, t^ass County, Mich., Nov. 1, 1830 80 

John Boon, Cass County, Mich., April 24, 1835 40 

Nehemiah C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., June 26, 1836. 160 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Midi., Sept. 28, 1835 120 

John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 183.5...., 80 



There is a diversity of opinion as to who the par- 
ties were to the first marriage contract. The records 
in the office of the County Clerk show that in May, 
1830, Mr. Lane Markham was united in marriage to 
Miss Margaret Griifen. They were undoubtedly the 
first couple to enter the hymenial state from Pokagan, 
and the second in Cass County. James Kavanaugh 
and Miss Amy Townsend, of La Grange, being the 
first. One of the first matters to receive the attention 
of the pioneers was the construction of roads. This 
was especially the case where the land was heavily 
timbered. On the prairies and oak openings, there 
was, of course, not the necessity, for regular thorough- 
fares, and the roads in such districts ran wherever the 
convenience of the pioneers could best be subserved. 
The Indians had direct routes of travel from one point 
to another, and many of the first roads followed these 
trails for their general direction. There were two of 
these Indian roads in Pokagon in the early days, that 
in railroad parlance might be called trunk lines. One 
was called the Kankakee Trail, and entered the town- 
ship on Section 31, and took a northerly course 
through the western part of the township, and entered 
the present township of Silver Creek on Section 31 ; 
from this point it bore to the northeast, and intersected 
the Territorial road in Van Buren County. The 
other entered the township about two miles further 
east, and traversed the township diagonally from 
southwest to northeast. The old stage route from 
Niles to Kalamazoo followed this trail very nearly in 
its course through Pokagon. 

For nearly ten years Niles was the market town for 
Pokagon people, and a road from Suranerville to this 
point was opened about 1831. The next road of 
importance was that running from Cassopolis to Ber- 
rien, which was laid out the following year. None of 
these early roads are in existence as they were origi- 
nally surveyed, the location of villages and the 
demands of settlers necessitating continued changes. 
The angling road from Dowagiac to Pokagon was sur- 
veyed in 1833, and cutout in 1834. Two years later, 
it became a part of the stage route from Niles to Kal- 
amazoo, which was one of the prominent advantages 
of the township until it was superseded by the main 
line of the Michigan Central Railroad. The follow- 
ing embraces the names of all who were assessed for 
road tax in 1831. As Pokagon at that time embraced 
the north part of Howard, many of the names given 
resided south of the present southern boundary. 
Joseph Gardner, Joseph Garwood and Sijuire Thomp- 
son were Commissioners of Highways, and John Ray 
and Samuel Markham, Overseers : 

William Boon, John Clark, William Morris, Joseph 
Harter, Peter Barnhart, Jacob Kinsey, Solomon 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



215 



Landes, John L. Kinsey, Jacob L. Kinsey, Adam 
Michael, Isaac Murphy, Joseph Garwood, Isaac W. 
Duckett and Uzziel Putnam, Archibald Clyborn, 
Henry SiflFord, Samuel Morton. Alexander Rogers, 
Jerre Toney, William Garwood, Lewis Edwards, 
Jacob Landes, Joseph Gardner, Martin Reed, Edward 
Markham, Jacob Nye, John Pool, Thomas Phillips, 
William Kirk, James Kirk, John McUaniel, John 
Woolman, William Griffis, Phillip Baltimore, William 
Farris and George Holloway. 

Postal facilities, like everything else, have passed 
through successive changes, commensurate with the 
development of the county, and the demands of the 
people. The mails were first carried by a man on 
foot, then came the post-boy, the stage coach, and the 
railway train. The first post office was an exceedingly 
primitive affair. It was never required, excepting 
when there was no settler's house central enough to 
accommodate the inhabitants. It consisted of a small 
box, with two parts inside and lid on top, and nailed 
to a tree located as stated above. In this box the boy 
left the mail, and took the letters to be sent away. 
This box was never tampered with, which is evidence 
of the good character of the people of those days. 
The first Postmaster in Pokagon was Samuel Mark- 
ham. He received his mail at Niles, and carried it to 
his house where the office was kept. About 1832, 
the Government established a post route, and for 
about four years the mails were carried by an English 
boy, by the name of George Cook, who is still remem- 
bered by the " early settler" as a character ; he rode 
one hundred miles of the route and was as brave as he 
was hardy. Letters were a luxury in the pioneer 
times ; they were written on foolscap paper, and so 
folded that one side was left blank, so as to form its 
own envelope, and they were sealed with wax or a 
wafer. The postage was invariable 25 cents, 
and many a letter " from the old folks at home" was 
kept for weeks in the office, for the single reason that 
fhe party to whom it was addressed was unable to pay 
the postage. The first post office was established at 
and called Pokagon, and subsequently one was estab- 
lished at Sumnerville. In April of 18.32, the people 
were startled by the report that the Indians had 
begun a war of extermination, and that all Western 
settlements were in imminent danger of annihilation. 

One report was that Chicago had been burned, and 
its settlers ma.ssacred ; and that three or four thou- 
sand Indians were on the march eastward, with torch 
and tomahawk, destroying everything on their route. 
and slaughtering the inhabitants. The news sprcail 
with lightning rapidity, and the excitement that fol- 
lowed was indeed terrible. The settlers were called 
out with orders to rendezvous at Niles, and to !)ring 



such arms as were attainable. Among those who 
reported for duty were Joseph Gardner, Joseph Gar- 
wood, Samuel Rodgers, Jesse Garwood, W. S. Clyborn, 
Henry Sifford, Solomon Landes, Jonathan Dewev, 
and a number of others whose names we have not 
been able to obtain. 

The people of Pokagon, from their close proximity 
to the Indian reservation at Niles, where there were 
several thousand Pottawatomies, would have been in 
greater danger perhaps than any other portion of the 
county, and this fact, no doubt, added to the intense 
excitement that prevailed for about two weeks, when 
first reports were contradicted and people returned to 

i their business. For a detailed history of this event, 
which might be designated as a scare, as the hostile 
Indians did not come within a hundred miles of Chi- 
cago, we refer the reader to the general history. 

Mitchell Robinson was a Virginian by birth ; he 
removed to Kentucky with his parents when a young 
man, where he married a Miss Maria Caldwell ; after 
a residence of five years in Kentucky, he removed to 
Greene County, Ohio, where he lived eight years. In 

I April, 1832, he came to Cass County in company 
with Edward Powers and son, and Joseph Caldwell, 
his wife's brother. He located about one mile north 
of the present village of Pokagon, where he resided 
many years. But few men left a better record, or 
identified themselves more prominently with Poka- 
gon's history than he. 

The first settlers in the east central part of the 
township were Henry Dewey and Joseph Stretch. 
Dewey entered 160 acres on Section 13 in October, 
1830, and in July of the following year. Stretch 
located eighty acres on Section 14. The family of 
Mr. Stretch consisted of his wife and four sons — John, 
William, Henry and Isaac. He first stopped on 
McKinney's Prairie, where he built a cabin and put 
in a crop. In the fall, he removed to Pokagon, and, 

i during a portion of the winter, occupied a cabin built 
by Mr. Dewey in the spring. The winter following 
was extremely cold, and the family suffered many 
privations and hardships. The land was heavily 
timbered, and for two or three years he was obliged 
to raise crops onthe prairie. He was a Pennsylvanian 
by birth, but was reared in Virginia ; he lived several 
years in Ohio, and from thence removed to Wayne 
County, Ind., where he lived until his removal to 
Cass County in April of 1831, in company with Mr. 
Dewey and his family, consisting of his wife and 
eleven children — Isaac, Jonathan, Solomon, Aaron, 
Nathan, David, Enoch, Eliza, Rebecca, Nancy and 

j Lucinda. 

In 1832, Mr. Dewey went to La Grange, where he 
remained a short time, when he returned to Pokagon. 



216 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN, 



Some time after, several of his old neighbors from 
Wayne County came to look at the country, and with 
them he visited the northwest part of the township 
of Silver Creek. He was so well pleased with the 
land in the vicinity of the lake that now bears his 
name, that he concluded to make it his home. He 
accordingly purchased 160 acres on Section 8, to 
which he removed with his family, with the exception 
of Isaac and Jonathan. Jonathan resided on the 
land entered by his father on Section 13 until his 
decease, which occurred in 1878. Jonathan had four 
children — Albina, now Mrs. John Mater; Lucina, 
now Mrs. Hiram Dillman ; Levi and Henry ; the 
latter lives on his grandfather's original purchase. 

John Stretch, now one of the prominent farmers of 
the township, was a lad of seven years at the time of 
his father's emigration to the county, and now resides 
just north of the place where his father first settled. 
Henry is dead; Isaac went to California and William 
lives in Pokagon, on Section 29. Henry married 
Mary E. McCoy, and moved to the farm where his 
widow now resides, which was then unimproved. He 
died in 1871. 

The first settler on Section 27 was Richard McCoy. 
He arrived on Pokagon Prairie in June of 1832, 
where he spent the summer. In the fall he went on 
to his purchase where he built a cabin. His family 
was composed of his wife and three children — Emily, 
Mary and W. H. McCoy. John Sifi'ord, a brother- 
in-law, came with them; also his brother, Henry Mc- 
Coy, who subsequently returned to Virginia. Mrs. 
McCoy lives on the old farm, and refers with evident 
pleasure to the early days. Her husband was a great 
hunter. In 1852, he started for his old home in Vir- 
ginia, and died before reaching his destination. Four 
of his sons are residents of the township — George A., 
W. H., Richard and Delavan. 

The early settlers did not escape the usual diseases 
consequent upon opening the lands to the sun, the 
decomposition of vegetable matters, and the existence 
of miasmatic swamps. Previous to 1833, the general 
health had been excellent, but this season was 
prolific of an unusual amount of sickness, especially 
fever and ague, and malarial diseases generally, and 
1833 is remembered by old settlers as the sickly 
season. 

October 18, 1833, David True, Spencer Robinson 
and Eli W. Veach, arrived in Pokagon from Warren 
County, Ohio. They came with horse teams, and the 
journey occupied eighteen days. Mr. True was a boy 
of sixteen, and for a few months made his home with 
a brother-in-law, Whipple Carpenter, who at that 
time was living in a cabin near the present residence 
of William Baldwin. In 1844, he bought one hun- 



dred and sixty acres of land on Section 15. He 
removed to his present farm in 1865. 

Samuel Marr was a pioneer, and emphatically a 
gentleman of the " old school." He was one of the 
early Justices, and very zealous in the performance of 
his duties. He evidently believed in the enforcement 
of all the laws on the statute books, as we find by ref- 
erence to the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors 
of 1834, that he informed the board that as Justice of 
the Peace he had fined three persons $6 for Sabbath 
breaking, and had collected the money which awaited 
their order. 

In 1835, James Dickson, one of the prominent 
pioneers of La Grange Township, and whose history 
is there recorded, entered two hundred acres of land 
on Sections 25 and 26. He settled on Section 26, 
about one-half mile west of where his son, Robinson J. 
Dickson, now resides. He was an extensive and suc- 
cessful fiirraer, and widely known for his liberality 
and hospitality. He did much to forward the devel- 
opment of this section of the township, and he will 
long be remembered as one of the prominent charac- 
ters in its history. Robinson J. Dickson was a lad of 
about ten years of age at the time of his father's 
removal to Pokagon, and his recollection of early 
times is vivid and accurate, and to him the historian 
is indebted for much valuable data. Perhaps but few 
men have interested themselves more largely in mat- 
ters of public interest than he. Coming into Pokagon 
when a mere lad, he has been identified with its his- 
tory for nearly a half century. 

Giles County, Va., furnished its quota of the 
early settlers of Pokagon. Archibald Clyborn was 
the first to emigrate from that State, and among the 
families from the county of Giles were the Emmonses, 
John K., James and their parents. The family of 
James consisted of his wife and four children — Eliza- 
beth, John I., James E. and Charles W. They arrived 
in September of 1834, and built a cabin on land 
owned by William Kirk. James remained about a 
year, when he removed to Section 10. Of his family, 
there are still living in Pokagon Charles W., Wesley, 
Martin L. and Frank P. One son, James E., lives in 
Iowa. John K. resided on the Kirk place nearly a 
year, when he removed to the place where he now 
resides. The day after their arrival in Pokagon, a 
daughter, now Mrs. Myers, was born to them, and in 
honor of the place of the nativity of her parents, 
was named Virginia. In the spring succeeding their 
arrival, Mr. and Mrs. Emmons made sugar on the 
land they had entered the November previous. Mr. 
Emmons made the troughs for catching the sap, one 
of which was appropriated by Mrs. Emmons, as a 
cradle in which she rocked her baby while at work. 





W;V. F^ODGLT^S. 



l>\p;S.\vK F^ODGERS. 



WILLIAM A. KOIHJKHS. 
Among tht> pi.Mioor families of Pokagon, ptrhiips 
no one is more dosorving of spooial mention than that 
of Alexander Rmlgers. who'se historv in Cass County 
dates back to 1S28. The elder Rodgers was of Scotch 
parentage, his father liaving enjigrated from Scotland 
and settled in lliekbridge County. Va.. where Al- 
exander was born. The progenitor of the family 
was a typical Scotchman, determined, resolute, and 
possessed of that keen judgment and discrimination 
that is one of the prominent characteristics of the fam- 
ily, lie Wiis a physician, and was in active practice 
for many yeai-s, Alexander was reared in Virginia, 
where he was married, in lSOi\ to Miss Peggv* Culton. 
of his native town. The following year he. with 
his young wife, emigrated to Preble County. Ohio, 
where William, the imiueiUate subject of this sketch, 
was born. October '27, 18'2T. and was therefore a babe 
of one year at the time of the family's emigration to 
Pokagon in 1828. Ilis boyhood days weri» spent on 
his father's farm, alternating the summers' work by a 
few weeks at the log schoolhouse in winter, where 
he received such advantages as were oft'ered by the 
first schoi>l in Csiss County. He remained with his 
father and bivthers, whose interests were in common. 



until the death of the former, which occurred in 1867. 
lie owns 400 acres of the original purchase of his 
father, which comprised 700 acres. His farm, a view 
of which we present on another page, is evidence of 
his success and enterprise. In 1857. he was married 
to Miss Hannah C. daughter of Franklin and Eliza- 
beth Shaler. She was born near Sidney. Shelby 
County. Ohio, October 11, 1884 ; her father was a 
native of Massachusetts ; her mother was born in Penn- 
sylvania, where they were married. They reared a 
family of si.\ children, five daughters and one son. 
Mrs. Rodgers received an academical education, and 
for some time was engstged in teaching, which voca- 
tion she followed after the families emigrated to Mich- 
igan in 185r>. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers have been 
blessed with four children — Ella V.. Ida May. Schuy- 
ler C. and Mabel. The life of Mr. Rodgers has been 
comparatively uneventful and marked by few inci- 
dents, save such as occur in the lives of mo'tt success- 
ful business men. While taking a proper interest 
in political matters, he has never sought office, but 
has devoted his energies and talents to his business, 
in which he has been highly successful. He has iden- 
tified himself with the best interests of Pokagon, and 
has perfectetl a valuable reconl as a citiien. 




-.tt*' 




HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Mrs. Myers is the only one of the children now living 
in Pokagon. Mrs. Nancy Crandall resides in Silver 
Creek ; Charles W., the only son, lives near Cassopo- 
lis ; the eldest daughter resides in Iowa. William 
Emmons arrived in the spring of 1834, with his 
family of five children. He was also from Giles 
County, Va., and settled on the northeast corner 
of Section 9, where his son, William L., now lives. 

Henry Houser came in August of 1834, from 
Preble County, Ohio, and settled on Section 36, on 
lands bought the previous year of John Boon. His 
family consisted of his wife and three sons, Solomon 
N., Michael B. and Eli. Mr. Houser occupied a 
prominent position in the early aflfairs of the town- 
ship. He took a lively interest in political matters 
and in 1837 was a member of the county Legislature, 
and was re-elected the following year. He was a suc- 
cessful farmer and acquired a comfortable competency. 
He died in Dowagiac in 1879, in the seventy-seventh 
year of his age. 

The following is a copy of the assessment roll of 
1834, and gives the names of all resident taxpayers 
in that year, their assessment followed by the tax. 
From it the reader gets a very correct idea of the 
status of things at that time, and the advancement 
made in eight years. 



Thomas 1'. McCool 

Thomas P. ilcCool, adminiatrator of the estate 

George Cherbert 

James B. Herbert 

William Kmmons 

John Pollock 

Charles Thoroughman 

Thomas Clyborn 

Richard McCoy 

Charles B. Tucker 

James Dickson 

William W. Welch 

Joseph Stretch 

John Clifton 

William Taylor 

Henry Dewey 

Uzziel Putnam 



1,000 



87 

92 

2 02 



1 00 
1 12 
3 50 
7 40 



Joseph Garwood 


fl.-Wl 


$ 7 95 


Jesse Garwood 


506 


2 52 


Isaac W. Duckett 


1.418 


7 09 


Louis Edwards 


1,590 


7 98 








.Samuel Morton 


341 


1 70 


Gehial Ludington 


lOO 


50 


Archibald Clyborn 


1,458 


7 29 


Ann Robinson 


40 


20 


Edward Powers 


1 068 


6 34 


John Powers 






Samuel Markham 


1 254 


27 


John Van Vlear 






Baldwin Jenkins 


1 519 


7 59 


Squire Thompson 


2,400 


12 00 


Whipple Carpenter 


117 


52 


David Sink 




1 58 

2 42 


Henry Sifford 


484 


Mitchell Robinson 




2 15 


Israel Markham, Sr 


350 


■1 75 


Nathan McCoy 




37 


Joseph Caldwell 


05 


32 






20 

10 

1 42 






AdamSalladay 


285 


Henry Salladay...'. 


105 


52 




100 


60 






Daniel Youngblood 


100 


.50 


Alexander Rogers 


1,400 


7 30 


William Burk 


290 


1 45 


Andrew L.Burk 


240 


1 20 


Thomas Burk 


450 


2 25 


Samuel Kodgera 


107 


63 



Jonathan Hartsell came from Stark County, Ohio, 
in 1826, and settled in Elkhart County, Ind., where 
he remained until he came to Pokagon, and he bought 
the " betterments " of Eli W. Veach, and, in Decem- 
ber of 1835, entered eighty acres on Section 21. He 
resided in Pokagon until his decease, which occurred 
in 1865. Of the nine children who came with him, 
eight are now living in the county, five of whom are 
in the township of Pokagon. 

One of the first settlers on Section 23 was George 
Van Vlear. He came in 1833, and, after locating his 
land, returned to his home, near Dayton, Ohio. The 
following year, 1834, he returned with his family, 
which consisted of his wife and three children — John, 
Phebe A. andCatherine. The Farrises — Robert, Will- 
iam, James and Phebe — also came with the party. In 
1835, he built a cabin on his land, where he has since 
resided. John lives on a part of his father's original 
purchase. 

On the 17th of June, 1836, the village of Shakes- 
peare was laid out by Jonathan Brown and E. B. 
Sherman on Sections 8, 9 and 17. Brown was a sort 
of an adventurer, a book-binder by trade, and at the 
time resided in Niles. At this date the land office 
was located in Kalamazoo, and Sherman and Brown 
early in the month went there for the transaction of 
business. On their return they fell in company, and 
as they were riding along the conversation naturally 
turned upon the country, its development and the 
probable location of villages. Sherman owned forty 
acres of land in Pokagon, and alluded to its natural 
advantages, its fine water-power, and suggested it as a 
fine location for an embryo village. Brown coincided 
in his opinion, and Sherman suggested that Brown 
purchase forty acres adjoining, and that they should 
lay out a town ; his proposition was accepted, and a 
surveyor by the name of Starr platted the new vil- 
lage with broad streets, two avenues six rods in width, 
numerous public parks, and a contemplated canal 
from one point of the Dowagiac River, as it was 



218 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



called, to another, with a number of reserved lots on 
the water front for manufacturing purposes. A litho- 
graphic view was made of the prospective town, rep- 
resenting vessels lying at the wharf, and many of 
them were sent to distant points for the purpose of 
selling lots. A large spring was named after the 
chief, Topennebec, and was represented as being 
powerful enough to furnish an ample supply of water 
for two-thirds of the town. After the completion of 
the plat and the views, Sherman and the Browns went 
to Chicago to sell lots. The representations of the 
Browns in regard to the property were so far from the 
actual facts that Sherman became disgusted with the 
whole scheme. The Browns made him a proposition 
for his interest which he accepted, the consideration 
being two shares in the Lockport Manufacturing Com- 
pany at Three Rivers, another "wild-eat" specula- 
tion in which the Browns were largely interested. 
Nothing was ever done in the development of the 
" paper town " further than the survey, although lots 
were sold in every direction, and for many years after- 
ward the County Clerk was continually receiving let- 
ters from parties who had bought lots asking informa- 
tion in regard to their investments in the city of 
Shakespeare. 

Among the early settlers of La Grange was Thomas 
Simpson, who came from Piqua County, Ohio, in May, 
1828. He spent the summer on Pokagon Prairie, 
and in the autumn of that year removed to La Grange, 
where he entered land, and where he resided many 
years. In 1883, he entered land on Section 24, in 
the township of Pokagon. James Simpson, at the 
time of his father's emigration, was a lad of seven 
years ; he lived in La Grange until 1836, when he 
moved to the place where he now resides. 

The following includes the names of all designated 
as resident tax-payers for the year 1837, and is taken 
from the assessment roll of that year. The amount 
assessed for township purposes was $94.22 ; the State 
and county tax was $376.90 ; the total valuation was 
$75,381.00 ; the buildings of the township were esti- 
mated at $1,460: 

Thomas Youngblood, Spencer Robinson, James 
Emmons, John Emmons, William Emmons, James 
Emmons, Jr., Elias Simpson, William Sheldon, Joshua 
Sheldon, George Hamilton, Jacob Mufley, John Muf- 
ley, William Taylor, John B. Goble, James Dickson, 
John Collins. Henry Hauser, Ruhan McCoy, Jackson 
True, James W. Robinson, Isaac Mufley, George 
Mufley, Leray H. Reman, Amos Dane, George Van- 
vlear, Cliarles Barton, Moses Simpson, James Streator, 
Nathan McCoy, Justin Stearns, Joseph Stretch, John 
B. Redick, Isaac W. Duckett, Isaac Sumner, Thomas 
P. McCool, Alexander Rodgers, Sr., William Maddox, 



Hamilton J. McCool, Alexander B. Davis, Peabody 
Cook, Delanson Custis, Stephen Curtis, Whipple 
Carpenter, Archibald Clyborn, William L. Clyborn, 
Thomas K. Clyborn, Jehelaiel Luddington, Caleb 
Smith, Joseph Gardner, Curtis Morris, Sumner, 
Davis & Co., Lewis Edwards, Sumner, Hatch & Co.. 
David True, William True, Fiddon Emmons, Alex- 
ander Rodgers, Jr., John Rodgers, Coonrad Clipfield, 
John Putnam, Henry Sifford, David Sink, Samuel 
Markham, Baldwin Jenkins, Squire Thompson, David 
Robinson, Thomas True, Thomas Burk, John B. 
Timmons, William Burk, Peter Youngblood, Aaron 
Jenkins, L'zziel Putnam, James B. Herbert, Joseph 
Garwood, Jesse Garwood, Alva Benton, Solomon 
Veach, Eli W. Veach, Jonathan Hartsell, Isaac Will- 
iams, Samuel Rodgers, Titus Husted, Warner Osgood, 
George Benton, Neahmiah Morton, Hubbel H. Rood, 
James Husted, Thomas Sherman, Charles Thorough- 
man, Mitchel Robinson and W. G. Strawn. 

Samuel Morris was one of the pioneers of Kalama- 
zoo County, where he settled in 1834, emigrating 
from Otsego County, N. Y. He bought land on 
Gourdneck Prairie, and returned to the State of New 
York. In the spring of 1836, he was married in 
Madison County, and in April of that year returned 
to his farm in Kalamazoo County. After a residence 
of three years he moved to Pokagon, where he has 
since resided. Samuel resides on the old place. 

John Byrnes came from Syracuse, N. Y., in 1837, 
and settled in Niles, where he followed his trade, 
that of a carpenter and joiner, for several years. In 
1839, he came to Sumnerville, and in 1846 bought 
the farm where he now resides. He has in many 
ways been instrumental in advancing the best inter- 
ests of Pokagon, and his name is found connected 
with many important intei'ests. 

Daniel Oyler, although not a pioneer, is one of the 
old residents, having been in Pokagon over thirty 
years. He was originally from Cuyhoga County, 
Ohio, from which place he emigrated with his parents 
and brother John in 1848. 

Andrew J. Myers came to Volinia in 1831, in com- 
pany with his mother and two brothers, George and 
Aaron. After a residence of some years the family 
went to Illinois. In 1845, Andrew returned, and in 
1848 purchased the property he now owns. 

Deodatus W. Hurd was originally from Rensselaer 
County, N. Y., from whence he emigrated to Iowa in 
1859. In 1862, he came to Cass County, and re- 
sided in Jefferson until his removal to Pokagon 
Village in 1862. 

B. C. Ames was born in Wyoming County, New 
] York, whence be emigrated to Illinois. Here he was 
' married, in 1855. Mrs. Ames was born on Buck 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



219 



Horn Island, in the Niagara River. In 1861, they 
came to Cass County and settled in Pokagon ; four 
years later they moved to the farm where they now 
reside. 

The First Free- Will Baptist Church of Pokagon 
was organized in 1854, with the following members: 
Z. Tinkham and wife, L. Tinkham, J. H. Darling 
and wife, Melissa and Martha Tinkham and a Miss 
Potter. The first pastor was J. H. Darling, of New 
York, who preached two years previous to the organ- 
ization. The succession of pastors has been Revs. E. 
Root, James Ashley, and L. Jones, who is the present 
pastor. The first Deacon was Z. Tinkham. In 1860, 
the society built a church edifice at a cost of $1,500, 
which was dedicated in February, 1861, Rev. D. L. 
Rice, of Hillsdale, preaching the dedicatory sermon. 
The present membership is eighty-two, with the fol- 
lowing ofiicers : Deacons, Z. Tinkham, E. C. Smith, 
M. Hoover ; Trustees, J. P. Hutten, M. Hoover 
and Alexander Cooper. The society started under 
very adverse circumstances, but is at present in a very 
flourishing condition. 

THE STATE FISH HATCHERY. 

In 1873, the Legislature passed an act for the estab- 
lishment of a board of Fish Commissioners, consisting 
of John G. Bagley, A. D. Kellogg and George Clark, 
with power to locate a State hatchery for the artificial 
propagation of fish. By the same act $15,000 was 
appropriated, and in 1873 the board passed a resolu- 
tion, locating the hatchery at Crystal Springs, on the 
grounds of the Methodist Camp Meeting Association, 
in Pokagon. George H. Jerome, of Niles, was ap- 
pointed Superintendent, and Charles Michael, Assist- 
ant. In October of the same year, a lease was 
executed and work was immediately commenced ; a 
house was constructed with a hatching capacity of 
1,000,000 eggs. In 1877, Henry H. Porter, who 
had had an extended experience in the propagation of 
fish, was appointed Assistant Superintendent ; he put 
in new apparatus and remodeled the whole thing, but 
soon became satisfied that it was not a proper location, 
owing to the uneven temperature and impurity of the 
water, besides there being a very inadequate supply. 
From 3,500,000 eggs deposited in fall of 1877, only 
500,000 fish were obtained. In the spring of 1881, 
the board removed the hatchery to Paris, where it is 
now being successfully operated under the superin- 
tendency of James C. Portman. 

The little hamlet of Sumnerville dates back to 1836. 
Its proprietors were Isaac Sumner and J. H. Hatch. 
Sumner built a saw-mill at this place in 1835, and 
two years after erected a grist-mill. About this time, 
Alexander Davis, the first merchant, commenced to 



sell goods. In 1848, Russel Cook and John R. 
Connine opened a store in the building now occupied 
by Mr. Frost. Peabody Cook was the first " tavern- 
keeper," commencing about 1835. 

Pokagon Village was laid out in January, 1858, by 
William Baldwin. In the same year, Joel Andrews 
and Hoke Stansel, commenced merchandising. The 
present grist-mill was built by Kelley Brothers 
in 1856. The business interests of the village are 
now vested in a hotel, a drug store, two dry good 
stores, a steam saw-mill, a boot and shoe shop, and a 
blacksmith shop. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SUMNER- 
VILLE. 

The first class was formed in the spring of 1840. 
There had been preaching before this time under the 
auspices of the Indiana Conference, but principally by 
local ministers, prominent among the number being 
T. P. McCool, Richard Meek and Braxton Robinson. 
In the autumn of 1839, the Michigan Conference 
took in the southwest part of the State as a mission, 
and sent Rev. Franklin Gage as a missionary. The 
district embraced all the territory west of School- 
craft, south to the State line, and north to the lake, 
excepting Niles. The result of his ministrations was 
a powerful revival, known in Methodist annals as the 
great revival of Sumneiville. The class above spoken 
of was one of the results of this revival, and was the 
first in this part of the State. Up to 1850, the 
society had held their meetings in a schoolhouse, 
which, after a time, became almost sacred from its 
associations, but became so dilapidated that they de- 
cided to erect a comfortable church structure. A 
Board of Trustees was formed, composed of T. P. Mc- 
Cool, John Byrnes, W. W. Maloy, Daniel Bates and 
Franklin Brownell. The church was completed in 
1854. In the summer of 1876, the Trustees of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon purchased of 
Russell Cook a structure which was remodeled, and 
fitted up as a church. The minister in charge was 
David Burns. The Trustees were, Jacob White, 
John Byrnes, William Lewis, H. S. Norton, John 
Burnett, Jerome Wood, Russel Cook and Henry and 
David White. There had been a class formed several 
years previous to tiiis time, and regular meetings were 
held in Union Church. 

March 15, 1861, the Trustees of the McKindrey 
Chapel purchased of John Barnett the ground known 
as the" Crystal Spring.s Camp-ground." The Trust- 
ees were John Byrnes, Franklin Brownell, John R. 
Connine, Stephen Curtis and W. W. Malloy. In 
1877, it was transferred to the Niles District, and was 
incorporated under a general act of the Legislature. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Pokagon Grange, No. 42, P. of. H., was organized 
August 1, 1873, by C. S. King, Deputy of State 
Grange, and the following officers elected : Russel 
Cook, Master; Jerome Wood, Overseer; D. W. Hard, 
Secretary, who, with the following persons comprised 
the charter members : William Sti-etch, William E. 
Williams, William Lewis, T. WitherelL J. W. Blake, 
G. D. Jones, F. Emmons, J. H. Simpson, William 
Wood, Jacob White, Catharine Stretch, Charlotte W. 
Williams, Hannah C. Cook, Mary E. Lewis, Flora 
H. Hurd, Anna L. Witherell, Maria Emmons, lantha 
Wood, Sarah Simpson, Cynthia Wood. 

Since organization, the grange has been in a flour- 
ishing condition, and the knowledge acquired in dis- 
cussing live questions has inured to the benefits of 
its members. Present membership thirty. The present 
ofiicers are : Jerome Wood, Master ; R. J. Dickson, 
Overseer ; Mrs. R. J. Dickson, lecturer ; L. B. Patti- 
son. Steward ; Wesley Emmons, Assistant Steward ; 
James Emmons, Chaplain ; John Hain, Treasurer ; 
Joel S. Moore, Gatekeeper ; lantha Wood, Ceres : 
Catharine Stretch, Pomona ; Mrs. John Hain, Flora ; 
Mrs. H. B. Pattison, Lady Assistant. 

POKAGON LODGE NO. 136, F. & A. M. ! 

This society held its first meeting under a charter j 
issued by the Grand Lodge at its annual session at 
Detroit, January 9, 1862. The officers elected were : 
Calvin Benton, W. M. ; William McAfi"ee. S. W. ; 
Joseph E. Garwood, J. W. ; Joel Andrews, Secretary ; 
Elam Harter, Treasurer ; John Byrnes, S. D.; George 
W. Benton, J. D. ; Henry C. Parker, Tiler. Previ- 
ous to their organization they had met under a special 
dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of the State 
to George W. Benton, John McAllister, Joseph E. 
Garwood, Franklin Shaler, John Byrnes, George W. 
Conklin, Joel Andrews and Edgar Waltar, to organize 
a lodge with John Byrnes, W. M., George W. Benton, 
S. W. and Joseph E. Garwood, J. W. The first 
meeting was held July 29, 1859, E. .Waltar, Sec- 
retary. January 13, 1860, the dispensation was ex- 
tended until the meeting of the Grand Lodge in 
January of 1861, and meetings were held until Decem- , 
ber 24, 1860. The dispensation expired soon after ] 
this date, and, no proceedings being instituted to se- j 
cure a charter, no meetings were held until February 18, ] 
1861, at which time the lodge met under a new dispen- 
sation with Edgar Waltar, W. M.; John H. Mutton, S. 
W. ; Joseph E. Garwood, J. W., and Joel Andrews, 
Secretary. The society owns a well furnished hall 
and are in a flourishing condition. ! 



CIVIL LIST — SUPERVISORS. 

1831, Squire Thompson; 1832, John Clark; 
1833, Samuel Marrs ; 18-34-36, Lewis Edwards; 
1837-38, Henry Houser ; 1839-41, County Commis- 
sioner, Henry Houser ; 1842-43, Squire Thompson ; 
1844, William Burke; 1845-46, Henry Houser; 
1847, William L. Clyborn ; 1848, M. Robinson; 
1849-50, William L. Clyborn; 1851-52, M. T. 
Garvey ; 1853, Frank Brownell ; 1854, M. Robin- 
son ; 1855, Lewis Clyborn ; 1856, M. T. Garvey ; 
1857, William L. Clyborn ; 1858, M. T. Garvey ; 
1859, D. H. Wagner; 1860, M. Robinson; 1861, 
M. T. Garvey ; 1862-69, Alexander Robinson ; 
1870, David W. Clemmer ; 1871-76, B. W. Scher- 
merhorn ; 1877, M. V. Gray ; 1878, Joseph Waltar ; 
1879-80, H. W. Richards ; 1881, Alexander Robin- 
son. 

TREASURERS. 

1831-34, Lewis Edwards ; 1835-37, Mitchell Rob- 
inson ; 1838, William L. Clyborn; 1839, Zurin 
Garwood; 1840-41, Squire Thompson; 1842, 
William L. Clyborn ; 1843-46, Moses W. Simpson ; 
1847-49, John Collins ; 1850, Franklin Brownell ; 
1851, Robinson J. Dickson; 1852, Amos D. 
McCool ; 1853, Robinson J. Dickson ; 1854, William 
G. Straw ; 1855, John Collins ; 1856, John Bates ; 
1857, John Collins; 18.58, Gideon Gibbs; 1859, 
John Bates; 1860-61, Archibald Robertson; 1862, 
Mitchell Robinson; 1863, Gideon Gibbs; 1864, 
Augustus Allen ; 1865, Abner G. Townsend; 1866, 
Stephen W. Tinkham ; 1867, Albert G. Ramsey; 
1868-69, Elam Harter ; -1870-71, Daniel M. Heaz- 
lett ; 1872-73, Samuel Miller ; 1874-76, Moses V. 
Gray; 1877, William Stretch; 1878-79, H. P. 
Cook ; 1880-81, J. E. Garwood. 

CLERKS. 

1831-35, Joseph Gardner; 1836-41, Eli W. 
Veach ; 1842, Mitchell Robinson ; 1843-46, William 
L. Clyborn; 1847, David Long; 1848, Charles G. 
Moore; 1849-50, Lewis Edwards ; 1851-52, Clark 
F. Johnson ; 1853, Ira Starkweather ; 1854, Samuel 
R. Wheeler ; 1855, Ira Starkweather ; 1856, Rollin 
C. Dennison; 1857, Joseph E. Garwood; 1858, 
Strawther Bowling; 1859, Theodore Stebbins; 1860, 
Strawther Bowling; 1861, Philo D. Beckwith ; 1862, 
George Miller; 1863, Elias Pardee; 1864-68, 
Strawther Bowling; 1869, Rollin C. Osborne; 1870, 
B. W. Schermerhorn ; 1871, John Rix ; 1872-74", 
Rollin C. Osborne; 1875, Edwin W. Beckwith; 
1876-78, R. Allen: 1879, J. F. Willis; 1880-81, 
R. Allen. 







\y- 



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i.i.0 



^;.*jSi^ ,si 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



UZZIEL rUTNAM, Sit. 
The pioneer of Cass County, the late Uzziel Put- 
nam, Sr., of Pokagon Township, was born in Wards- 
boro, Vt., March 17, 1793. When three years of 
age, he went with his parents, Uzziel and Polly 
(Trask) Putnam, to Oneida County, N. Y., and in 
1801, to New Salem, Mass., where he lived with an 
uncle, Joseph Putnam, until the fall of 1807. He 
then returned to his parents, who had, in the mean- 
time, located in Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and was 
apprenticed to Simon Whitecomb, a clothier, with 
whom he remained for five seasons, the business being 
carried on at that day chiefly in the winter months. 
His father, with others, went to Sackett's Harbor 
and built a boat, with which they conveyed their fam- 
ilies to Detroit, where they spent the winter of 1811- 
12. Uzziel Putnam's brother David, with Samuel and 
Horace Markham, having emigrated to Ohio, his par- 
ents decided to make their future home in that State. 
The young man Uzziel having served the full period of his 
apprenticeship, resolved to be in the neighborhood of 
his father's family, and started on foot for Colt Creek 
in the township of Margaretta, Huron (now Erie) 
County, Ohio, about seven miles from the site of the 
city of Sandusky. This journey of 500 miles he 
made on foot, in fifteen days, excepting a ride of 140 
miles east of Canandaigua. In Ohio, the neighbors 
of the Putnams, within a radius of several miles, were 
three families. The young man Uzziel began life in 
the woods under as great disadvantages as any of the 
pioneers of the West. He was poor, but worked hard 
to better his condition. Prior to and during the war 
of 1812, the Indians committed many murders in 
Northwestern Ohio, and bands of the hostile savages 
were constantly prowling through the woods in search 
of lonely victims. He had considerable experience of 
an unpleasant kind with them, and probably only 
escaped being murdered by extreme caution and 
watchfulness. He remained in the vicinity of his 
parents' home, and performed such work as he could 
find to do, until October 19, 1812, when he met with 
Elias Murray, wagon-master of the United States 
Army, and enlisted as a teamster for three months. 
After the time of his enlistment had expired, he went 
into the army as a substitute for a drafted man, and 
served until after Gen. Winchester's defeat. For his 
service, which he has said was the hardest he ever 
endured, he received a Government warrant for 160 
acres of land. In 1813, Uzziel Putnam was in the 
vicinity of Colt Creek, when the Indian massacre oc- 
curred (of which an account is given in the biograph- 
ical sketch of his brother Orlean). Afterward he went 
to Waterford, Penn., where he worked for his Uncle 
Rufus Trask, hauling powder and salt and flour be- 



j tween the latter place and Erie. After the burning 
of Buflfalo, the man by whom he was employed was 
drafted, and Uzziel went into the army as his substi- 
tute, being stationed at Erie. Not long after the close 
of the war, he returned to Ohio, and there was married, 
September 12, 1822, to Ann Chapman, who was born 
in Connecticut, January 19, 1792. In 1825, the 
settlers in the Putnam neighborhood having heard 
i much of the St. Joseph Country in Michigan from An- 
■ drew Parker, an Indian trader who had traveled 
through it, several of them resolved to journey to it. 
In company with Abram Townsend and Israel Mark- 
ham, Uzziel Putnam left the Ohio home for a Michigan 
home on May 7. The story of their journey is told 
in the history of the township at length and graphically, 
and it is, therefore, unnecessary to repeat it here. 
Upon the 22d of November, Putnam became the first 
settler in Cass County, locating upon Pokagon 
Prairie, in this township, and there he lived to see 
I Cass County and all of Southwestern Michigan filled 
I with happy homes, and made one vast fruitful field by 
his brother pioneers and their descendants. He died 
July 15, 1881, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. His 
aged helpmeet passed away only nine months previous 
— October 15, 1880. The faculties of both were pre- 
served almost unimpaired to the last, and they were 
rewarded in their old age with peace, plenty and hap- 
piness, for the struggles and privations of their early 
days. 

LEWLS EDWARDS. 
Lewis Edwards, son of Joseph and Clarisa Edwards, 
was born at Lumberton, Burlington Co., N. J., May 
' 29, 1799. He was of Welsh descent. Joseph Ed- 
I wards, the father of Lewis, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Maryland, May 10, 1754, and died July 
22, 1838. The first twenty-one years of his life Lewis 
passed with his father at Lumberton, assisting in the 
store and working the farm. He very early in life 
evinced an adventurous tendency and repeatedly ex- 
pressed to his parents his discontent of home and his 
eagerness to go West, and as soon as he attained his 
majority he at once made preparations to journey 
westward. In October, 1820, Lewis, accompanied by 
a friend, Thomas Brown, started on foot for Pittsburgh, 
Penn., by the way of Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 
carrying his little bundle with a stick upon his 
shoulder. From Pittsburgh they went to Cincinnati 
by boat. Upon arriving at Cincinnati, Mr. Edwards 
fell in with a wood-speculator who was in search of 
choppers; to him he hired to chop wood; while 
en route to the chopping-camp on board of a steam- 
boat, he voluntarily assisted the hands in running the 
: vessel, and the Captain observing his aptitude and 
skill ill that kind of labor, and becoming prepossessed 



222 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



with his appearance, persuaded him to remain aboard, 
and Mr. Edwards abandoned his chopping enterprise 
and hired out to the Captain, and made one trip to 
New Orleans and back. This kind of business not 
being congenial to his tastes, he went to Warren 
County, Ohio, and went to work at the carpenter's 
trade for John Garwood, with whom he remained for 
about three years, making his home with William 
Garwood. While here he formed the acquaintance of 
Patience, daughter of William and Elizabeth Gar- 
wood, whom he married in the latter part of the sum- 
mer of 1825. She was born January 18, 1807, near 
Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio. She shared with her 
husband in all his early pioneer struggles, and for the 
long period of fifty-three years, was his faithful com- 
panion and counselor; truly and justly can it be said 
of her, she fulfilled her duty to her family and to her 
God. This venerable and Christian lady is now liv- 
ing (1882), with her son, Lewis, Jr., at Pokagon 
Village, in the enjoyment of excellent health, the 
" patient angel of her nature " quietly waiting to take 
its departure. 

After Mr. Edwards' marriage, he remained with 
his father-in-law one year, and early in the spring of 
1825, having been deeply impressed by the favorable 
reports of the "St. Joseph Valley," he determined on 
another Western adventure ; and, leaving his young 
wife with her parents in Ohio, started for the " St. 
Joseph El Dorado." He remained in Michigan until 
late in the fall, making his home the greater portion 
of the time with a Mr. Kirk, at Niles. Being favor- 
ably impressed with the country, he determined to 
make it his future home, and the whole season was 
diligently an<l intelligently spent preparatory thereto. 

Happening to form the acquaintance of a young 
man near Niles, who had planted a piece of corn and 
had subsequently become discouraged and home sick, 
Mr. Edwards bought him out and completed the rais- 
ing and harvesting of the crop. During harvest, he 
assisted the " Carey Mission " in gathering their 
crops, and took his pay in wheat, furnishing this same 
wheat to Uzziel Putnam on Pokagon Prairie in the 
fall, for seed. He also cut and stacked a sufficient 
quantity of marsh hay on Uzziel Putnam's meadow, 
along the Pokagon Creek. After viewing the country 
over carefully, he located his land on Pokagon Prairie, 
which now forms a part of Sections 31 and 32, wisely 
selecting it so as to have an abundance of good timber, 
especially an excellent maple sugar camp. After 
selecting his land, he employed Gamaliel Townsend 
to cut logs and erect a log house, paying him therefor 
$25. After all this provident care and foresight, 
securing hay. corn and locating his land and con- 
structing his log house, and obtaining a full and 



accurate knowledge of the country, route, streams and 
fords, he prepared to return to Ohio for his family. 
Alone he walked the whole distance, and carried a 
package weighing thirty pounds. The country be- 
tween Elkhart and Fort Wayne was a wilderness, and 
good water scarce. Mr. Edwards often spoke in his 
lifetime of his extreme suffering for the want of good 
water, being often compelled to blow the scum away 
and drink from stagnant pools. He was immediately 
taken sick after arriving home with fever and ague, 
the result of drinking impure water, and was sick for 
about two months, greatly delaying his return to 
Michigan with his family. After having fully re- 
covered from his illness, and his preparations being 
completed, he started on the 18th day of January, 
1827, with his family, consisting of his wife and one 
young child (now Mrs. Jane Heath, of Santa Cruz, 
Ca!.), for his new home. His outfit consisted of one 
covered wagon, yoke of cattle at the tongue and span 
of horses on the lead. They came by the way of Center- 
ville and Dayton to Fort Wayne, Ind. At this place 
they were joined by William and Jesse Garwood, 
cousins of Mrs. Edwards, and they were similiarly 
equipped with wagon, yoke of cattle and span of 
horses. They also brought with them a few head of 
hogs and cattle. 

The journey from Fort Wayne to Elkhart was 
through an unbroken forest, in the midst of a cold, 
snowy winter, a crust on the snow, and the road 
unbroken, and their route only traced by the blazed 
forest trees. Arriving at Elkhart, the St. Joseph 
River had to be forded. Mr. Edwards had, during his 
former trip, carefully examined the river bed, and 
noted the proper fording place. Jesse Garwood ex- 
pressed his fears for the safety of Mrs. Edwards and 
child, in case the wagon should upset in crossing, but 
Mr. Edwards promptly replied in his determined and 
confident way, " that there was no danger ; to follow 
him, and he would soon have them safe on the other 
side," and suiting the action to the word, mounted 
one of the lead horses and conducted both teams across 
in safety. 

Finding the snow so deep and the crust on the same 
frozen so hard, and the road unbroken, the Garwoods 
left their wagon at this place, and put both yoke of 
cattle and both span of horses to Mr. Edward's wagon, 
and started for Edwardsburg, making only eight miles 
the first day, it taking all the next day to reach Ed- 
wardsburg, the balance of the distance being two 
miles. It was with great difficulty this ten miles of 
their journey was made; the lead horses had to break 
the crust, and the route could be traced by blood 
from their bleeding legs. 

Mr. Ezra Beardsley had settled at Edwardsburg 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the previous year, on the banks of Pleasant Lake ; his 
team had been sent to Ohio after the balance of his 
goods, and was delayed on account of the severity of 
the winter, and he had not seen a white person, other 
than his family, for several months, and was afflicted 
with the additional hardship of having no wood-pile, 
being compelled to carry all his fuel from the woods. 
The " new-comers " received that warm and cordial 
reception and generous hospitality as only our worthy 
pioneers were capable of extending, and remained 
with Mr. Beardsley about three weeks, not daring to 
venture out to Pokagon Prairie. Mr. Beardsley had 
the previous season raised plenty of vegetables, such 
as cabbage, potatoes and turnips; they had sufficient 
pork and beef, milk and butter, and the " new-comers" 
had brought tea, coffee, dried fruit, etc., and, in the 
language of Mrs. Edwards, " they fared sumptuously 
every day." Before leaving, Mr. Beardsley was pro- 
vided with an ample wood-pile. 

Some time in March, Mr. Edwards proceeded to 
Uzziel Putnam's, on Pokagon Prairie, and remained 
at his home three or four weeks, while he built his log 
house, on Pokagon Prairie, ready for occupation. He 
brought along a set of carpenter's tools, and being 
skillful with them, he soon had the windows and doors, 
etc., in the house, and bedsteads and furniture impro- 
vised, and his little family domiciled in his rude but 
comfortable home. He brought in the bottom of his 
wagon four iron kettles ; sap troughs and spiles were 
readily prepared, and a sugar camp started, and plenty 
of maple syrup and sugar made for family use. He 
also brought out a peck of apple seed, and planted a 
nursery. He made several trips back to Ohio, and 
brought out fruit trees, stock, farming utensils, dried 
fruit, etc., for himself and neighbors. He always took a 
deep interest in fruit culture, and at an early day ob- 
tained grafts of his father in New Jersey, of some of 
the finest fruit in that State. He undoubtedly had 
for many years the finest and greatest variety of apples 
of any man in the county. In pears, he was equally 
as successful. 

The raising of stock, especially of horses and cattle, 
received a due share of his attention, and he expended 
considerable time and money in securing good breeds, 
and was successful in raising some fine specimens. 

He remained on his farm, extending his improve- 
ments, raising his family, witnessing the constantly 
increasing settlements around him, the building of 
railroads, the growth and development of the country, 
until 1852, when he determined on another Western 
adventure. 

His daughter, Mrs. Lucien Heath, of Niles, being 
in ill health, Mr. Heath had determined to make the 
overland trip to Oregon with family. Mr. Edwards 



entertaining fears that they would not be able to make 
the long and perilous journey alone, and being greatly 
attached to his noble daughter — his " eldest born" — 
concluded to accompany them. The outfit consisted 
of one four-hoi"se team, one two-horse spring wagon, 
three extra horses, two cows and young cattle, thirteen 
head in all, with an ample supply of provisions, etc., 
and they started on their journey on the 23d day of 
March, 1852. After encountering the usual difficul- 
ties, hardships and deprivations incident to the over- 
land trip, and a long and wearisome journey of six 
months, they arrived in King's Valley, Polk County, 
Oregon Territory, on the 25th of October, 1852. 
Here Mr. Edwards met his son, Joseph, who had pre- 
ceded him. Mr. Heath and family settled in Oregon. 
Mr. Edwards remained until June, 1854, when he 
started for his home in Michigan, in company with 
Joseph Harper, arriving June 29, 1854. 

Mr. Edwards remained on his farm the balance of 
his life and lived to see his family of nine children all 
married and settled. He died on the 24th day of 
June, 1878, of hemorrhage of the bowels and typhoid 
fever, in the eightieth year of his age, leaving eight 
children, four sons, Joseph, Lewis, Jr., William and 
Henry, and four daughters, Jane, Clarisa, Patience 
and Martha. 

He served several terms as Justice of the Peace, 
and in that capacity displayed his usual good common 
sense and probity that characterized him in all his 
other duties of life, always exercising a just regard to 
the right or claim of each party, advising an equitable 
settlement rather than encouraging litigation between 
his neighbors. He received the sobriquet of " Squire 
Edwards," and was generally known by that name. 

Mrs. Edwards relates two amusing anecdotes of his 
judicial life, one of which is given in the history of 
Pokagon. On his return home from a journey, his 
wife informed him that a young couple desired him to 
tie for them the " nuptial knot." He was very much 
indisposed and Mrs. Edwards entered an emphatic 
protest against his going, but knowing that it would 
be a serious disappointment to the young people, he 
concluded to go. On arriving at the home of the 
bride, he found that no license had been procured, 
and informed them of the fact that the marriage under 
such circumstances would be illegal. They proposed 
to make it a subsequent matter, but as he was inex- 
orable, the wedding feast was partaken of and the 
parties went to Cassopolis, where the license was pro- 
cured and they were married. On his return, Mrs. 
Edwards asked if he had performed the ceremony. 
He replied that he had not, but had partaken of the 
supper and had given the entire company the mumps. 

Mr. Edwards was an honest, industrious, energetic 



224 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and conscientious man, always temperate in his habits, 
totally abstaining during his long life from the use of 
tobacco and spirituous liquors. He was endowed 
with a remarkable memory, an agreeable conversation- 
alist, a generous and hospitable neighbor, a kind and 
faithful husband, and a provident and indulgent 
parent. 

His memory will always be revered as the peer of 
any among that great host of pioneers that have 
already gone. 

WILLIAM BALDWIN JENKINS. 
William Baldwin Jenkins, son of Aaron and Re- 
becca Baldwin Jenkins, was born Oct. 4, 1783, at 
Fort Jenkins, Greene County, Penn. In 1799, his 
father emigrated to Middle Tennessee, his mother 
dying while en route. Here he lived in the wilder, 
ness the following winter with three brothers and a 
sister, twelve years of age, to do the household work, 
their father having returned to Pennsylvania. They 
cleared twelve acres of heavy timber during the win- 
ter. As they killed fifty-two black bears during the 
winter, some idea regarding the newness can be ob- 
tained from this fact alone. To avoid the institution 
of slavery, he, in 1804, removed to Greene County 
Ohio,- where he deceased four years later, leaving 900 
acres of land to his children, and on the portion given 
Baldwin was a saw and grist mill, which he conducted 
in connection with his farm. He made frequent 
journeys down the Mississippi to Natchez and New 
Orleans to dispose of his products, making the return 
journey home on foot or on horseback, as circum- 
stances favored, and while so doing encountered many 
dangers and hardships. In 1824, he came West on 
an exploring expedition, visiting Indiana and this 
State, and then for the first time visited this county. 
The following year he came here in company with several 
others, and selected a site one-half mile north of the 
present village of Sumnerville, where an Indian wig- 
wam was prepared for a winter's residence, to which 
place he in November brought his fiimily from Ohio, 
consisting of his wife and seven children and a bound 
boy, Nathaniel Young, and an interesting account of 
his pioneer life will be found in the township history. 
He purchased some 2,000 acres of land, which was 
ultimately divided among his children. His home 
was near the bridge that crossed the Dowagiac 
Creek, which was on the direct line of emigration and 
his house became a noted stopping-place for travelers 
and emigrants, from whom he would receive no com- 
pensation. He carried this hospitality to such an ex- 
tent that the products of his farm and labor were largely 
consumed by the public. He placed great confidence 
in his pioneer compeers, loaning them money, selling 



them stock and farm products on time, without re- 
quiring written obligations, and charging no interest. 
In 1809, he united in marriage to Mary, daughter 
of Aaron and Hannah Hackney, in Pennsylvania. 
She deceased in 1840. His death occurred June 
1(5, 1845, at the residence of his daughter, Eliza 
Murphy, at Berrien Center, and was interred in 
I the cemetery at that place. He was a devout mem- 
j ber of the Baptist Church. He was possessed of a 
remarkable retentive memory, a great reader, and 
j could remember every event of any importance for 
I forty years. His mind was an encyclopedia of local 
j knowledge, for he could not only tell the names but 
also the ages of nearly all of his neighbors. He was 
'' one of the first Justices of the Peace in Western 
Michigan, having been appointed by Gov. Cass for 
the township of St. Joseph, which comprised all the 
j territory west of Lenawee County. He was also the 
first Road Commissioner in the county, and one of the 
first Associate Judges appointed under the territorial 
I government, and one of the delegates to the first con- 
! stitutional convention of the State. His name will 
be transmitted to posterity in connection with the 
noble band of pioneers who performed the initial 
labors necessary to the development of this county. 
Of his family, his wife, one son and a daughter lie 
buried with him in the cemetery, and one son is interred 
in California; three children — Eliza (Murphy), Re- 
becca (Lybrook) and Silas Jenkins, reside at Berrien 
Center ; Nimrod in Berrien County, and John resides 
at Lake Village, Ind. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

LA GRANGE. 

Jxperience of the Pioneers— The Townsends. Wriglits, Shurtes, I.y- 
brooks, McKenneys, Tietsorts and others— Early Events— First 
Deatli— First Marriage— Mary Bonnell tlie lirst child born— The 
first School and Teachers— Deer Killing— First Township Election 
—Families of the Early Settlers— Complete List of Land Entries- 
Principal Officers of La Grange from 1830 to 18S0— Churches Living 
and Defunct - Burial riaces — The Village of Whitmanville — 
Mechanicsburg. 

THE history of La Grange begins with the spring 
of the year 1828, at which time Abraham Town- 
send made the pioneer settlement of the township, 
near the spot where his son Gamaliel now resides, in 
the northeast corner of Section 21, and upon the bor- 
der of the beautiful La Grange Prairie, originally 
known as Townsend's Prairie. The man who made 
this the first settlement in the township was a typical 
pioneer, well qualified for the life tiiat was before him, 
and he lived long years in the home he here estab- 
lished, enjoying in his old age the fruits of his early 
industry. He had seen much of pioneer life prior 



■i 





fHOJ^.JESSE G.BEESOK' 



HOX. JESSE G. BEESON. 
Jesse G. Beeson was born December 10, 1807, in 
Wayne County, Inrl., where his parents, who were 
both natives of North Carolina, settled at an early 
(lay. In 1828, Jesse G. Beeson was married to Anna 
llencsten, who was the mother of his eight children. 
In 1830, he made a tour of inspection through South- 
western Michigan, visiting the Carey Mission during 
liis stay, and in 1833, with his wife and three chil- 
dren, came to La Grange Township, Cass County, 
which has ever since been his home. He first located 
on the farm now owned by Abram Fiero, and there 
built a small log cabin. After five years of pioneer- 
ing experience at this place, he removed, in l8-'>7, to 
tiie farm he now lives upon, which he bought of 
.James Cavanaugh. Mr. Beeson has devoted his ener- 
gies principally to farming and has been very success- 
ful. He is widely known in the county and univers- 



ally respected. In politics, he is a Republican. He 
has been honored with election to various local ofiSces, 
and in 1853 was chosen to represent the people of his 
county in the State Senate, which he did with credit 
to himself and his constituency. Now, at the age of 
seventy-five years, he is a hale, well-preserved man, 
both mentally and physically, and his vigorous health 
attests the correctness of his life. 

The children of Jesse G. and Anna (Renesten) Bee- 
son, eight in number, are all living. They are : 
William H., of La Grange; Isaac N., of Three 
Rivers ; B. F., of Calvin ; Mary Jane (Huff), of Lin- 
coln, Neb.; Lorana (Dickson), of Wisconsin ; Laura 
E. (Cammeron), of the same State, and Anderson G., 
of Lincoln, Neb. 

Mr. Beeson's first wife died in 1870, and in 187- 
he married his present wife. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



liis arrival in La Grange. Born in New York State 
in 1771, he had gone, while very young, to Upper 
Canada, and in 1815 he became a settler in Huron 
County, Ohio, a region which was then in the front- 
ier. After a very brief stay there, he moved west- 
ward into Sandusky County (where a township was 
named after him), and there he resided until 1825. 
In this year we find him in Pokagon Township of 
Cass County, with Uzziel Putnam, but without his 
family. He had visited Michigan in 1824, and be- 
came favorably impressed with the country. In 1826, 
he came early in the spring, and planted with corn a 
piece of ground on Pokagon Prairie. His son 
Gamaliel, came in July of that year, and in the year 
following, Abraham Townsend brought out his family, 
consisting of his wife, Statta (Kinney), and two un- 
married daughters. Amy and Eliza. This was the 
family which, with a full knowledge of pioneer life, its 
pains and privations and hardships and its" simple 
pleasures, (a knowledge gained through sojourns in 
several localities in the West,) that found, finally, a 
permanent home on La Grange Prairie. 

Townsend, as has been said, arrived upon the Ist of 
March. The season was a favorable one for the flow- 
ing of sap in the maples, and the first work of the 
family was the making of sugar to supply their own 
wants and to barter, should opportunity off'er, for 
other articles. The first building erected in the town- 
ship was a rude shanty which Mr. Townsend put up 
for shelter while he was engaged in sugar boiling. It 
stood west of the present residence of Ga'maliel 
Townsend. After the pioneer had planted his corn, 
he had leisure to build a good, snug log cabin. This 
was located on the land now owned by Orlean Put 
nam. In the year following (1829), Mr. Townsend 
built a still better cabin, where Gamaliel Townsend's 
barn now stands. 

Mr. Townsend was not long without neighbors. 
Lawrence Cavanaugh and wife, and their son James, 
came to the township the same spring, and, for a 
time, lived with him, though the father soon after 
located on Section 22, and the son where Jesse G. 
Beeson now resides. The former removed to Berrien 
County in 18.30. 

Abraham Loux, of Sandusky County, Oliio, a son- j 
in-law of Townsend's, and his wife Mary, came also 
in the spring of 1828, and located on Section 2S. 

In the autumn, Thomas McKenney (after whom 
the northwestern part of the prairie was named), and 
James Dickson, his son-in-law, came to the township 
and located on Section 17. 

In the month of October, the Wright family arrived, 
and located on Section 21, where Stephen D. Wright j 
now lives ; and about the same time* came Eli P. Bon- 



nell and his wife (Elizabeth Wright). William R. 
Wright and his wife Sarah (Baldwin) were from 
Butler County, Ohio, and had come there in 1808, 
from New Jersey. They came across the country 
from Southwestern Ohio in wagons, and had a dreary 
ride, which, perhaps, prepared them for a season full 
of trials in their new abiding-place. After leaving 
Fort Wayne, Ind., they saw no human beings, until 
Ihey arrived at Edwardsburg ; but encamped nights 
in the most favorable places they could find in the dreary 
woods. On arriving at their destination, they bought 
two acres of standing corn from Abraham Loux, and 
this was all they had with which to feed five horses 
and twelve head of cattle they had brought with them. 
Mr. Wright had made a trip to the scene of his settle- 
ment in the summer, and cut twelve acres of hay, but 
that gave out, and they were obliged to browse their 
stock on the sweet inner bark of the hackberry trees 
which chanced to be quite abundant in the vicinity. 
They cut the trees down and split them into rails for 
convenience in carrying and removing them to their 
cabin, hewed the rough bark from them, and then 
stripped off the spongy nether layer, which was 
usually half an inch thick, and fed it to the hungry 
horses. In the absence of better food it was readily 
eaten both by cattle and horses, and it proved suf- 
ficiently nourishing to keep them alive through the 
winter, though they were much reduced. During a 
large part of the season, the ground was thickly covered 
with snow, and Mr. Wright and his sons had to break 
paths through it for the weakened cattle. Some of 
the animals were so weak that when they got down it 
was impossible for them to arise, and they required 
constant watching and tending. 

The family fared during this first winter almost as 
poorly as did their stock. It was very difficult to 
procure breadstuffs. Corn meal and potatoes were 
more easily obtainable, and were the principal sup- 
porters of life. 

Spring brought relief and a vast burden of labor. 
The prairie lands had to be prepared for planting. 
Joining forces, the few families of pioneers, with huge 
teams attached to rough, strong plows, broke up the 
soil, which was held together by the rope-like " red 
root." In later years, this plant gave less trouble, as 
the plows which came into use cut the roots off farther 
below the surface, where they were, of course much 
smaller, but to the early settlers upon La Grange and 
most of the other prairies, it was a very serious annoy- 
ance. 

In 1829, the settlement was increased by the arri- 
val of the Lybrooks, Isaac Shurte's family, the Rit- 
ters, the Simpsons, R)bert Wilson, Thomas Vander- 
hoof, David Brady and Abram Tietsort, Sr. 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Isaac Shurte, who was a native of New Jersey, had 
moved with his parents at an early day to Butler 
County, Ohio, and from there to Niles in 1828. He 
was one of the many who tarried for a aeason at that 
Michigan Mecca of the pioneers. On arriving at La 
Grange, he stopped over night with Abraham Loux, 
and in the morning bought out his '• betterments," or 
improvements, for a horse, saddle and bridle. He 
soon sold this, however, for $100, with which he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land, upon which he still 



John Lybrook was another settler of this year who 
had gained a pioneering experience at Niles or in that 
vicinity. He was a native of Virginia, but removed 
to Preble County, Ohio, in 1811, with his parents. 
As early as 1823, he came to Michigan, assisting 
Squire Thompson to move his family and goods. 
After seeing them safe at their destination he returned 
home, traveling day after day on foot through the 
seemingly interminable forests in which the snow lay 
knee deep. He had intended to go only a two days' 
journey with Thompson, and his parents had given 
him up as lost. In the spring of 1825, accompanied 
by his sisters — Annie and Mary — and three young 
men, he came out again, and built a cabin and planted 
some corn on the " Indian fields" on the Dowagiac 
River, a short distance above its confluence with the 
St. Joseph, near the site of Niles. In the fall, he 
returned to Ohio and brought out his father and mother 
— Henly and Hannah (Hankey) Lybrook — and four 
sisters. On his return from this trip, he brought with 
him some seed wheat, which was sown on the " Indian 
fields," and believed to be the first in the St. Joseph 
country. The same season he brought on horseback 
from Detroit a small grindstone, which was used at 
Niles by many settlers who came twenty, thirty, and 
even forty miles for the e.\:pre3S purpose of sharpening 
their axes and other implements. On coming into 
La Grange, Mr. Lybrook bought out the claim of 
Lawrence Cavanaugh on Section 22, on the east side 
of the prairie, and here he lived the remainder of his 
days. 

It has been already stated that the Ritters were 
settlers of this year. John Ritter was a sonin-law 
of Henly Lybrook, having married his daughter, 
Sarah, in Preble County, Ohio, whither he had come 
from Virginia, in 1809 or 1810, with his mother and 
step-father. Shortly after their marriage, in 1816, 
the couple moved to Union County, Ind., and in 1828 
they journeyed to Michigan, locating at a point about 
two and a half miles north of the site of Niles, where 
Mr. Ritter entered land. Upon the morning of the 
last day of their journey, October 21, their daughter. 
Eve, died. The funeral was held at Henly Lybrook's. 



A year later they came to La Grange, bringing with 
them their four young children. The experience of the 
family was very sad and bitter. The time of their coming 
was about the 1st of August, and they had bright an- 
ticipations of building up a happy home, but, upon 
the last day of the month, John Ritter, the husband 
and father, was suddenly taken from this life. The 
family was living at the cabin of John Lybrook, hav- 
ing been unable to build one for themselves, when, 
upon August 31, a storm arose, accompanied by fre- 
quent flashes of lightning. A bolt struck the little 
log house, stunning and scaring all of its inmates, and 
instantly killing John Ritter. Mrs. Ritter was pros- 
trated by the lightning, but recovered from the shock. 
Strangely enough, no other inmate of the cabin was 
injured. 

In the year 1830 came Hiram Jewell, William 
Renesten, the Hass family, Abram V. Tietsort (known 
as " Big Abe "), Abram Tietsort, Jr. (son of the settler 
of 1829), James Petticrew and several others, of whom 
we shall make extended mention in another portion of 
this chapter. 

Abram Tietsort, Jr., who built his cabin upon tho 
east bank of Stone Lake, about where the bowl fac- 

! tory now stands, in Cassopolis, was considerable of a 
hunter, and his long-barreled rifle brought down many 

I a deer in La Grange Township, and upon the site of 
the present county seat. His wife was a woman of 
nerve, and occasionally was able to assist her husband 
in supplying the larder from forest and lake. One 
of her adventures was the capture of a superb deer in 
the middle of Stone Lake. Her husband had scared 
it out of the woods on the opposite side of the lake, 
and perhaps had wounded it. At any rate, the af- 
frighted animal took to the water, and swam straight 
out. Mrs. Tietsort seeing the head and antlers of the 
animal across the smooth surface of the lake, sprang 
into a canoe, moored conveniently near the cabin, and 
paddled fearlessly toward the animal. She succeeded 
in holding its head under water with the canoe paddle 
until the deer was drowned, and then towed the car- 
cass to the shore. It proved to be in fine condition, 
and the venison supplied the table of the Tietsort 
ftimily and those of two or three of their neighbors for 
several days. Venison was a very common food 
among the pioneers — far more so than pork or beef 
for a number of years. A good marksman like Tiet- 
sort or David Brady could at almost any time bring 
in a deer carcass after an hour's hunt. Often the an- 
imals were seen in herds of twenty or thirty, or even 
larger numbers. 

While the early settlement was making — while the 
dots of human habitation were increasing in number 
on the prairie, and the little patches of sunshine were 




STEPH EN D. V/F(IGHT. 





F^ESIDEI^CE OF STEPH EK D.V/RlbH i. u/. ^.-^ K r i. ^. i- , fvl I C M. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



227 



growing larger around the cabins of tiie pioneers in 
the forest, the various events of life were occurring. 
Children were born, men and women died, ami 
maidens were given in marriage. The old, old drama 
of life and love and death was being enacted upon 
virgin soil. 

The first sad event — and a very sad one it was, too, 
— was the death of David L. Wright, son of William 
R. Wright, upon the 30th of December, 1828. He 
was a young man — twenty-three years of age — born 
November 10, 1805. He was the first person who 
was laid to rest in the little burying-ground on the 
farm of Isaac Shurte. 

The second death occurring in the township was 
that of Mrs. Mary Loux, a daughter of Abraham 
Townsend. This death was early in 1829, and upon 
August 31 of the same year the settlement was 
shocked and grieved by the sudden taking off of John 
Ritter, of which an account has already been given. 
The first couple wedded in La Grange were James 
Cavanaugh and Amy Townsend. They were united 
in marriage in 1829 by Squire William R. Wright, 
at the house of Abraham Townsend, . who was the 
father of the bride. The groom was a son of Law- 
rence Cavanaugh. Mrs. Cavanaugh is now living in 
Iowa City, where her husband died in 1880. 

Mary Bonnell, a daughter of Eli P. and Elizabeth 
(Wright) Bonnell, was born January 6th, 1830, and 
was the first white child born in the township. She 
was the first wife of J. N. Webster (now resident in 
Jefferson Township) and died July I, 1867. 

Julia Ann Tietsort, who has been commonly con- 
sidered as the first child born in La Grange, was born 
five months and twenty-seven days later than the 
Bonnell infant, or upon July 3, 1830. She was the 
daughter of Abram (Jr.) and Rachel (Thompson) 
Tietsort. She married John Gates, and is now living 
in Orleans County, N. Y. 

In the summer of 1830 the first school was taught 
by Miss Arlantha Jane Brown (a sister of Gamaliel 
Townsend's first wife), who is said by her old pupils to 
have been "a good teacher for that day." The 
following is believed to be a very nearly, if not quite 
complete, list of the girls and boys who attended the 
school : Henry Tietsort, Daniel Wilson, Martha 
Wilson, Betsy Wilson, Hiram Townsend, Abram 
Townsend, Jr., Wilson Henderson, Thomas M. Chit- 
tenden, Harriet Chittenden, Elizabeth Shurte, Eliza 
Whitman, Adeline Whitman, Harriet Whitman, Sally 
Ann Whitman, Rosette Whitman, Olivia Whitman, 
Ruth Davis, Mahlon Davis, Cornelius Tietsort, Squire 
Tietsort, Otis Whitman, Nancy Davis, Peter Brady, 
Polly Brady, E. T. Dickson, R. J. Dickson, Dorcas 
A. Dickson, Hannah Ritter, Henry Ritter, David 



Ritter, John M. Wright, Clara Wright. The school 
was held in a cabin a few rods south of the spot 
where Gamaliel Townsend's house now stands. 
Henly C. Lybrook taught the second school in a log 
.house on the east side of the prairie on the John 
Ritter farm. Another early teacher was an individual 
rejoicing in the name of James Harvey Cornelius 
Smith. 

It is worthy of note that the settlers soon took 
measures to provide themselves with fruit. As early 
as 1831 the Townsends, Isaac Shurte and William R. 
Wright, set out apple orchards near their respective 
cabins. Their trees were procured of John Jones, 
who brought trees from Niagara County, N. Y., and 
planted them on the place where Gamaliel Townsend 
now lives. This nursery was, not long afterward, 
removed to White Pigeon. The same season that 
these orchards were planted Thomas McKenney and 
Asa Sherwood planted apple seeds from which fine 
trees were grown. 

The settlement had become so considerable by the 
year 1880, that a trading-place was deemed a neces- 
sity and so Martin C. Whitman erected a building 
just west of where Orlean Putnam's house now stands, 
in which he opened a store. This, the first frame 
structure in La Grange Township, now forms a part 
of Gamaliel Townsend's dwelling. 

In the same year the settlement was granted the 
boon of a post office. Gamaliel Township was the 
first Postmaster. Other needs were met as they 
arose. Among them was that of religious communion. 
It is probable that the first meetings were held in the 
year above mentioned, at the house of Thomas Simp- 
son, on the west side of McKenney's Prairie. They 
were led by Martin Baker, a Baptist preacher. After 
Martin C. Whitman removed his stock of goods, in 
1832, to the place now known as La Grange Village, 
the vacated store building was used for religious 
gatherings for a number of years. 

FIRST ELECTION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

Civil organization was effected in the spring of 1830. 
The tract of country of which this chapter treats, to- 
gether with the whole of the present township of 
Wayne and the north half of Jefferson had been by 
act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of 
Michigan, passed November 5, 1829, erected, as one 
of the four original townships of the county, under 
the present name, which, by the way, was that of La 
Fayette's country place in France. In pursuance of 
the act which has been cited, the first election was 
held at the house of Isaac Shurte, on April 5, on 
which occasion there were present eighteen voters- 
As a preliminary of the election, Thomas McKenney 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



was chosen Moderator ; Martin C. Whitman, Clerk ; 
James Petticrew, Assistant Clerk, and Abraham 
Townsend and William R. Wright, Judges. The 
officers elected were the following : Supervisor, Joseph 
S. Barnard ; Clerk, ^lartin C. Whitman ; Assessors, 
William R. Wright, James Dickson and Ira H. 
Putnam ; Collector, Eli P. Bonnell ; Commissioners 
of Highways. James Petticrew, Isaac Shurte and 
Abraham Townsend; Constables, Eli P. Bonnell, 
Michael T. McKenney ; Commissioners and In- 
spectors of Common Schools, Abraham Townsend, 
Abraham Tietsort, William R. Wright ; Overseers of 
Highways, John Lybrook and Thomas McKenney ; 
Pound Keeper, Gamaliel Townsend ; Fence Viewers, 
Abraham Townsend and James Dickson. 

The territory now known as Wayne remained a 
part of La Grange until 1835, and the north half of 
the present township of Jefferson was not detached 
until March 29, 1833. 

Five elections subsequent to the first were held at 
Isaac Shurte's house ; but, by 1836, the settlement 
had become so large, and the voters increased to such 
a number, that it was thought best to make a change, 
and the election of that year was held at the school- 
house, on Abraham Townsend's farm. 

A novel spectacle was afforded the settlers on La 
Grange Prairie in the spring of 1832, by Joseph Bar- 
nard. Many miles from navigable water, he built a 
boat, the keel of which afterward and for several years 
plowed the billows of Lake Michigan. It was capable 
of carrying a cargo of about fifteen tons. When the 
boat was completed, Mr. Barnard and his son took it 
to the St. Joseph River upon a wagon drawn by oxen, 
and successfully launched it. The first trip which 
the little craft made to Chicago netted the owners 
about $250. 

E.ARLT RESIDENTS OF LA ORANGE. 

After 1830, the settlement of the township in- 
creased (juite rapidly. Of many of the families which 
emigrated subsequent to the year mentioned we shall 
give an account, but first, however, let us return to 
those who'.have already been merely mentioned, and 
present a few facts in regard to them and their im- 
mediate descendants. 

Reverting'to Abraiiain Townsend, the first settler 
of the township, we may state that he died at his home 
in La Grange, Rafter a long and useful life, in June, 
1855. The only unmarried children who came to the 
township with Mr. and Mrs. Townsend were two 
daughters — Amy, who, as has been stated, married 
James Cavanaugh, and Elizi, who mirriel Michael 
I. McKenney, and now resides in Iowa. Townsend's 
son-in-law, Loux, did not long remain in the township. 



William R. Wright and his wife, Sarah (Baldwin), 
both lived to a good old age, and ended their days on 
the place where they originally settled, the former in the 
summer of 1850 and the latter in 1868. The dates of 
their births were, respectively, 1755 and 1777. Their 
eldest daughter, Susan (who was married first to a Web- 
ster, and after his death to a Mr. Vail), did not come to 
Michigan when her parents did, but emigrated in 
later years. The next oldest was Mary (wife of 
Isaac Shurte), who still resides in the township, and 
is one of the oldest persons in it, having been born in 
1801. The other children were Dennis, David L.. 
Elizabeth (wife of Eli P. Bonnell), Lucinda, Rachel, 
Stephen D., Clarissa (wife of Stephen Ball) and John 
Miller. Of these all are deceased, save Stephen D., 
who lives upon the old homestead. 

David Bonnell died in 1857, and his wife in 1881. 
They had five children — Mary, Sarah, Angeline, 
Emma and David. All are deceased but the last 
named, and he is a resident of Kansas. 

We have heretofore mentioned the fact that the 
McKenneyand Dickson families settled on McKenney 's 
Prairie in the fall of 1828. The exact date was Octo- 
ber 25. Mr. McKenney had come out (from Pokagon) 
in the spring and built a cabin, and in August " broke 
up " five acres of ground in which he sowed wheat. 
Capt. Joseph Barnard, for the use of the cabin until 
such time as the owner should need it, had agreed to 
•'mud and chink" it, and when the families arrived 
they found him very comfortably domiciled. Barnard 
moved out and took shelter in a tent (until he built 
himself a house), and both families and two young 
men, sixteen persons in all, moved into the little cabin. 
Mr. McKenney and his wife Dorcas (Inman) with 
their six children came to Michigan from Wayne 
County, Ind. A portion of the way they drove 
their teams along the trail made by the Rev. Isaac 
McCoy, when he came to the site of Niles in 1822, to 
establish the Carey Mission. Mr. McKenney, after 
making his preliminary trip to Cass County, in 1827, 
reported so favorably upon the country that a number 
of his neighbors were induced to follow him in his emi- 
gration. He was one of the best known citizens of 
the county, and a man universally liked and respected. 
He received appointment as the first Judge of 
Probate, but did not qualify. In 1850, he re- 
removed to Council Bluffs, ai>d died there in June, 
1852. He was born in Washington County, N. Y., 
in the year 1781, and removed to Cayuga County, 
when sixteen years old, where he remained until 1813. 
During the war of 1812, he acted as a home guard 
and was at Sodus Bay when that place was surren- 
dered by the British. From New York he removed 
to Huron County, Ohio, and from there to Wayne 






)^Of\/ER WETLLS. 



JVIf^S- H0/V1ER Wk. LLS. 



t 










RESlDEN'CLOF jHOfv/IER WELlS, LA GF?ANGE, )V1 I C H 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



229 



County, Ind. Mrs. McKeiiney died at the home on 
the prairie in 1845. Their children are all deceased 
except Micajah B.. who resides in California. Michael 
I. died in Iowa, 1858; Lyllis, the wife of James Dick- 
son, died September, 1881. The other children were 
Laura, wife of James Cuppe Lovina ; Esther, wife of 
D.ivid Brown ; Jane (Loomis) and Julia. 

James Dickson, son-in-law of Thomas McKenney, 
was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1794. 
He emigrated to Huron County, Ohio, in 1811, and 
from there to Wayne County, Ind., where he was 
married. He died September 16, 1866, in Dowagiac. 
Their children are Edwin T., a resident of Berrien 
County since 1849; Robert J., of Pokagon Township ; 
Dorcas A., wife of Ira Brownell, of Dowagiac ; Laura, 
wife of G. C. Jones, of Dowagiac, (deceased); Levi, in 
California; A. M., in Wisconsin; Hannah A., wife 
of Henry Snyder, and Jane, wife of William Houser, 
both in Dowagiac; and William in Nebraska. 

Isaac Shurte and his wife Mary (Wright) are still 
living where they settled in 1829. The former was 
born in 1796, and is consequently five years older 
than his wife, of whom we have already spoken. 
Their descendants are mostly living. Elizabeth, the 
eldest (Mrs. Henry Ritter), is deceased. Margaret 
(Hardenbrook) resides in Wayne Township ; Francis 
is in Oregon ; Susan, deceased, William, Sarepta (wife 
of Don A. Fletcher), and Henry are all residents of 
this township. 

The members of the Ritter family, the tragic death 
of whose head has already been mentioned, continued 
to reside in Cass County. Hannah, the eldest, and 
Joseph K. still live in Cassopolis. Three others are 
deceased — Henry L., who died in 1872 ; David M. in 
1865, and Eve, who died as an infant when the 
family first came to the State. John Ritter, the 
father, was born in Virginia in the year 1793. 

John Lybrook, of whose experiences we have given 
a somewhat extended account, lived until May 25, 
1881. He was married March 26, 1840, to Mary ■ 
Hurd, who, with three children — Henry Lybrook, now 
a resident of Texas, Joseph and Arminda Lybrook, 
of this township — survive him. He was born in Giles 
County, Va., October 25, 1798. His father, Henry 
Lybrook, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 2, 
1755, died in 1839, at the age of eighty-four, and his 
mother in 1849. 

Thomas, John and Elias Simpson, sons of John 
Simpson, of Scotland (who came to America before 
the Revolutionary war, and fought in that struggle on 
the side of the Colonies), emigrated from Ohio and 
settled near each other on McKenney's Prairie, in 
1828. Thomas, the eldest, died in recent years, at 
an advanced age. His wife was Elizabeth Baker, and 



their children were Elias, deceased; Sarah (Mrs. 
Lilley, a resident of this township) ; James and Cath- 
erine (True), in Pokagon ; Thomas, who was a soldier 
in the late war. Company A, Twelfth Michigan In- 
fantry, now resident in the State ; Martin, in Iowa ; 
Mary (Shurte), and Matilda (Piatt), in Oregon ; 
Malinda, deceased ; Harriett (Morris), and Andrew, 
both now living in Volinia. 

John Simpson removed to Missouri and died there. 
He had a large family of children, one of whom, 
Anne (Mrs. P. Dewey), now lives in Pokagon. 

Elias Simpson died in 1841, aged forty years, and 
his wife Rachel (Taylor) in 1860. Their children 
living, are Margaret (wife of Norman Jarvis, of this 
township); Thomas, in California; and Elizabeth 
(Crowell), in Indiana. Four of their descendants — 
John, William, Rebecca and Catherine, are deceased. 

One of the settlers of 1829, on Section 21, was 
Robert Wilson, an emigrant from Ohio, born in Penn- 
sylvania in 1771. His wife's name was Rebecca 
Henderson. Their children were Margaret, John, 
Samuel, James II., Robert W., Daniel, Martha, 
Elizabeth. The father of this family died on his 
farm in La Grange in 1852. 

A well-known character who arrived in the ^town- 
ship this year was David Brady, a hard rider and 
great hunter, noted for his fondness of pursuing Rey- 
nard and other game. His pack of hounds did much 
to clear the county of wolves and the various other 
animals which were pests to the pioneer farmers, and 
were usually designated as " varmints." He rode a 
horse which could clear any fence in the country. 
Brady, who was originally from New Jersey, and born 
in 1785, went into the war of 1812, and in 1816 
settled in Marion County, Ohio, from whence he 
came to Michigan. He stopped for a short time in 
Kalamazoo County and a township was there named 
after him. He lived in La Grange, on Section 21, 
until his death in 1878, at the age of ninety-three. 
He had many eccentricities, some of which might be 
emulated to the good advantage of the people in gen- 
eral — and others not. Among the former class we 
may cite his kindly treatment of -the poor and his 
liberality to them, a trait which is very often spoken 
of by the old settlers who knew him. It is related 
that when corn was very scarce and high priced and 
many poor farmers in want of a sufficient quantity to 
carry them through the winter, he refused to sell out 
his crop to speculators or to let any of his applicants 
have large lots, but sold to those who were in need at 
half price. It was a common thing for him to send 
provisions to poor widows in his neighborhood and to 
assist deserving young men. There were few men of 
kinder iieart than David Brady — and few of rougher 



230 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



exterior or manners. He was a man of great native 
intellectual ability, but uneducated. His natural 
shrewdness, wit and strength of mind drew around 
him many admirers from other walks of life than that 
which he followed. Nearly all of the eminent 
lawyers of the State who had business in Cassopolis 
were in the custom of paying Brady a visit before 
they departed for their homes, and the best of them 
found a congenial companion in the rough, unlettered 
pioneer farmer. He was a man whom education 
would undoubtedly have developed into as great a 
giant intellectually as nature had made him physically. 
Mr. Brady was married several times and reared a 
very large family of children — over twenty — of 
whom, however, only one, Mrs. Phebe Merwin, is now 
living in La Grange. His widow married Thomas 
Moore, and is a resident of this township. 

Abrara Tietsort, Sr., who has been mentioned as 
a settler of 1829, came in December and located where 
Hiram Jewell now lives. He exchanged farms after- 
ward with Mr. Jewell, and until his death in 1847, 
resided where the Air Line depot now is. He was 
born in New Jersey in 1777, was in the war of 1812 
and soon after its close, settled in Butler County, 
Ohio, from whence he and his family came to Michi- 
gan, and located on the site of the city of Niles in 
March, 1828, where he remained until coming to 
Cass County. He and his eldest son, Abram Tiet- 
sort, Jr., among other occupations, ran flat-boats upon 
the St. Joseph River. The family of Mr. Tietsort 
consisted of his wife, Margaret (Banta), who survived 
him seven years, and his sons, Abram, Levi, Henry, 
Cornelius B. and Squire V. Of these, one only is 
living, Henry, who is in this township. He has fol- 
lowed all his life the trade of a mason, has been very 
industrious and numerous examples of his handiwork 
appear in Cassopolis and its vicinity. Abram, the 
eldest son (of whom we have already had considerable 
to say), died in 1842; Levi, in 1865 : Cornelius B., in 
1870 ; and Squire V., upon the old homestead in 1852. 

The Vanderhoofs — Thomas and his wife, Rebecca 
(Furguson) — came into the township in 1829, locating 
where Asa Kingsbury, Jr., now lives. Mrs. Vander- 
hoof died a number of years before her husband, and he 
married as his second wife, Mrs. Silvia Van Antwerp. 
He died in 1851, aged sixty-two years. His children 
by his first wife were : Amelia (wife of Orlean Put- 
nam), who died in November, 1881 ; Arminda, also 
deceased ; David, resident in Iowa ; Darinda, Julia 
Ann and Perry, all three deceased ; Thomas F. and 
Jacob, in Iowa; Ann (Ball), in Wayne Township; 
and Henry, deceased. By his second wife, Mr. Van- 
derhoof had two children — Hannah (Beckwith) and 
Emma (Sherwood), both now resident in Dowagiac. 



Yoakley Griflin,of Wayne County, Ind., was among 
the settlers of 1830. He located on McKenney's 
Prairie, where he had previously purchased eighty 
acres of land. With him came his family, consisting 
of his wife and their children — Melinda, Margaret, 
Zadoc, Perlina, Elizabeth, Mary, John and Elethe. 
Mr. Griffin resided in the township until his decease. 
His daughter Mary, in 1838, married Jonathan 
Dewey, who was one of the early settlers of Pokagon 
Township, where he died in 1878. Mrs. Dewey is 
still living, and resides with her son, Henry C. Dewey, 
in Pokagon. 

At the same time Griffin made his settlement, his 
son-in-law, Jonathan Prather and his wife Rebecca 
arrived, bringing with them their children — William, 
James, Fanny, Lovinia, Elizabeth and Eli. 

Ira H. Putnam (a brother of Uzziel Putnam, the 
pioneer of the county) and his wife Polly (Markham), 
who had settled in Pokagon in 1826, moved into this 
township in 1830. They went to Jefferson in 1834, 
and Mr. Putnam died there in the summer of 1847. 
Their son, Ira J. Putnam, who is undoubtedly the 
oldest native-born resident of the county, now resides 
in Cassopolis. He was born in Pokagon Township, 
on the place where J. McAllister now lives, Septem- 
ber 21, 1827. 

William Renesten and his wife Elizabeth (Harter) 
came to the township in 1830, and located in the 
northwest corner, near the site of Dowagiac, or at 
what has since been known as the Spalding Mill 
property. Here Mr. Renesten set up a carding ma- 
chine, and subsequently a grist mill, but he sold out 
to Erastus H. Spalding in 1834, and removed to a 
farm in Section 17, where he lived until recent years, 
when he removed to Berrien County, where he now 
lives with his daughter. He has been noted for his 
industry and economy, and was a good farmer. He 
followed that occupation steadily from the time he sold 
his mill property. He was born in Mifflin, Penn., in 
1796. He settled in Southern Indiana in 1818, and 
lived there until he removed to Michigan. His chil- 
dren are Melinda (the widow of David Ritter), now 
living in Berrien County, and Mary E. (Mrs. E. 
Spalding), of La Grange Township. 

Hiram Jewell, born in 1805 in Monmouth County, N. 
J., five miles from the famous battle-field : a settler in 
Butler County, Ohio, in 1817, arrived in La Grange 
in September, 1830, and located where the Air Line 
depot now is in Cassopolis, which farm he exchanged 
with Abram Tietsort, Sr., for the one he now lives 
upon, in 1837. His wife's name is Martha (Waldron). 
Their children are Miriam (Mrs. Quick) and Eldridge, 
who live in this township, and Edith (wife of Henry 
Goodrich) in Jefferson. Several of Mr. Jewell's 







F^ESIDENCE/ND FB^UIT F^Rjvl OF B. F. ENGLE.lA '3RANGl,CAoS CO.MiCH. 



B. F. ENGLE. 
B. F. Engle was born in Allegany County, N. Y., 
April 5, 1833, and was the fifth child of a family of 
seven, the children of Silas and Mercy Engle. In 
June, 1844, he removed with his parents to Van Buren 
County, Mich., where he grew to manhood's estate, 
and where the opportunities afforded him for obtaining 
an education were very meager, because the necessities 
of the family required that he devote his youthful 
energies in obtaining a livelihood. He, however, 
acquired habits of industry, perseverance, and a spirit 
of hopefulness, which have been put to a severe test, 
for upon two occasions the fruits of his patient and 
intelligent labors have been swept away, and he left 
unaided to retrieve his fortunes, burdened with fam- 
ily sickness and other obstacles wliicli would have 
disoourageil many. While the major portion of 
his life has been spent in agricultural pursuits, they 
have nut coiiiniauiled his entire attention, for he 
devoted five years to mercantile business in Lawton, 
and from there removed to Whitmanville in 1865, 
and engaged in trade, and one year subse(iuent re- 



moved to the farm on which he now resides, and 
commenced for the third time to build himself a home, 
being at this time below the bottom round of the lad- 
der of fortune. In addition to farming, he devoted 
much attention to fruit culture, and to this latter fact 
he is indebted for his financial success, for from this 
moment misfortune ceased to follow him, and in this 
instance the Latin phrase, Fortes fortuna j'uvat, is 
applicable. 

Mr. Engle is now the most extensive and successful 
fruit-grower in the county, and notwithstanding the 
fact that he lost one liundred peach trees during the 
past year by disease, will set out one thousand four 
hundred this season (1882). 

The above illustration of his place shows in a meas- 
ure what he has accomplished. On the 23d of De- 
cember, 1855, he was united in marriage to Mary 
Lovina, daughter of Jonathan Elliott, who was born 
in Ludlow, Vt., January 22, 1834. They have been 
blessed with five children, four of whom, Franklin, 
May, Silas and Hattie, are living, and Laura, de- 
ceased. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



brothers came to Cass County at dates subsequent to 
his own settlement, James and William W., who came 
respectively in 1831 and 1832, are both deceased. 
Elias is in Wayne Township, and Archibald, who set- 
tled in the same township, while Daniel resides in 
Kansas. 

Abram V. Tietsort (Big Abe), who came also in 
this year, located on land adjoining Hiram Jewell's 
present farm, in Section 2(3. He removed soon to 
Wayne Township, and from there to Iowa, where he 
died. He was from Butler County, Ohio, from 
whence it will be observed came very many of the 
La Grange pioneers, and, for that matter, those of vari- 
ous other townships in the county. 

Another family which made its advent this year 
was the Hass family — Henry and his two sons, Charles 
and Henry. They were from Germany, but came to 
Michigan from Butler County, Ohio. The father 
located where William Shurte now lives, on Section 
15. His son Henry, who afterward married Polly 
Lybrook and removed to Pokagon Township, lived 
with him. Charles Hass settled on land now owned 
by Samuel Graham, in the present limits of Cassopo- 
lis, and spent the remainder of his life there. 

The Petticrew and Hain families were prominent 
arrivals in 1831, and at least one member of the 
former family, James Petticrew, came to the township 
in 1830. John F. Petticrew, the patriarch of this 
family of pioneers, was one of those characters whom 
all have delighted to honor — a Revolutionary soldier, 
and fought through the whole seven years. He had 
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Rockbridge County, 
Va., and from there to Clark County, Ohio, before 
coming to Michigan. After the settlement in La 
Grange, he made his home with his children until 
his death in 1837. His sons, James and John F., 
lived on Section 30. A nephew, John Petticrew, 
who was a soldier in the war of 1812, located over 
the line in Jefferson Township. Joseph McPherson, 
a son-in-law of the senior Petticrew, located on Sec- 
tion 31, but moved away to Indiana. His son John, 
however, lives in Jefferson. At the same time as 
the above, Mrs. Elizabetl^ Lowe, a widow, daughter 
of John F. Petticrew, settled over the line in Pokagon 
Township. 

The Hains were closely connected with the Petti- 
crews — two of them being sons-in-law. John and 
David Hain were born in Lincoln County, N. C. ; 
came from there to Clark County, Ohio, with their 
parents and from there to this township, locating on 
Section 31. Their brother, Jacob, who came on in 
1846, is now living in Iowa. Both of the early emi- 
grants of this family had experience in the Sauk war 
— that is, they obeyed several calls to Niles when 



it was feared the Indians were approaching. David 
was a blacksmith and opened a shop the year after he 
arrived, which was probably the first one in the town- 
ship. His plows were much sought for by the 
pioneer farmers, and he had customers from the region 
round about extending ten to twenty miles. In 1837, 
he made for Daniel Wilson the first steel plow manufact- 
ured in the county. -John Hain was an active and 
enterprising farmer. In the year 1837, he set out an 
apple orchard, which was one of the earliest planted 
in this part of La Grange. The trees are still stand- 
ing and bear excellent natural fruit. From the apples 
of this orchard was made the first cider in the town- 
ship. Both of the Hains reared families, and John 
Hain quite a large one. His wife was Jane Petti- 
crew. Of the five children who came with them to 
Michigan, Elizabeth is deceased. Rosannah (Con- 
don) resides in Jefferson Township ; Margaret (La- 
throp) and Sarah (White) are in California, and John 
lives upon the old homestead. The father died in 
1879, in his eightieth year, and Mrs. Hain in 1860. 
David Hain, who died in 1878, and his wife Mar- 
garet (Petticrew), who died in 1845, left two children 
who reside in the township, viz., William H. and 
Mary J. (Kimmerle). 

Jason R. Coates and his wife, Jane (Barney), from 
Genesee County, N. Y., settled on the farm where 
Jason B. Coates' their son now lives, in the year 1831. 
They arrived late in the fall, and Mr. Coates was 
killed August 17th of the following year, his horse 
dashing him against the limb of a tree in the village 
of Cassopolis. His widow, who at first thought of 
returning to their old home in New York, concluded 
to remain in Michigan, for the sake of her children, 
and brought up her family upon the farm her husband 
had purchased. She died in 1844, leaving five chil- 
dren, viz. : Laura (Arrison), now resident in Iowa ; 
Jason B., who lives upon the homestead farm ; Jane 
(Allen), formerly the wife of Dr. B. F. Gould, in 
Cassopolis ; Eliza, the widow of John Powers (who 
was killed by Indians in Idaho, in 1864), also in 
Cassopolis, and Harriet (Sharpe) in Iowa. 

In 1832, came Catherine Kimmerle, from Butler 
County, Ohio — a sister of the Hass brothers above 
mentioned. She brought with her three children — 
Mary (Maulsley), now in Iowa ; Henry, a well-known 
farmer of the township, who has resided at his present 
place on the Niles road for eighteen years, and 
Amanda (Van Cleve), who resides in Kansas. The 
widowed mother of these children located on La 
Grange Prairie when she first came to the county ; 
afterward lived in Cassopolis, and died at the home 
of her brother in Pokagon, in 1845. 

Jesse G. Beeson became a settler in 1833, and 



232 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHTGAN. 



examined the country as early as 1830. He located 
originally on the farm now occupied by Abraham 
Fiero, building his cabin on Section 9. In 1837, he 
moved to the place where he still lives, buying out 
James Cavanaugh. Mr. Beeson is one of the sub- 
stantial men of the county. He was elected to the 
State Senate in 1853, and has held various minor 
offices. His parents were early emigrants from North 
Carolina to Wayne County, Ind., where he was born 
in the year 1807. He was accompanied to his new 
home by his wife, Anna (Renesten), and three chil- 
dren, and subsequently others were- born. He has 
eight children now living, viz. : William H., in La 
Grange ; Isaac N., in Three Rivers ; B. F., in Calvin 
Township; Mary Jane (HuflF), in Lincoln, Neb.; 
Lurana (Dixon), in Wisconsin ; Eliza Ann (Dufoe), 
and Laura E. (Cammeron), in Iowa, and Anderson 
G., in Lincoln, Neb. 

Erastus H. Spalding was another prominent arrival 
of the year 1833. He came from Scipio, N. Y., 
where he was born in 1801. He was largely inter- 
ested in affairs of value to the township and surround- 
ing county, especially milling. He built no less than 
three mills in La Grange, which are elsewhere spoken 
of. Mr. Spalding died in 1869. His first wife was 
Aurelia Alvord, of New York State. After her death 
he married (in 1836), Mai-y Aurelia Barker, of Cass- 
opolis, by whom he had three children, Lyman 
Barker, Erastus H. and Frederick E. Erastus H. 
died November 19, 1877. 

In the same year as the above came Correl Messen- 
gers arriving in April. In the following year, he 
bought land in Section 33, where he has since lived. 
In addition to clearing up his own farm, he performed 
large service with the " breaking plow " for other 
early settlers. He was born in Litchfield County, 
Conn., in 1809, and removed with his parents three 
yeai's later to Marietta, Ohio, and from thence, about 
1831, to Marion County, in the same State. He 
married Lorena Young. They have had nine chil- 
dren all except one of whom, the eldest, Antha, are 
living. Following are their names and residences. 
Orrin, in Calvin; Evart, in Iowa; Lemuel, in Ohio; 
Sarah (Zane), in Calvin ; Elizabeth (Collins), in Cass- 
opolis ; George, in Iowa ; K. E., at home ; and 
Henry, in Cassopolis. 

In 1834, Shepherd Wheeler and wife, from New 
York State, located where William Shurte now lives, 
and in the following year Lemuel Sifert, of Ohio, 
came into the township. He removed soon afterward 
to Indiana and died there about 1840. 

William G. Wiley arrived in 1835. He was origi- 
nally from New York City ; emigrated from there to 
New Jersey, from there to Ohio, and from thence to 



Michigan. He followed coopering. Afterward bought 
a farm in Wayne Township, and in 1854 returned to 
La Grange Township. He married, in Cassopolis, 
Harriet Sifert, and died in 1865 at the age of fifty-six 
years, leaving four children, viz. : Robert II., of 
La Grange Township, who for a number of years past 
has been Supervisor ; Mary E. (Malloy), in Edwards- 
burg; Emily (Mrs. William H. Hain), of this town- 
ship, and John, who resides in Volinia. John B. 
Wiley, grandfather of William, and his wife Hannah 
M. (Fryer), came to Cassopolis about 1838, and it is 
probable that Mr. Wiley was the first cooper in the 
village. 

Settlement was also made this year by Isaac Scares 
with his wife and eleven children. Mr. Scares died 
three years later, in the fall of 1839, being at the 
time of his decease. County Treasurer. He was born 
in Connecticut in 1795 ; moved with his parents to 
Cayuga County, N. Y., while quite young, and from 
thence, in 1809, to Erie County, in Pennsylvania. 
He served in the war of 1812, under Commodore 
Perry. His wife Polly (Custard) long survived him, 
dying in 1870. The children are William, a much 
respected farmer of this township ; Abram, deceased : 
Andrew, in Texas ; John, a resident of the township ; 
Phebe and Sarah, deceased ; Susan (Walker), in Illi- 
nois ; Charity (Byers and Philena Baughara), in Iowa ; 
Richard, deceased, and Mary (Swartout) in Cassopolis. 

Zadoc Jarvia came to the township in the spring of 
1836, and brought his family in the same year. He 
rented the property where his son, Norman, now lives, 
for three years, and then removed to Pokagon Town- 
ship, where he died in 1852. He was born in Roanoke 
County, N. C, in 1785, and about 1825, removed to 
Wayne County, Ind., where he lived until coming to 
Michigan. His wife was Lucy Owens. The oldest 
son, Burton, who came to the State a year earlier 
than his father, now lives in Berrien County ; Sarah 
(wife of James Moore), resides in Pokagon Township ; 
Polly (wife of Joseph Sparks) is deceased ; Norman 
has, after residence in several other localities, been a 
citizen of La Grange for the past twenty-six years ; 
Benjamin and Edith are deceased; Zadoc is a resident 
of the township. 

Henry Springstine and his wife, Eleanor (Clark), 
came in the spring of 1837, from Niagara County, N. 
Y., and located where Abram Fiero now lives. Mr. 
Springstine died the following year, aged fifty-eight. 
His oldest son, John, was married when the family 
came to the West, his wife being Romelia Colby. A 
son of this couple, B. M. Springstine, now lives in the 
township. The other children of Henry Springstine 
and wife are Matthew, now living in St. Joseph ; 
Jarah (Cronkhite), deceased ; Eliza and Catherine, 







f 




I^OT^MAf^ jy\F^N/'is, 



|/If^S.f40F^MAI^ JARViS. 



NOEMAN JAKVIS. 
Norman Jarvis, one of the pioneers and prominent 
farmers of La Grange, was born in Roan County, [ 
N. C, April 14, 1821. His father, Zaddock I 
Jarvis, was also a native of North Carolina, and | 
a planter in medium circumstances ; he married i 
Lucy Owens, by whom he had seven children, four 
boys and three girls. In 1819, he emigrated to Indi- 
ana with his family, where he remained until 1833, 
when he came to La Grange, and settled on the place 
now owned by his son; in the fall, he returned to 
Indiana for his family. Norman was at this time 
twelve years of age, and his recollections of the 
trials, hardships, and privations of the early days are 
still vivid. The elder Jarvis was a fine type of the 
early settler ; he lived in La Grange until his decease, 
.which occurred in 1851 ; his wife is still living, "hale 
and hearty," at the advanced age of ninety years. 
Norman lived under the parental roof until he was 
eighteen years of age, when he began life as a boatman 
and farmer, devoting the summer months to the for- 
mer avocation and working as a farm hand during the 
winter. In this way he accumulated a sum sufficient 
for the purchase of eighty acres of land in Pipestone, 
Berrien County ; after several changes, he bought the 
farm where he now resides, in 1865, and which he has 
improved, with the exception of tJO acres. The 



farm, a view of which we present on another page, 
consists of 270 acres of fertile land under a high 
state of cultivation. In 1842, Mr. Jarvis was mar- 
ried to Miss Margaret, daughter of Elias Simpson, 
one of the pioneers of the county, having removed 
from Ohio in 1830. She was born near Chillicothe, 
Ohio, February 28, 1824, and was six years of age 
at the time of the family's emigration to Pokagon, 
where her father died in 1841, and her mother in 
1860. Coming into the country in the early days of 
its settlement, Mr. Jarvis was denied the advantages 
of education, which the youth of to-day are in posses- 
sion of, and his education has been confined to that 
other school in which the teachers are observation 
and experience. He is emphatically a self-made 
man, and the architect of his own fortune. The 
salient points in his character are industry and 
honesty, by which means he has attained the position 
he holds among the representative men of Cass Coun- 
ty. This biography would be incomplete without 
some mention of Mrs. Jarvis, who has shared his "joys 
and sorrows." She has been to him a helpmeet in 
all that the name implies, and is a woman of many 
estimable qualities of mind and heart. The two 
reared a family of ten children — Mary, William, 
Loramie, Rachael, Franklin, Jennie, Jasper, Ella, 
Lucy and Mertie, all of whom are living. 





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filSTORY OF CASS COUiNTY, MICHIGAN. 



233 



residents of the township; Miriam (Compton), de- 
ceased ; Levi, living in Wayne Township, and Henry, 
who died in this township in 1850. 

Andrew Jackson Mosher located at the village of 
La Grange in 1840. 

The year following, Erastus Palmer and his wife, 
Abigail (Hungerford), came into the northwest part 
of the township from Wayne. They were originally 
from Livingston County, N. Y., and Mr. Palmer was 
born there in the closing years of the last century. 
He died at his home in this township in 1850. He was 
the father of eight children, viz.: William K., now 
and for many years a resident of Dowagiac ; John W., 
in Illinois ; Cordelia and Ann Maria, deceased ; 
George C, a resident of this State ; Jane and Benja- 
min F., now in Iowa, and Elizabeth, deceased. 

James Kelsey became a settler upon Section 2 in 
1839, emigrating from New York State. He is still 
living, and a resident of the township. He was born 
in 1810. A sketch of his son, Dr. William J. Kelsey, 
of Cassopolis, appears elsewhere in this work. 

Gabriel Hathaway, a carpenter from Allegany 
County, N. Y., settled on the edge of Young's Prairie, 
in Penn Township, in 1844, and not long afterward 
removed to this township, and located where his 
son Orrin now lives, near the Jones Mill. The family 
consisted of his wife, Mary Masters, and seven chil- 
dren, and after their arrival in Michigan two others 
were born. Lydia, Maria (Roundtree), John and 
Silas are deceased ; Orrin and Josiah are residents of 
this township ; Leonard and Joseph are in Iowa, and 
Frederick and Charles (deceased). Gabriel Hatha- 
way died in 1877, at the age of eighty-four years. 

Charles Fiero and his wife, Laura Ann (Clark), 
moved in from Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1847. 
They have two children, Frances (Hathaway) and 
Arminda. Mr. Fiero bought land in the township in 
1843, but purchased his present place of Peter Brady 
in 1849. 

A brother of the above, Abram Fiero, came to the 
township in 1853, and settled where he now resides, 
buying his farm of Frank and Isaac Beeson. Mr. 
Fiero and wife, Fannie A. (Thorpe), have had six 
children, and have three sons living, John, Byron and 
William. 

The early settlers of the Hass family have already 
been mentioned. Their brother Jacob, and his wife, 
Mary (Karr), made their settlement in 1853, in the 
southwestern part of the township. Mr. Hass was 
from New Jersey, and was married in Darke County, 
Ohio, and moved to Michigan from Randolph County, 
Ind. He died in 1873, aged seventy. His oldest 
son, Henry, moved to Missouri, entered the army 
there, and is now dead. William lives on the old 



homestead ; James is in Elkhart, and Catherine 
(Curtiss) resides in Jefferson Township. 

G. S. Wilbur and his wife, Louisa N. (Hause), 
came from Seneca County, N. Y., to Wayne Town- 
ship in 1854, and to their present location, on the 
west line of La Grange, near Dowagiac, in the follow- 
ing year. Mr. Wilbur has been Superintendent of 
the Poor in Cass County for ten years— 1871 to 1881. 
He has five children — Fanny C. (Wares), at Barren 
Lake ; Theodore F. and E. Parsons, in Dowagiac ; 
Nathan P., in Texas, and Lloyd E., at home. 

The Van Riper family, of New Jersey, came into 
the township in 1854 and 1856, purchased about six 
hundred acres of land,- including the water power privi- 
lege at La Grange Village, and began a large business 
in milling and manufacturing, which is elsewhere 
noticed. The first members of the family who arrived 
were the brothers Charles, Garro and William. The 
first named was a soldier of Company A, Twelfth 
Michigan Infantry, and being taken prisoner at Shiloh, 
spent some months at Southern prisons. He subse- 
quently moved to Nebraska. William and Garry 
Van Riper are both still residents of La Grange Vil- 
lage, and carry on business there, the former being 
engaged in the manufacture of baskets. In 1856, the 
' parentsoftheVan Riper brothers, Abram and Catherine 
] (Mickler) Van Riper came out, and with them came 
I another son, John A., Who, with his son, J. J. (the 
I Attorney General of the State) now lives at Buchanan. 
Tunis Van Riper came about the same time as the above, 
and now lives upon a farm near the village. The 
parents of the Van Ripers are both deceased. Abram, 
the father, died in 1873, at the ripe age of eighty-four 
years. 

Among the comparatively recent settlers we may 
mention Homer Wells and William R. Miller, both 
representative farmers, who arrived in 1865. The 
former located on the old Fletcher farm, in Section 
10. He came with his parents to Kalamazoo County 
from New York in 1840, and about 1860 moved to 
Wayne Township, Cass County, and from there came 
■ to his present place. He has been twice married, the 
first time to Laura Ann Reed, by whom he had two 
children — Leslie C, a resident of the township, and 
Maria, deceased. His present wife is Fannie Bever- 
stock. She has had five children — Alma Maria, 
Fred B., Clarence, Daniel (deceased) and Blanche. 

William R. Miller, of Erie County, Penn., bought 
the farm on which he resides, in Section 34, of Henry 
Pells. He has been three times married. His present 
wife is Mary (Baldwin). He had, by a former wife, 
four childen, one of whom is in Pennsylvania. Helen 
M. and Lizzie re&ide at home, and a married daugh- 
ter, Alice (Decou) lives in Penn Township. 



234 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE LAND. 

Following is a list of the land entries in the town- 
ship, arranged by sections, showing the date of entry, 
the number of acres taken up, together with the names 
and residences of the owners : 

Section 1. 

Gabriel Nixon, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 3, 1831 79 

Gabriel Nixon, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 2, 1832 80 

Stephen Bogue, Cass County, Mich., March 24, 1832 79 

Jacob T. East, Cass County, Mich., March 24, 1832 80 

Elihu C. Quick, Cass County, Mich., April 23, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 28, 1836 160 

Allen Ayrault, Livingston County, N. V., Dec. 6, 1836 80 



Section 2. 

Isaac Jones, Butler County, Ohio, April 26, 1833 40 

John P. Wade, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1835 80 

Lyman A. Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1835.... 117 

Lyman A. Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., Nov. 16, 1835... 318 

Francis J. Wayland, Cass County, Mich., Feb 1, 1836 40 



Section 3. 
Adam Gunckell, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 27, 183 

Jacob Price, Caas County, Mich., April 16, 1835 

Erastus H. Spalding, (Jass County, Mich., June 15, 

Lyman A. Spalding, Oct. 28, 1836 

Isaac S. Bull, Cass County, Mich , April 12, 1845... 



Section 4. 

Erastus H. Spalding, June 15, 1835 

Lyman A. Spalding, Nov. 16, 1835....; 

John S. Trumbull, Jackson County, Miclf., Feb. 1, 183' 

Dennis Wright, Cass County, Mich., April 7, 1837 

Stephen D. Wright, Cass County, Mich., April 7, 1837., 

Isaac S. Bull, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1846 

Eliza Root, Cass County, Mich., May 3, 1853 



Section 5. 

Erastus H. Spalding, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 17, 1835 

Solomon Dunham, Niagara County, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1835.... 
Lyman A. Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., April 21, 1836.. 
Lyman A. Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., May 10, 1836.. 

John S. Trumbull, Jackson County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837 

David Lilly, Cass County, Mich., March 2 and 10, 1837 

Samuel R. Henderson, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 2, 1837 



Section 6. 

Reneston & Hunt, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1830 65 

Aaron M. Collins, Wayne County, Ind., Oct. 14, 1835 79 

Lyman A. Spalding, Nov. 16, 1835 160 

Lyman A. Spalding, April 21, 1836 143 

Allen Ayrault, Livingston County, N. Y., Deo. 6, 1836 160 

Section 7. 

Frederick Reichert, Pickaway Counly, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1830... 80 



William Reneston, Cass County, Mich., May 10, 1886 
Allen Ayrault, Dec. 6, 1836 



Section 8. 

James Dickson, Ind., June 18, 1829 

Z. &. Z. J. Griffin. May 29, 1830 

Absolom Colvin, Sept. 15, 1830 

Isaac Dewey, Union County, Ind., Oct. 16, 1830.. 



Thomas J. Patrick, May 8, 1833 40 

Jonathan Prater, July 7, 1830 80 

Christian Barr, July 29, 1835 40 

Christian Barr, Dec. 23, 1836 40 

Nathan M. Shepard, May 20, 1862 40 

Section 9. 

John Brown, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 22, 1832 80 

Charles Wells, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1834 40 

Jesse G. Beeson, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 17, 1835 40 

Jesse G. Beeson, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1885 80 

Levi Godfrey, Cass County, Mich., April 15, 1836 ;. 40 

Erastus H. Spalding, Cass County, Mich., June 16, 1836 280 

Rice High, Niagara County, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1885 "... 80 

Section 10. 

Squire Thompson, Lenawee County, July 8, 1829 80 

Jesse Palmer, May 24, 1834 80 

C. and T. Earle, Chittenden County, Vt., May 27, 1834 80 

Erastus H. Spalding, Cass Connty, Mich., June 15, 1835 80 

John B. Wade, Cass County, Mich , June 22, 1835 40 

Jared Palmer, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1836 40 

Jacob R. Hall, Cass County, Mich., July 3, 1835 80 

Samuel Burbanks, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1835 80 

Section 11. 

George Jones, Cass County, Mich , Jan. 4, 1830 80 

Erastus H. Spalding, Cass County, Mich., June 16, 1885 80 

Erastus H. Spalding, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1835 120 

John B Wade, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1835 80 

Jared Palmer, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1835 40 

Jacob R. Hall, Cass County, Mich., July 3, 1835 80 

Luzerne 0. Bryan, Kalamazoo County, Mich., July 15, 1836. 80 

George W. Peterson, New York City, Jan. 30, 1887 80 

Section 12. 

William McCleary, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 28, 1830 80 

Francis J. Wayland, Casa County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837 80 

Walter Clark, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837 80 

Aurelius Howard, Ionia County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837 240 

Thomas Stutterd, Niagara County, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1837 40 

Thomas Muncy, Cass County, Mich., March 1, 1837 40 

Gerhard H. Schliep, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 14. 1849 80 

Section 13. 

James and Ann Henderson, New York City, Jan. 30, 1837... 160 

Henry Jones, Casa County, Mich., Feb. 16, 1846 160 

Philo B. White, Cass Counly, Mich., Nov. 15, 1848 80 

G. H. Schliep, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 14, 1849 80 

Frederick H. Tholke. Cincinnati, Ohio, May 14, 1849 80 

Section 14. 
John De .Maranville 2d, Cass Counly, Mich., July 28, 1831... 

Jacob R. Hall, Cass County, Mich., July 3, 1836 

Shepherd Wheeler, Cass County. Mich., July 11, 1835 

Lewis E. Glover, Orleans County, N. Y., May 4, 1836 

Henry Hass, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 

Isaac McCleary, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 

Jacob R. Hall, Logan County, Ohio, July 6, 1839 

Philo B. White, Dec. 15, 1848 

Frederick H. Tholke, May 14, 1849 

Section 15. 

Isaac Shurte, Lenawee County, Mich., Jan. 18, 1829 80 

Samuel Shurte, Cass County, Mich., July 27, 1829 80 

Ira H. Putman, Caas County, .Mich., March 3, 1830 80 





W'lLLly^,M P. BUCKLiM, 



|yiRS. William p. buckliM. 



WILLIAM P. BUCKLIN. 

Among the pioneers whose memory it is well to 
perpetuate, because of fidelity to his family and other 
noble traits, is William P. Bucklin, who was born in 
Pennsylvania December 20, 1816. When two years 
of age, he removed with his parents to Sandusky 
County, Ohio, and when fourteen years of age, ac- 
companied them to Mottville, St. Joseph County, 
where his father died in the fall of their removal, leav- 
ing a large family of children dependent upon their 
own and mother's exertions for a livelihood. With a 
manliness far beyond his years, he being the eldest 
son, he labored hard and successfully to maintain the 
family circle unbroken, devoting the whole of his 
earnings to this object. 

When one takes into consideration the hard labor 
and small remuneration received at this time, and that 
he could look forward to nothing but the hardest labor 
to advance his own interest, and he an ambitious 



young man, the noble sacrifices made for his brothers 
and sisters can be, in a measure, realized, for he never 
thought of self until his marriage, January 20, 1839, 
to Mary A. Lilly, daughter of David and Mary Lilly. 
He then purchased a small farm of forty acres, and 
commenced life on his own account, and eight years 
later, moved on the farm of his father-in-law, in La 
Grange township, where he deceased August 30, 1864, 
having the esteem and respect of the community in 
which he resided. 

His widow, who retains the old homestead, is a 
resident of Marcellus, where she resides in luxurious 
quiet. Of their ten children — Ranson, Margaret, 
Albert, Estella and Laura L., are deceased. While 
Norton W.; Thursey A., now Mrs. Boyd ; Cynthia 
A., now Mrs. J. J. Ritter ; Josephine D., now Mrs. 
B. R. Beebe, and Florence A., now Mrs. L M. 
Smith, all reside in this county. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



J. DeMaranville 2d, Cass County, Mich., July 28, 1831 80 

Martin C. Whitman, Cass County, Mioh.. Jan 14, 1832 80 

C. & T. Earle, Chittenden County, Vt., May 27, 1834 80 

Jacob R. Hall, July 3, 1835 40 

Selah Whitman, .\pril 10, 183.5 40 

Section 16. 
School Lands. 

Section 17. 

Thomas McKinney, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829.. 80 

James Dickson, Cass County, Mich., May 31, 1830 .... 80 

Michael J. McKinney, Cass County, Mich, May 31, 1830 HO 

.lohn Jones, Niagara County, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1830 80 

Henry Dewey, Union County, Ind., Oct. 16, 1830 80 

William Garwood, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 29, 1830 80 

Martin C. Whitman, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1831 80 

Krastus H. Spalding, (.'ass County, Mich., June 15, 1835 80 

Section 18. 

John Simpson, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 80 

John Simpson, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 18. 1830 82 

Thomas Simpson, June 18, 1829 80 

Thomas Simpson, May 11, 1830 80 

Elias Simpson, Jan. 29, 1831 80 

Lawrence Kavanaugh, April 22, 1830 80 

Martin C. Whitman, May 29, 1830 80 

Alexander H. Redfield, Dec. 12, 1835 82 

Section 19. 

Thomas Simpson, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 22, 1830 83 

James Kavanaugh, Cass County, Mich., May 26, 1832 80 

Gamaliel Townsend, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 16, 1835 160 

Gamaliel Townsend, Cass County, Mich., March 30, 1836 80 

Thompson Simpson, Cass County. Mich.. Nov. 17, 1836 120 

Jonathan Prater, Cass County, Mich., iMay 14, 18J6 40 

David Hain, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 17, 1837 85 

Section 20. 

Abram Loux, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 80 

Lyman T. Earl, Niagara County, N. Y., June 19, 1830 80 

James Dickson, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 16, 18S0 80 

Thomas McKinney, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1831 80 

David Brady, Cass County, Mich , June 7, 1831 80 

Mica,iah B. McKinney, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 5, 1832 40 

Mary DeWolf, Casa County, Mich.. Sept. 19, 1833 40 

Michael J. McKinney, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 28, 1836 40 

Gamaliel Townsend, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836 40 

Gamaliel Townsend, Dec. 13, 1836 80 

Section 21. 

Abram Townsend, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 160 

Dennis Wright, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 80 

David Brady, Marion County, Ohio, July 7, 1829 80 

David Brady, Marion County, Ohio, Dec. 22, 1829 80 

David Brady, Marion County, Ohio, Oct. 29, 1830 80 

Nathan B. Nichols, Cuyahoga (bounty, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1829 80 

Robert Wilson, Cass County. Mich., June 3, 18.30 80 

Sf;cTioN 22. 

John Ritter, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 160 

John Ritter, Lenawee County, Mich., Aug 14,1829 HO 

John Lybrook, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 160 

Henry Lybrook, Lenawee County, .Mich., July 13, 1829 80 

Shurte & Putman, Cass County, Mich., March 11, 1830 80 

Robert Wilson, Cass County, Mich., June 8, 1880 80 



Section 23. 

David Brady, ("ass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1834 40 

Henry Lybrook, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1830 80 

Henry Lybrook. Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1831 160 

Sally Ritter, Cass County, Mich., May 31, 1830 80 

David McCIeary, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 18, 1830 160 

William McCIeary, Cass (!ounty, Mich., June 18, 1831 -80 

Elizabeth Thomas, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 28, 1835 40 

Levi Godfrey, Cass t^ounty, Mich., April 15, 1835 40 

Section 24. 

George Jones, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 19, 1832 80 

William Tarbox, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 31, 1832 40 

Amanda, Rebecca, Robert, Harmon and Eveline Painter, 

Holmes County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1832 40 

Henry Hass. Cass County, Mich., Oct. 29, 1832 40 

Henry Hass, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 7, 1834 120 

Henry Hass, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 40 

Hannibal G. Rice, Genesee (bounty, N. Y., July 23, 1833 160 

Henry Jones, Cass <Jounty, Mich., Jan. 4, 1836 80 

Section 25. 

Robert Clark, Jr., St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831 160 

Oliver Johnson, Monroe County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831..- 160 

C. & H. Hass, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1831 240 

Isaac Thompson, Cass County, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1832 80 

Section 26. 

Abram V. Tietsorl, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 18, 1830 80 

Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 29, 

1835 160 

A. H. Redfield and E. B. Sherman, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 

22, 1831 80 

John Jewell, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 26, 18?1 160 

Garrett Waldren, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 11, 1831 80 

Edwards & Walton, Cass County, Mich., Oct 21, 1831 80 

Section 27. 

Abram Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1830 80 

Abram Tietsorl, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831 80 

Thomas Vanderhoof, Cass County, Mich.. July 1, 1830 80 

Thomas Vanderhoof, Cass I'ounty, Mich., June 7, 1831........ 80 

John Fluallen, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1833 80 

Darius Clark, Montgomery (-'ounty, N. Y., June 29, 1835 240 

Section 28. 

Robert Wilson, Franklin County, Ohio, June 18, 1829 240 

Robert Wilson, Cass County, Mich., June 3, 1830 80 

Robert Wilson, Lass (bounty, .Mich., Sept. 27, 1832 40 

Jason R. Coats, Nov. 26, 1831 80 

John Gowthrop, Dec. 10, 1832 .' 40 

John Gowthrop, Dec. 12, 1833 40 

John Fluallen, May 16, 1833 80 

Chester Stevens, Dec. 12, 1833 40 

Section 29. 

Abram Huff, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 16, 1830 80 

A. and C. Huff, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1831 80 

J. V. and I. A. Huff, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1831 80 

Jason R. Coats, Cass County, Mich , Nov. 28, 1831 80 

Abram H. Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1832 40 

John Fluallen, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 20, 1832 40 

John Gawthrop, Cass County, Mich., May 22, 1833 80 

Eber Root, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1834 40 

Thomas Vanderhoof, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1834 40 

Thomas Vanderhoof, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 27, 1835 40 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 30. 

James Petticrew, Cass County, Mich., July 7, 1830 80 

James Petticrew, Cass County, Mich., June 24, 1831 80 

James Petticrew, Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1832 80 

Jonathan Prater, ("ass County, Mich., Jan. 29, 1831 80 

Thomas Ware, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1831 80 

Robert Faries, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832 89 

Azial Smith, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 24, 1835 40 

Titus Husted, Otsego County, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1836 40 

Elizabeth Lowe, (^ass County, Mich., Feb. 15, 1836 87 

Section 31. 

John Hain, Clark County, Ohio, April 21, 1834 40 

John Hain, Claris County, Ohio, Nov. 1, 18.30 90 

Margaret Petticrew, Cass County, Mich , June 7, 1831 80 

Joseph .McPherson, Cass County, Mich., July 4, 1831 100 

Jonathan W. Roberson, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1831... 80 

David Hain, f'.ass County, Mich., Feb. 2, 1833 40 

Elizabeth Lowe, Cass County, Sept. 27, 1833 40 

Robert Nixon, Cass County, Mich., Not. 24, 1835 131 

Section 32. 

John Lybrook, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1830 80 

Frederick Rickert, Cass County, Mich., March 24, 1832 80 

Abram Loux, Cass County, Mich., March 24. 1832 160 

Eli P. Bonnel, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1832 80 

Levi Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., May 20, 1833 40 

Sylvanus Loux Cass County, Mich., Feb. 6, 1834 80 

Isaac Shurtc, Cass County, Mich., March 1, 1834 40 

William Arrison, Cass County, Mich., July 19, 1834 40 

Section 33. 

Gamaliel Tosr»gend, Cass County, Mich., July 12, 183] 80 

John Gawthrop, Cass County, Mich., May 22, 1833 80 

Levi Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., June 1, 1833 40 

Ira B. Henderson, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1833 40 

Thomas W. Sherman, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 13, 1834 40 

Correll Messenger. Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1834 40 

William B. Shurte, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1834 120 

Isaac Sears, Cass County, Mich., June 17, 1835 120 

Elias B. Sherman, Cass County, Mich., July 15, 1836 40 

Section 34. 

David Vanhouter, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1834 40 

John Vandeventer, St. Joseph County, Mich., June 17, 1835, 320 

Isaac Sears, Erie County, Penn., June 17, 1835 280 

Section 35. 

Abram Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., July 7, 1830 78 

David T. Nicholson, Cass (bounty, Jan. 1, 1881 112 

Chester Stevens, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1834 66 

Oliver Johnson, Monroe County, Mich., June 8, 1835 76 

Nehemiah Case, Erie County, N. Y., June 13, 1836 119 

Section 36. 

Henry H. Fowler, (lass County, Mich., May 19, 1830 65 

Ephraim McCleary, (Jass County, Mich., Oct. 14, 1830 160 

Hiram Jewell, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 16, 1830 80 

E. Thomas, Jr., and Thomas Clark, .Monroe County, Mich., 

.Ian. 1, 1831 80 

E. Thomas, Jr., and Thomas Clark, Monroe County, Mich., 

Jan. 1, 1831 48 

John HuiT, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1831 80 



Following are the principal officers of the township, 
Supervisors, Clerks and Treasurers, elected up to 1880: 

SUPERVISORS. 

1830, Joseph S. Barnard ; 1831-33, James Kava- 
naugh ; 1834, Jesse Palmer; 1835, John Fluallen ; 
1836, Jesse G. Beeson ; 1887-38, John Fluallen ; 
1839-41, County Commissioners; 1842, Elias B. 
Sherman ; 1843-46, Eli P. Bonnell ; 1847, George 
B. Turner ; 1848-49, Henry Tietsort, Jr. ; 1850, 
Simeon E. Dow ; 1851-52, Henry Tietsort, Jr. ; 
1853-54, Daniel S. Jones; 1855, C. B. Tietsort; 
1856, Henry Walton; 1857, William G. Wiley; 
1858-60, Daniel S. Jones; 1861, William R. 
Fletcher; 1862-66, Daniel S. Jones ; 1867, William 
T. Tinney ; 1868, Daniel S. Jones ; 1869, L. H. 
Glover ; 1870, Abram Fiero ; 1871-73, Daniel S. 
Jones; 1874-78, Robert Wiley; 1879, Daniel S. 
Jones ; 1880-81, Robert H. Wiley. 



1830, Martin C. Whitman ; 1831, Samuel Wilson; 
1832, James Harvey Cornelius Smith ; 1833, M. J. 
McKenney; 1834-38, William Arrison; 1839, Ben- 
jamin Gould; 1840, T. Barnum; 1841, Benjamin 
Gould ; 1842-45, no record of election; 1846, David 
Histed; 1847-50, Daniel S. Jones; 1851, D. S. 
Kingsbury; 1852, Daniel S. Jones; 1853, F. A. 
Graves; 1854-64, Charles G. Banks; 1865-68, 
Lowell H. Glover; 1869, Eber Reynolds; 1870, E. 
C. Deyo ; 1871-73, Eber Reynolds ; 1874, Henry J. 
Webb; 1875-77, Charles G. Banks; 1878-81, 
William Jones. 

TREASURERS.* 

1830-33, Eli P. Bonnell; 1834, J. B. Wade; 
1835, Thomas W. Sherman ; 1836-45, no record of 
election : 1846, Levi Tietsort ; 1847-54, Elias Simp- 
son ; 1855, Edward Graham ; 1856-57, Elias Simp- 
son ; 1858-60, S. S. Chapman ; 1861, A. Tietsort ; 
1862, Edward Graham ; 1863-64, A. Tietsort; 1865, 
Byron Bradley; 1866-68, Joseph Graham; 1869, 
Josiah Hathaway; 1870-74, Isaac Wells; 1875-76, 
A. Tietsort ; 1877-78, George B. Crawford ; 1879, 
William H. Hain ; 1880, Rodney R. Perkins ; 1881, 
George B. Crawford. 

BAPTIST CHURCH AT OAK GROVE. 

In answer to the query " What's in a name?" it 
may be said there is sometimes a great deal, as for 
instance in the original appellation of this church, which 
in full was " The Old School Regular Primitive 
Baptist Church of La Grange by the name of Con- 
cord." 

Originally the office was designated aa that of " Collector." 



\ 



y .#: 



/ 




HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



237 



This was one of the early religious organizations 
of the township and came into existence in 1843. It 
was formed by Elder William Jackson at a meeting 
held at the house of Yorkeley Griffin, February 25. 
The original members, Johnathan VV. Roberson, 
Rachel Roberson, Mary GriflSn, Sally Huflf and 
Susan Ball. At a meeting held March 18, 1843, 
Yorkely Griffin and Solomon Dewey and wife were 
received as members, and subsequently, at various 
times, the following persons, viz. : Obediah Potter, 
Dorothy Ann Potter, Stephen B. Clark, Elizabeth 
Clark, Joshua Howell, Christiana Howell, Johnson 
Patrick, Peter Hess, Julia Hess, Rebecca Hess, 
William Jackson, Mary Jackson, Thomas B. Huff. 

Rev. William Jackson was the first and only 
preacher of the church ; Stephen Clark, and, after 
him. Peter Hess and Thomas B. Huff were Church 
Clerks. The church held some peculiar doctrinal 
views and odd rules of discipline. It never had a 
large membership, and yet the organization was kept 
up and was in (juite a flourishing condition until 
185(3. After that, the life of the church was spas- 
modic, and there is no mention of its meetings in the 
old record book later than 1863. The early meetings 
were held at Yorkeley Griffin's, at Solomon Dewey's, 
at the schoolhouse in District No. 5, and occasionally 
at Joshua Howell's in Cassopolis. In 1848, the first 
steps were taken toward the purchase of a suitable 
site and the erection of a church building. A lot was 
bought on the corner diagonally opposite the Oak 
Grove Schoolhouse, and a house of worship erected 
which still stands there and serves the Christian 
Church as a meeting-place. 

July 26, 1881, Elder William Jackson relinquished 
in favor of the Christian Church all of his claim upon 
the property, and it passed from his hands into the 
possession of the organization named. Several con- 
ditions were stipulated that the church should be open 
to all ministers of good standing in the Baptist 
Church ; open to people of all denominations for the 
holding of funerals ; that the Christian Church 
should hold regular services in the building ; that 
they should paint it, keep it in good repair, etc. 

BAPTIST CHURCH AT WHITMAN VILLK. 

About the time that Martin C. Whitman laid out 
the village which bore his name (now La Grange), a 
Baptist Church was organized, and he donated a lot 
on which the society, or a few individuals, erected a 
small house of worship. The church had a feeble begin- 
ning, never obtained much strength, and after the lapse 
of a few years became defunct. The edifice which 
the society erected rotted down, or became so out of 
repair that it was removed. There were not a suffi- 



cient number of Baptists in the village or its vicinity 
to maintain either society or building. The lines of 
the old hymn, 

• Except lUe Lord doth build the house 
Tho builder.H build in vain, " 
and the other lines, improvised on a certain occasion, 
by Pierpont Edwards, 

" And except the Lord doth finish it 
' Twill tumble down again." 
apply very appropriately to this old church of Whit- 
man ville. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LA GRANGE. 

This church was organized on the 10th of Novem- 
ber, 1858, at the house of Charles Van Riper, in the 
village of La Grange, by the Rev. E. H. Day. The 
first Trustees were Charles Van Riper, John A. Van 
Riper, Washburn Benedict, Abram Van Riper, Jacob 
Zimmerman, John S. Secor, Joshua Lofland and 
Joseph W. Sturr. The Rev. E. H. Day was the first 
pastor. The society erected soon after its organiza- 
tion a comfortable and neat house of worship, which 
still serves the church as a meeting-place. 

CEMETERIES. 

The burials, as has been said, were made in the little 
cemetery set off by Isaac Shurte from his farm soon 
after the settlement was begun. 

Another burial-place was laid off in the southwest 
portion of the township, on the Jefferson line, by 
Joseph McPherson. It was intended as a private 
burying-ground, and interments were made there by 
permission until Mr. McPherson removed from the 
township, when he deeded the land to the Board of 
Health of La Grange. The first person buried here 
was John F. Petticrew, a Revolutionary soldier, who 
died in 1837. 

Other than these two burial-places there are none 
in the township, except those of Dowagiac, Cassopolis 
and La Grange. 

EARLY MANUFACTURING. 

The saw-mill built by Job Davis in 1829, which 
was undoubtedly the scene of the first introduction of 
mechanical industry in the township, has already been 
spoken of. 

Henry Jones and Hardy Langston built another 
saw- mill in 1830, upon the outlet of Jones' Lake, in 
the northeast part of the township. Jones soon be- 
came the sole owner, and put in carding machinery, 
which he operated until the Van Ripers opened their 
j mill in La Grange Village. The same mill is now 
1 ran (in connection with a furniture manufactory) by 
Daniel S. Jones. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The next effort in the manufacturing line must be 
credited to William Renesten. He located in 1830, 
on the Dowagiac Creek, on the north line of the town- 
ship, and near the present western limits of Dowagiac 
City, and built there, the same year, a woolen mill, 
the machinery for which he brought from Southern 
Indiana on wagons. Three years later, he built a 
grist-mill at the same place, the iron work for which 
he had made in Cincinnati, while the stones were 
quarried and dressed in Elkhart, Ind. In 1834, he 
sold the property to Erastus H. Spalding. Mr. Spald- 
ing bought the property for his brother, Lyman A. 
Spalding, and Jonathan Thorne, of New York. The 
property subsequently passed into the possession of 
Mr. Thorne, and Joseph Harper, as his agent, sold it 
to Erastus H. Spalding, who built a new mill — the 
one now standing — which was a great improvement 
upon the old one. He ran the mill until 1868, when 
he sold out to the present owner, H. F. Colby, who 
made material improvements in it. 

Eli P. Bonnell engaged in the manufacture of the 
simpler forms of pottery in 1881, the shop in which 
he began being located upon the farm north of that 
on which Stephen D. Wright now resides. He sub- 
sequently removed his pottery to a point three miles 
west of Cassopolis, and there continued the business 
for a number of years. 

These are all of the manufacturing industries, either 
early or late, of any importance, except those in La 
Grange Village and Cassopolis. 

FISH HATCHERY. 

In 1877, Dr. Alonzo Garwood began the propaga- 
tion of brook trout on his farm, two miles north of 
Cassopolis, where there are abundant springs of clear, 
cold water, such as these aristocrats of the finny tribes 
delight to desport themselves in. He stocked one 
small pond with young trout, and the experiment 
proving successful, added to his facilities for growing 
them from time to time, until at present he has a 
very fine "fish farm," in which he takes a great 
amount of pleasure. He has now five ponds artificially 
formed, and a hatching house, provided with appliances 
by which 100,000 eggs may be developed into fish at 
one time. 

Of late the Doctor has procured a few German 
carp, which are thriving as well as the trout, but 
his attention has been principally devoted to the 
propagation of the latter variety offish. He has now 
in one pond upward of a thousand of the speckled 
beauties, some of which — those four years old — weigh 
a pound and a half. Dr. Garwood thinks that his 
successful propagation of trout in La Grange and the 
failure of the State hatchery at Pokagon may be at- 



tributed almost entirely to the superiority of the water 
upon his farm over that upon the Dowagiac Creek. 

THE VILLAGE OF WHITMANVILLE. 

Whitmanville was laid out by Martin C. Whitman, 
in 1834, the village plat being recorded on the 4th of 
August. It was described as being in " the northern 
half of the east half of the northwest quarter of Sec- 
tion 15," and consisted originally of four blocks and 
eighty lots. Lot 65 was reserved for the Baptist 
Church ; Lots 3 to 37 were promised to Joseph Sker- 
ritt ; Lot 5, to Jesse Palmer ; Lot 6, to Jared Palmer ; 
Lot 7, to J. J. Draper ; Lot 8, to Luther Whitman ; 
Lots 11 and 12, to J. B. Wade ; Lots 13 and 14, to 
Levi Godfrey ; and Lots 24 and 38 to Stephen 
Peck. 

A village plat, which was called La Grange, was 
laid out in the southwest quarter of Section 10, by 
Erastus H. Spalding, in April, 1836, the surveying 
being done by John Woolman. It was really an 
addition to Whitmanville. Martin C. Whitman laid 
out an addition to La Grange in July, 1836, and in 
September of the same year made an addition to 
Whitmanville, which included a provision reserving 
land for a burying-ground. 

The village was commonly known as Whitmanville 
until its name was changed to La Grange by act of 
the Legislature of February 12, 1838. 

A saw-mill stood on the site of the town, which had 
been built in 1829, by Job Davis, and which was 
bought by Mr. Whitman in 1831. This gentleman 
recognizing the value of the water-power, probably 
conceived at that time the project of building up a 
large manufacturing business and a village. In 1832, 
he erected a grist-mill, which he operated for a term 
of years, and then sold to Goddard & Wells, who, in 
turn, were succeeded by Erastus H. Spalding. East- 
ern capitalists, who held a mortgage on the property, 
came into its possession through the failure of Mr. 
Spalding, and sold it to Perry, Root & Co. Soon 
after this transfer, the mill was burned, and there was 
no further manufacturing of importance in the village 
until the Van Ripers purchased the land and the 
water-power, in 1856, and not only rebuilt the mill, 
but instituted various other industrial enterprises. 
The new mill was built by Abram Van Riper, and his 
sons Charles and Garry. It subsequently passed 
into the hands of the father alone, and was by him 
sold, about 1867, to its present owner, H. F. Colby, 
of Dowagiac. 

The woolen-millestablished by the Van Ripers was 
more especially the enterprise of John A., but was 
some time afterward owned by Garry and J. J. Van 
Riper. Afterward, a stock company, of which Daniel 



I 




'< ^^^f.^: ^r 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Lyle, of Dowagiac, was President, bought the mill, 

and operated it until 1876, when it was bought by 
William Pickett, of Chicago. In 1878, a stock 
company was formed, with $50,000 capital, of which 
W. S. George, of Lansing, was President, under the 
title of the La Grange Knitting Mills Company. 
The weaving machinery was taken out, knitting 
machinery of an improved kind put in, and the com- 
pany has since carried on a large business in the 
manufacture of underwear. 

Basket-making is now carried on by William Van 
Riper, and has been since 1868. In that year, he put 
his machinery into a building which had been built 
for a distillery by a Mr. Wilson, and subsequently 
occupied by Perry, Root & Co. A small foundry is 
also in operation. 

One of the earliest industries carried on in La 
Grange, or Whitmanville as it was then called, was 
the manufacture of furniture, begun in 1836, by 
Hervey Bigelow, and continued until 1851, when he 
removed to Dowagiac. 

The village was for a number of years in a very 
thriving condition, and its founder indulged for a time 
the aspiration that it might be made the seat of justice 
of the county. As late as 1836-37, there were four 
large stores in the place. From various causes, how- 
ever, the village declined. Chief among the disad- 
vantages was, perhaps, that of unhealthiness. The 
large shallow pond, extending over several hundred 
acres of land — the set-back caused by damning up 
the Dowagiac Creek to secure water-power — has un- 
questionably been a sourse of much sickness. Many 
of the inhabitants, loo, were led to cast their fortunes 
with other villages in the county as they obtained 
railroad advantages. La Grange has now a popula- 
tion of about one hundred and twenty. 

MECHANICSBCJRG. 

A village was platted in the spring of 1837, by 
John F. Petticrew, which he gave the name of 
Mechanicsburg. It consisted of sixteen lots, and was 
situated four miles and a half directly west of the 
court house in Cassopolis, on the north side of the 
road, in Section 30, where now stands a district 
schoolhouse. There now remains no mark to indicate 
that a village was laid out at this place, and in fact 
Mechanicsburg never passed very far beyond the em- 
bryotic stage of existence. Two or three buildings 
only were erected. Henry Roof kept a store for a 
short time, and John Kinzie proposed to engage in 
business and began the erection of a building, but 
never finished it. A .small tannery was established 
by John F. Petticrew, and carried on for a few years, 
subsequent to the year 1840. 



HOMER WELLS. 

Homer Wells, son of Worden and Julia (Baker) 
Wells, was born in Hartwick, Otsego Co., N. Y., 
December 12, 1830. The parents were natives of 
Rhode Island, and reared a family of nine children, 
six boys and three girls. The elder Wells was a sad- 
ler and harness-maker in early life, but became an 
extensive manufacturer of lasts and boot trees. He 
was a man of much force of character and decided 
opinions. He was an ultra abolutionist in the early 
days of anti-slavery agitation, and although a stanch 
Whig, he did not vote for Henry Clay for the Presi- 
dency for the reason that he was a slaveholder. He 
emigrated to Michigan with his family in 1836, 
and settled in the town of Charleston, Kalamazoo 
County, where he still resides. Homer received 
such opportunities for education as were afforded 
by the district school of those days. At the age 
of thirteen, he met with that irreparable loss, 
the death of his mother, by which event he was 
thrown upon his own resources. In 1849, he 
came to Cass County, being at the time nineteen 
years of age ; for two years he resided in Silver 
Creek, where he was engaged in farming. In 1852, 
he went to California, where he remained until 
1854, when he returned and purchased a farm in 
Wayne, where he resided until 1866, when he moved 
to the farm he now owns in La Grange Township. 
In February, 1855, he was married to Miss Laura A., 
daughter of A. H. Reed, of Wayne ; she died in 
March, 1858, and in December of that year, he was 
again married to Miss Fanny Beverstock. She was 
born in Vermont, March 20, 1829. 

Mr. Wells is a man to whom the latin phrase, 
Faber sure fortimce is eminently applicable, starting 
in life with only his natural resources for his capital, 
he has secured a competency, and is prominent among 
the representative farmers of the county. He has 
identified himself largely with its best interests, and 
has occupied many positions of trust. We present on 
another page a view of his home in connection with 
portraits of himself and wife. 

STEPHEN I) WRIGHT. 
Stephen D. Wright was born in Butler County, 
Ohio, in a little hamlet called Miltonville, April 4, 
1816. He~ was the son of William R. and Sarah 
Wright; both were natives of New Jersey, where the 
former was born in March, of 1775, the latter in May, 
of 1877, they were prominent among the pioneers of 
La Grange Township, where they settled in 1828. 
William was a lad of twelve years at the time of 
family's emigration to Michigan, and is a pioneer in 



240 



HISTORY OF GASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the strictest sense of the term. He has witnessed 
the transition of a wilderness to a fertile and produc- 
tive 'region of a thin settlement to a busy and pros- 
perous community and in his own person typifies many 
of the agencies that have wrought these changes. 
His life has been comparatively uneventful and 
marked but by few changes, save such as occur in the 
lives of most people. His life has been devoted to 
agricultural pursuits, in which he has been successful. 
His home, a view of which is presented on another 
page, is the result of his own industry, and attests his 
thrift and enterprise. He has been three times 
married ; first, to Miss Clarissa Wheeler, in 1842, 
who died the same year. His second marriage was to 
Martha Wheeler, in 1854. She died in 1856, and in 
1858 he was married to Miss Louisa S., daughter of 
Jackson Mosher, By his second marriage there was 
one child which reached maturity — William, deceased; 
by the third two — Clara A. and Charles E. Mr. 
Wright is now in his sixty-sixth year, well preserved 
and enjoying the reward of a well-spent life. The 
elder Wright died in 1850, aged seventy-five years. 
His wife lived to the remarkable age of ninety years. 

ORLE.VX PITXAM. 

Very few of the pioneers of Michigan have passed 
through more varied or romantic lives than that which 
lies behind Orlean Putnam, of La Grange Township, 
and the day is fast approaching when such experiences 
as his will be forever impossible in the whole length 
and breadth of the land. 

Orlean Putnam, son of Uzziel and Mary (Trask) 
Putnam, was born in the town of Adams, Jefferson 
County, N. Y., May 7, 1808. When he was perhaps 
three years old the family moved to the then distant 
West, almost to the farthest confines of civilization — 
to what was then Huron, but now Erie County, Ohio. 
They came on the lake to Detroit, and stopped there 
several months before locating in Northern Ohio, and 
this circumstance, as it afterward transpired, was a 
very fortuitous one for the child, Orlean. The pio- 
neers were soon disturbed by the breaking-out of the 
war of 1812, and the feeling of safety they had 
enjoyed in their new home was destroyed, a vague 
fear taking its place, which assumed more definite 
shape as they thought of the employment of Indians 
in the strife, and the opportunity that would be 
oflFered them for the commission of atrocities. As 
time passed on, however, and the war progressed 
without bringing danger into their immediate neigh- 
borhood, the inhabitants of the sparsely settled region 
threw off the slight restraint they had subjected them- 
selves to and fell into tnat careless, fearless mode of 
life, which has rendered so many of the early settlers 



of the West victims of their savage enemy. Men 
went to their work of hewing farms out of the forest 
or tilling their crops, their wives spun flax and wove 
and toiled alone in the cabins, or occasionally visited 
each other that they might enjoy companionship as 
they carried on their rude domestic industry, and the 
children played in the little clearings about the doors 
of the houses, or wandered in the woods beyond. 
But danger was present when they dreaded it not. 

One pleasant, peaceful day in the summer of 1813, 
the 20th of June, Mrs. Putnam went half a mile 
through the woods to the cabin of one of the neigh- 
bors, the Snow family, to spin some yarn, taking with 
her the boy Orlean and two other children. A Mrs. 
Butler had also gone there to visit, accompanied by 
her three children. A young woman, Hannah Page, 
who lived with the Snow family, was in the cabin, as 
were also two daughters of Mrs. Snow — girls just 
entering womanhood. Two boys of this family, one 
six years old the other three, were playing with the 
visiting children in some underbrush near the cabin. 
Mr. Snow and Mr. Putnam were some distance away, 
engaged at work. The only person near the cabin to 
whom the women and children could look for defense 
in the event of an attack, was a young man named 
Henry Grass, an employe of Mr. Butler's, who was, 
on this particular afternoon, engaged in putting some 
hides to soak in a little pond. Suddenly the children 
at their play were startled by the appearance of strange 
forms which emerged from the leafy coverts. A band of 
hostile Indians had come upon them, and the children, 
who had been taught to fear them, scattered and fled 
as young partridges do when scared. The flight of the 
little ones was, of course, useless. They were very 
quickly overtaken and led away through the woods 
by their captors, while others of the marauding party 
rushed into the cabin and made the frightened women 
prisoners, and caught the young man, Henry Grass. 
In all, there were thirteen persons captured. Two 
of the children of the Snow and Butler families, were 
killed as soon as the party had crossed the creek, a 
few rods away from where they were captured, the 
Indians, after tomahawking and scalping them, dash- 
ing their brains out against a tree. Resuming their 
way, the other party having in charge the women and 
young Grass, was soon met. Mrs. Snow recognized 
the scalp of her little boy hanging at the belt of his 
murderer. Her agony was soon over, for annoyed by 
her wailings and lamentations, one of the Indians dis- 
patched her with a stroke of his tomahawk. The 
next victim was a little daughter of Mrs. Butler. 
Four bleeding, disfigured bodies were now left along 
the path of the retreating savages. A tomahawk was 
raised to brain the boy Orlean, and in an instant 







j^l^ .i: 



Ik 









■* . .-. *? 



f'l 




HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



241 



would have fallen, but the chief of the band for whom 
the others seemed to have a great respect, interposed 
and saved his life. " Me save him ; me make him 
chief," said the warrior, and swinging the little fellow 
on his shoulder, he tramped on, giving orders that no 
more of the prisoners should be slain. In spite of this 
command, however, another child, the remaining 
Butler boy, aged six years, was killed, a few minutes 
later making the fifth victim. The life of Henry 
Grass was spared undoubtedly that he might carry 
the surviving Snow boy. The place where the 
capture was made was on Cold Creek, about three 
miles from Sandusky Bay, toward which the In- 
dians, with their eight prisoners, rapidly made 
their retreat. The party embarked in birch canoes, 
and made their way across the narrow body of water 
to a peninsula. Traversing this at a point where it 
was not over three quarters of a mile wide, and drag- 
ging their canoes, the party soon reached the shore of 
the open lake. Here the Indians were much alarmed 
at finding numerous foot-prints along the beach, and 
halting, sent out scouts to ascertain if there were 
white people near at hand, in the mean time keeping 
the pioneers huddled together and covered with blan- 
kets, for the purpose, as they supposed, of more 
readily taking their lives, should they find an enemy 
in the vicinity before whom they would be compelled 
make an unimpeded flight. The spies returned with 
accounts which seemed to ally any fear that might 
have existed, and after raising a large dug-out, which 
had been filled with sand and sunk in the lake, the 
Indians and their captives embarked and proceeded 
toward Detroit. They stopped at Maiden and at 
Brownstown, and at the latter settlement, Mrs. Put- 
nam was placed in the family of a half-breed French 
trader, known as Ironsides. Orlean Putnam was 
taken by the chief, who had adopted him, to Detroit. 
This chief proved to be no other than the great Pon- 
tiac who, in his time, wielded more power than any 
other Indian in the West. 

Mr. Putnam remembers perfectly the tall, com- 
manding form of the celebrated warrior, although he 
was but five years old when in his custody, and he 
has a vivid recollection of the capture on Cold Creek, 
Ohio, and the horrible fate of his little companions. 

At Detroit, a Judge May, who had known the 
Putnam family when they were in Detroit two or 
three years before, prior to settling in Ohio, recognized 
Orlean, and interceded with Pontiac in his behalf, 
telling him that he must return the boy to his mother. 
He objected, saying that he was going to raise hira as 
a chief, but finally the nobler impulses of his nature 
got the better of him and he allowed his little prisoner 
to be taken to Mrs. Putnam, who was still in the 



family of the half-breed trader. Several times, how- 
ever, when Pontiac was under the influence of liquor 
he would demand the return of the boy. At length 
he entirely surrendered his claim in consideration of 
receiving from Mr. Ironsides thirty quart bottles of 
whisky. Liquor was perhaps never put to better 
use than it subserved in this bargain and sale. 

After remaining in Detroit about three months, the 
Indian captives were all returned to iheir homes. Mrs. 
Putnam and Mr. Snow, coming to meet them and 
securing their passage down the lake on a schooner 
sailed by Capt. Ramsdell. Mr. Putnam's joy on find- 
ing his wife and child safe and well was overwhelming. 

The boy wai generally known in the vicinity of his 
home by the nick-name of Pontiac, and retained it 
until he grew up and emigrated to the farther west. 

In 1825, he first came to Michigan and spent the 
winter with his elder brother, Uzziel, the pioneer of 
Pokagon. The following summer, he worked for 
William Kirk near Niles, and in 1827 was employed 
as one of a surveying party under charge of William 
Brookfield, who was then engaged in laying South- 
western Michigan oft' into townships, as provided by 
Congress. His position was what is known as rear 
chainman. In this capacity, he traversed Cass County 
while as yet there was no settlers within its limits ex- 
cept a very few in the township of Pokagon. He 
was with the party when they discovered Young's 
Prairie, in Penn Township, and the same season en- 
camped two weeks on the bank of Diamond Lake, 
when the snow was so heavy as to make surveying 
impracticable. After following various lines of em- 
ployment, young Putnam, in 1832, again joined a 
surveying party which was engaged in "' running the 
lines" in the Grand River region. While they were 
at the mouth of the river, their pack horses strayed 
away one night, and news of the outbreak of the Sauk 
war having been received only a day or two before 
from a vessel which stopped at the harbor, the men 
could not be induced to go in search of them, their 
imaginations picturing the forest as swarming with' 
hostile Indians. Putnam and another at last under- 
took the job of finding the anim.als, being offered a 
dollar a day extra remuneration for their services. 
They followed the Grand River up to the point where 
Grand Rapids has since been built, and there in the 
neighborhood of a great Pottawatomie village found 
their horses and were assisted in catching them. 

After returning from this trip, Mr. Putnam oft'ered 
(first having taken his chance in the draft and being 
cleared) to go into the Sauk war as a substitute for a 
drafted man, named Godfrey, if he would furnish him 
a saddle horse. The off'er was accepted by the sub- 
stitute-searcher and Putnam served as a volunteer 



242 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



soldier until he was discharged. Godfrey, however, 
kept both the horse and the Government pay. 

Mr. Putnam was married April 15, 1834, to 
Amelia, daughter of Thomas Vanderhoof, one of the 
earliest pioneers of La Grange, and four or five years 
later he became a resident of the same township, lo- 
cating west of his present home, and upon the north 
side of the road. The farm on which he now resides 
was purchased in 1853. The married life of Mr. 
and Mrs. Putnam extended over a period of more 
than forty-seven years, and terminated on the death 
of his wife on the 5th of November, 1881. They 
were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are 
living and two deceased. Alvira, the first born, and 
Mary, the third child, are dead. Those living are 
Julia Ann (the widow of John Reynolds), is in Dakota, 
as is also Maribee (wife of Levi Hain) ; Susan (Mrs. 
Henry G. Myers), is in Iowa ; Sarah (Mrs. Elias 
Jewell), in La Grange Township ; Charles, upon the 
home farm ; Eva, in Dowagiac, and Joseph W., in 
Dakota. 

ABRAM FIERO 

The progenitor of the Fiero family was Christian 
Fiero, who came from Holland about 1776, and set- 
tled in Greene County, N. Y., where he resided until 
his decease, and where he was married to Miss Maria 
Myers, by whom he reared a family of six children, 
three boys and three girls, Peter C, father of the 
subject of this sketch, being the second son. He was 
born in Greene County, N. Y., where he married Miss 
Hannah Post. Shortly after their marriage, they 
removed to the town of Gorhara, Ontario Co., N. Y , 
where Abram Fiero was born February 22, 1827. In 
1832, the family removed to Sandusky County, Ohio, 
where the elder Fiero resided until 1878, when he 
came to Branch County, Mich., where he died the 
following year. He was a man of more than ordinary 
intelligence and ability, and highly esteemed for the 
possession of many admirable traits of character. In 
1880, his wife died, they having lived together for the 
extraordinary period of sixty-two years. Abram re- 
sided in Sandusky County until he was twenty-five 
years of age, when he came to La Grange Township 
with his family, which consisted of his wife and one 
child, John, who was born in Ohio. He purchased 
the farm now owned by Norman Jarvis, where he 
resided until his removal to the farm he now owns, in 
1855. Mr. Fiero has devoted his life to agricultural 
pursuits, in which he has been successful. His farm, 
a view of which we present on another page, is evi- 
dence of thrift and prosperity. Although not a 
pioneer, Mr. Fiero has witnessed the larger part of 
the development of La Grange, and has identified 
himself with all its material interests. In his political 



affiliations he was formerly a Republican, and a stanch 
supporter of Horace Greeley, whom he supported for 
the presidency. Since that time, he has not connected 
himself with any political organization. In 1869, he 
represented La Grange upon the Board of Supervisors, 
and while not wholly eschewing politics, he has never 
been an office-seeker, preferring the cares of business 
to the perplexities and annoyances of political strife. 

October 4, 1849, Mr. Fiero was married to Miss 
Fanny, daughter of John Thorp, of Sandusky County, 
Ohio. She was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 
1824. 

They have reared a family of three sons — John, 
Byron and William. Coming into the county in its 
early days of settlement, Mr. Fiero has watched the 
progress of improvement in the various branches of 
industry in the county — a man of strong personal 
character, and ambitious in all business operations. 

Liberal in his views, he is also liberal in his assist- 
ance in every enterprise looking to the building-up of 
good society, and the support of churches and schools. 
He has always taken a deep interest in the agricultural 
interests of the county, and was one of the founders 
of the Dowagiac Union Fair Association. 

SAMUEL FINLEY ANDERSON. 
The subject of this sketch, for many years a resident 
of La Grange Township, was intimately identified with 
the affairs of Cassopolis, living where his widow still 
resides, jn the suburbs of the village. He was born, 
February 19, 1803, in Ira, Rutland Co., Vt., and was 
a descendant of the Anderson family, of Londonderry, 
N. H., Scotch-Irish, who emigrated to America at an 
early day, for the purpose of enjoying religion- liberty. 
John Anderson, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
was a notable man, and served with honor in the 
Revolutionary war. He was a member of the Vermont 
Legislature for eleven terms. Samuel was the 
youngest son. About the time he came to maturity, 
he emigrated to Western New York, and cleared a 
farm of eighty acres. At the age of thirty-three, 
being attacked by the Western fever, he made a tour 
through Illinois, Indiana and Miciiigan. He located, 
in 1835, just south. of Stone Lake, buying 200 acres 
of land. In May, 1836, he married Mahala Phipps, 
who was born in Lee, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1807, 
the descendant of a Puritan family, among whose an- 
cestors was Sir William Phipps, Governor of Massa- 
chusetts in colonial times. Soon after the young 
couple had become settled in their new home, Mr. 
Anderson was instrumental in forming the first Meth- 
odist Episcopal class in Cassopolis. In 1842, he took 
a leading part in the organization of the Presbyterian 
Church, and was elected to the office of Elder, which 



ip 















(■'isica&riuijiiy-^ 



/l-IvSliS^J 



RESIDENCE OF ASA KlNGSBUf^Y J R. LA GI^ANGE , jvl ICH. 




KESIDEMOE OF JA^1ES G.HAYDEN. LA GR/ NlGE , fvl I CH- 



HISTORY OF CAS.S COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



he held until his death. In the same year, he was 
elected on the Democratic ticket as a member of the 
State Legislature. He held the position of Associate 
Judge in 1845 and 1846. Until the enactment of 
the fugitive slave law, he was a firm Democrat, but 
then joined the Free-Soil party. When the war broke 
out, he was not capable of bearing arms, but two of 
his sons — Albert P. and Thomas VV. Anderson — went 
into the service. The first named lost his life in 
action. Samuel F. Anderson, of whom this is a brief 
and imperfect sketch, died at his home April 14, 
1877, mourned by a very wide circle of friends. 

CHARLES FIERO. 

Charles Fiero, one of the early settlers and success- 
ful agriculturists of La Grange, was born in Catskill, 
Greene Co., N. Y., January 13, 1820. He was the 
son of Peter C. and Hannah (Post) Fiero. In 1822, 
the family removed to the town of Gorham, Ontario 
Co., N. Y.. where they resided ten years. He was 
reared to the life of a farmer, and received a good 
common-school education, and when twenty-three 
years of age came to La Grange, then comparatively 
undeveloped, and purchased a portion of the farm on 
which he now resides. After a short stay, he returned 
East, where he remained until 1847, when he came 
back and commenced the improvement of his farm. 
In November, 1850, he was married to Laura A., a 
daughter of Jonas Clark, of Washington County, Vt., 
where Mrs. Fiero was born, January 29, 1828. Her 
people were originally from Massachusetts. From 
Vermont they came to Sandusky County, Ohio, at 
which place Mr. and Mrs. Fiero were married. They 
have two children — Mary Francis, now Mrs. A. C. 
Hathaway, and Sarah A. 

The life of Mr. Fiero has been devoted solely to 
agriculture, and his pleasant home and fine farm (a 
view of which we present on another page) attest his 
success, and both he and Mrs. Fiero are enjoying the 
results of a long life of industry and economy. 

WILLIAM H. SHANEFELT. 
William H. Shanefelt. son of William and Eliza- 
beth (Earnest) Shanefelt, who were among the first 
settlers of Cassopolis, was born near Circleville, Pick- 
away County, Ohio, December 7, 1824. In 1835, 
the family came to Michigan, and first stopped in 
Cassopolis where they remained about a year when 
he removed to the farm now owned by his son Will- 
iam H. The elder Shanefelt was a potter by trade, 
and he is also recollected by many as a local preacher. 
He died in his sixty-seventh year, his wife in her 
fifty ninth. In 1847, William was married to Miss 



Susan, daughter of David Bleacher, of La Grange. 
She was born in Pennsylvania, in June of 1828, and 
came to Michigan with her parents in 1845. After 
their marriage they came to the place where they now 
reside, which consisted of eighty acres of new land, 
to which he has added 100 acres. His farm, a view 
of which is given on another page, attests his thrift 
and prosperity. 



CHAPTER XXV J. 



PENN. 

Why so Named— Organization— Soil, Lakes and Watei-C'ourses— First 
Settlements— Narrow Escape of Daniel Mcintosh from Freezing 
to Death— A Primitive (irist-Mill— Tragic Death of an Indian- 
Original Land Entries— Stock Marks— Vandalia— Religious Organi. 
zations — Masonic — Geneva, the Lost Village — Early Roads — 
Schools— Assessment Roll of iRi"— Civil List— Biographical. 



ON the 4th of March, 1681, the celebrated Quaker, 
William Penn, received " letters patent " from 
Charles II, to a certain tract of land now known as 
the State of Pennsylvania, and, in 1682, consummated 
his celebrated treaty with the Indian nation, which, 
for a period of forty if not fifty years, remained un- 
broken, and •' the land of Penn " was thus preserved 
during all that time from the reeking scalping-knife 
and deadly tomahawk of the wily savage. 

This great "Apostle of Peace," who can appropri- 
ately be called the promulgator of his peculiar religious 
belief in this country, builded stronger than he knew, 
and his descendants, ever noticeable for their adher- 
ence to the sterling principles of peace, integrity and 
honesty as enunciated by him, have ever been ready 
to commemorate his memoi-y by naming localities after 
him, and it was this feeling of love and affection for 
the great exponent of their religious belief that caused 
the early settlers of the portion of the county of Cass, 
of which we write, to name it Penn ; and, surely, no 
name could have been selected which would more 
nearly have typified the peaceful pastoral people who 
have ever since its formation been its inhabitants. 

While other portions of the county have at divers 
times been thrilled by horrid deeds, perpetrated by its 
inhabitants, this township has been phenomenally free 
from everything of the kind, and no descendant of 
that Biblical personage, Cain, has ever taken that 
which he could not restore. 

As will appear farther on in the history, quite a 
large percentage of the first settlers emigrated from 
the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and the 
Carolinas, and what caused them to leave a warm, de- 
lightful climate and seek the wilds of Michigan, more 
than any one thing else, was their utter abhorence of 
the system of human slavery. 

Unrequited toil, with all the social degradation that 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



it necessarily entailed, was so repugnant to the kindly 
feelings of the Quakers that a desire to go where they 
would not come in contact with those who practiced it, 
and their subjects, was the primal cause which resulted 
in so many of these estimable people settling in this 
county. 

By an act of the Territorial Government, approved 
November 5, 1829, we learn that "all that part of 
said, county (Cass) known as Townships 5, 6, and the 
north half of Township?, in Ranges 13, U, west, and 
the county of Van Buren, and all the country lying 
north of the same, which is attached to and comprises 
a part of the county of Cass, shall form a township by 
the name of Penn, and the first township meeting shall 
be held at the house of iMartin Shields in said town- 
ship." Thus the township, as first laid out, comprises 
what is now Marcellus, Volinia, Newberg, the north 
half of Porter, the north half of Calvin and Penn 
Township as now bounded. The portion of terri- 
tory attached to Penn was from that time erected into 
other townships until it now comprises that portion of 
territory embraced between Volinia on the north, Cal- 
vin on the south, and Newberg and La Grange on the 
east and west respectively, and includes 15,872 acres 
of land, now embraced in farms. 

Although an election was ordered in 1830, the rec- 
ords do not show that any was held until 1831, and 
the most careful inquiry among the oldest inhabitants, 
and who were residents of the township at that time, 
fails to elicit any information regarding one taking 
place at an earlier period, or that any one acted in any 
ofl5cial capacity whatever previous to that time. 

At the first election the following officers were duly 
elected : Supervisor, John Agard ; Assesors, Lewis 
Rinehart, Jonathan Gard ; Collector, Hardy Lang- 
ston ; Treasurer, Hardy Langston ; Clerk, Ira Nash ; 
Constable, Lewis Rinehart ; School Inspectors, John 
Townsend, John Agard, Thomas England, William 
H. Brice, Jacob Rinehart ; Highway Commissioners, 
Samuel Crosson, Jonathan Gard, Henry Jones. 

Corporations, the same as individuals, cannot exist 
without incurring expenses, and the first money raised 
for incidental expenses was $75, which in those early 
days was no doubt judiciously expended, as frugality 
in public as well as private life was then noticeable. 

The boundaries of Penn Township were surveyed by 
William Brookfield in 1827, and the subdivisions by 
Calvin Britain, D. S., who completed them July 22, 
1828, and his description of the land in a majority 
of cases was " first-class." On the east the land is 
gently undulating and hilly, and was originally cov- 
ered with thick woods, the soil being in a measure 
sandy, while on the west it is more of a clayey loam, 
the center being, to a limited extent, occupied by a 



prairie which has the dark alluvial soil found in most 
of the prairies of this State. 

Elm, sugar (maple), beech, poplar, linden, oak and 
walnut timber was originally scattered over the town- 
ship, while pawpaw and spice bushes flourished amain ; 
these comprising the principal deciduous trees, tama- 
rack only being found in limited quantities. 

The prairie, of which mention has been made, cen- 
ters in about Section 21, extending north and south 
about three and one-half and east and west two and a 
half miles, and is a very productive tract of land, 
yielding ample returns to the husbandman. Its name, 
'•Young's," was acquired, as is many of the places 
in the West, by being named in honor of its discov- 
erer. Accompanying a surveying party was a man 
named Nathan Young, who attended to the cuisine 
department; from a gentle eminence could be seen 
what the others in the party called a lake, and it cer- 
tainly presented such an appearence, as the tall 
prairie grass n added to and fro and rose and fell in 
the autumnal breeze, much resembling the rising and 
falling of the waves as they seek the shore, as it 
bowed in meek obeisance to the wind while the gentle 

I sun as it glistened o'er the seed-filled blades of grass 

! gave it that silvery appearance and deceived all ex- 
cept the trained eyesight of Mr. Young, who persisted, 
notwithstanding the derision of his companions, in 
calling it a prairie, until the proof became apparent 
as they emerged from its woody skirting and beheld 

j it filled with native verdure. For services rendered 

' the surveying party Young was given one-fourth a 
section of land, and selected it in close proximity to 
what is now the village of Brownsville, which he 

j to a great measure cleared up. Being of an invent- 
ive turn of mind, he conceived the idea of improving 
the primitive thrashing machine, and inventing a 

1 straw-carrier. Becoming wholly engrossed in his new 
enterprise, he finally removed to Mishawaka, Ind., 
where he could enjoy better facilities to prosecute his 
work. He labored most assiduously to perfect his 
machinery and had just demonstrated the feasibility 
of his plans when they were appropriated and 
patented by an argus-eyed individual, who derived 
the benefit therefrom. While prosecuting his labors, 
heavy drafts were necessarily made upon his capital, 
and he dispoeed of his farm, which was ultimately 

' swallowed up, until to-day, he is an old man seventy- 
five years of age, and in very indifferent circum- 
stances. 

This town is not devoid of ancient mounds and 
garden-beds, evidences of former habitation, although 
the latter, once so plainly visible on certain portions 
of the prairie, particularly on the farm now owned by 
I. Bonine, have long since been obliterated by the 




STEPHE^ BOGLIe 



|VIK,S,STEPHEI>4 BOSlIE. 



STEPHEN BOGUE. 

The progenitor of the family to which this pioneer of Penn belongs waa Josiah 
Bogue, a Scotchman and a member of the Society of Friends, who sailed for 
America some time in the early part of the eighteenth century, and settled ttt 
Kdenton, N. C. He bad a family of five children, Jesse, Joseph, Job, Mary, 
and Lydia. Joseph, the father of Stephen Bogue, was born in Perqiii- 
mane, N. C, where he was reared to, and successfully followed, the life of a 
planter. He married Mary Newby. They were the parents of fifteen childrent 
the youngest of whom, Stephen Bogue, was born October 17, 1790. His father 
died wiien he was quite young, and the boy succeeded to the management o*^ 
his small estate. Owing to the arduous duties thus thrust upon him, to feeble 
health when a child, and to the scarcity of good schools, he obtained only an 
imperfect education, but he had a vigorous, inquiring mind which made him an 
apt pupil in the lite schools of observation and experience. 

The prohibition of slavery in the States of the old Northwest drew to them the 
salt of the .South a vast immigration of the best elements of population from the 
Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky . In 1811, when Stephen 
Bogiie was twenty-one years of age, the family emigrated to Preble County 
Ohio. Their abhorence of alavt-rj was perhaps the chief influence which operated 
toil duce this changu of locution. Their estate, however, small at the time of 
the father and husband's death, was materially reduced by the demands of the 
large family which subsisted upon it, and their comparatively poor cootiition 
was another consideration which had actuated them in removing to a new 
country. On arriving at Preble County they had but 820O left with which to 
purchase land. With this sum, however, one hundred and twenty acres waa 
secured, which by dint of the utmost toil waa cleared and converted into a 
farm. Stephen Bogue was one of the earliest pioneers of the county, and endured 

lu January, 1822, he was united in marriage witl 
County, Ind. Three children were the offspring of th 
{nuw Mrs. J. E. Bonine), and Joseph and Benjamin who died 
Mrs. Bogue died in 1828. 

In 1829, Stephen Bogue came to "the St. Joseph count r> ," ili. 
had gone abroad through the more Eastern States, and of u ln' h !i 
favorable reports from his sister, Mrs, Charles Jones, ati.l h r Im- 
located in Penn in 1828. Mr. Bogue entered a tract of IuihI in i 
ship, and then returned to Ohio, journeying, as he had on tin 
horseback along the Indian trails. 

He married in March, 1831, Mrs. Hiinnah Bonine, mother of 
Bonine. By this union there were four children— Elvira, now Mrs. Silai 
Thomas, Susannah, William E. and Stephen A. Her maiden name was East, ( 
native of Grayson Counly, Va., born in December, 1798, She had gont 
with her parents to Tennessee in 1S07, and from there to Wayne County, Ind. 
in 1810, where blie was married to James Bonine In 1824. In October, IS.'U, Mr 
Bogue and his wife removed t.. Michigan and settled in Ptnn Township, on th. 



Elliott, of Wayne 
z.: Sarah 
childhood. 






farm now owned by their son Stephen A. Bogue 
untilhia death, which occurred October 11, 1808. 
resident of Vaodalia. 

The subject of our sketch was by birth, by inclination, and by education a 
Friend. Therefore he was an advocate of the abolition of slavery, and a very 
stanch and consistent one. He lived to witness the final complete triumph of 
his cherished and once unpopular principles, in the overthrow of '' the peculiar 
institution." He was one of the founders of the Friends' Anti-Slavery Society, 
and during the existence of that wonderful organization known as "the Under- 
ground Railroad," he aided a very large number of fugitive slaves in their 
flight to Canada. In 1847, the zeal of his friendship for the bondsman made 
him a leading character among those who resisted the " Kentucky Raid" (of 
which an account is given in Chapter XVII) when the Kentuckians brought 
suitagainst a number of citizens of Cass County to recover the value of the 
slaves they had kidnaped and been prevented from carrying back with them, 
several of the defendants compromised the case, so far as they were individually 
concerned, but Mr. Bogue, from principle, resolutely refused all offers to com- 
promise, regarding any payments that might be made under such offers as 
"blood money." He would have occupied this position alone, save for the 
company of Josiah and Jefferson Osborn. Politically, he affiliated with the 
Whig, Free-Soil and Republican parties. Although from principle opposed 
to war, ho gave the whole weight of his influence for the suppression of the 
Southern rebelli.>n. 

A devoted incrM^n nt ili,- s... j, ty of Friends, he was instrumental in effect- 
ing the organi/.Lti'ri nf I'.irili I, ikr Monthly Meeting. He was one of its origi- 
nal members, and tb'- fn >t nil eiiiig WHS held at hia house. All church enter- 
prises received from him encouragement and support. 

In the conduct of his affairs, he was successful beyond the common measure, 
and secured a competency. He was a man of much enterprise. One of hia proj- 
ects which resulted most favorably was the platting and establishment of the 
village of Vandalia, 

The subject of our sketch possessed a very happy combination of the good 
qualities of mind and heart. He waa very strongly attached to hia family and 
friends, and a man of great marked social qualifications, always genial and 
kindly in intercourse with his fellow-men, whatever might be their condition 
in life. He was judiciously benevolent and the worthy poor of his neighborhod 
and township had no better friend. 

Morally he was above reproach. Hin sense of justice was very keen. Fafth 
in his honesty and fair-mindedness waa universal, and ho was veiy frequently 
called upon to act as arbitrator in settling business difiicuUiea or as a peace- 
maker where violent differences ot opinion arose. He was an upright, pure, 
high-minded man. His unswerving integrity, his devotion to principle, hie 
singlenesB of purpose and simplicity of character won the respect of all who 
knew him. His example and counsel were a constant and an active force for 
good during his life. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



245 



plowman. Two mounds are still in good preservation, 
and can be seen in Section 23. Various persons have 
made excavations in them, and exhumed therefrom 
human bones. The jaw of a man was found of such 
capacious size as to fit readily over the largest man's 
jaw, while some of it still remained intact, thus 
defying the ravages of time for many centuries, 
as trees quite large in size derive their sustenance 
from roots imbedded in these sepulchers of an ancient 
race. 

It is no matter of surprise that this township was 
so soon occupied by bona fide settlers, for, in addition 
to numerous other attractions, can be found beautiful 
crystal lakes and streams, in the waters of which those 
piscatorially inclined can reap a rich reward, while 
traversing the ambient fluid which three-quarters of a 
century since was only pierced by the birch canoe of 
the dusky savage. 

The largest of these lakes, bearing the name of 
Diamond Lake, which was conferred upon it by Dr. 
Henry H. Fowler, in commemoration of one left by him 
in the far East, lies nearly two-thirds in this town- 
ship, it nearly occupying the whole of Sections 31 
and 32, near the center of which rises a tract of land 
containing about seventy acres, known as Diamond 
Lake Island. This island has an interesting history, 
which will be appropriately recorded. 

Donnel's Lake, in Sections 35 and 36, is about one 
and a quarter miles in length, east and west, and 
takes its name from an old settler, John Donnel, who, 
in years long since gone by, was wont to convert into 
what the Indians called " fire-water " certain products 
of the husbandman. Bela and Kirk's Lakes, lying 
nearly wholly in Section 24, were also named in 
honor of early settlers — Lincoln being the surname 
of the one from whom the first-mentioned lake derived 
its name. 

In Section 2, is a lake bearing the significant nom- 
enclature of Fish, which does honor not only to the 
finny tribes that disport in its limpid waters, but also 
to a certain widow lady, formerly a resident of the 
now extinct village of Geneva. 

The Christiana Creek, which is formed in Section 
22 by the confluence of three streams which find 
their source in lakes, and flow from nearly opposite 
directions, flows in a southerly direction through 
Calvin, Jeff'erson and Ontwa Townships, emptying 
into the St. Jo.seph River near Elkhart, Ind., is a 
rapid stream, and has been harnessed by man at Van- 
dalia, Wright's Mills, Redfield's Mills and Adams- 
ville, in which places it does .service in the interest of 
variou.s manufacturing enterprises, but principally 
that of milling. The stream was named by Rev. 
Isaac McCoy, in honor of hi.s wife. 



FIRST SETTLERS. 

It is a very difficult matter, to determine, beyond 
a shadow of doubt, who was the first person that 
entered this township with the intention of becoming 
a permanent settler. There is quite a conflict of 
statements among those best qualified by reason of 
long residence to decide the question, and the difli- 
culty is augmented by the fact that several of those 
first in the township sold out their claims and moved 
away, the land not being subject to entry at that early 
date, 1827. 

In 1827 or 1828, David Shafi'er wended his way 
from Butler County, Ohio, with his family, settled on 
Young's prairie, and erected what some erroneously 
suppose to be the first house. That fall he went back 
to Ohio , because his wife could not endure the isola- 
tion incident to a winter in the new county, and before 
he returned some one jumped his claim. 

John Read came from Clark County, Ohio, in 1827 
or 1828, and commenced making some improvement in 
this township, and when Peter Shafi'er came to the 
county, in 1828, in search of a home, he became 
charmed with the surroundings and purchased Read's 
betterments, paying a certain portion down, the 
balance to be paid when he took possession. Shaffer 
returned to his home in Ohio and had made all pre- 
parations to move to this county when his son, George 
T., accidentally broke his leg, and the journey was tem- 
porarily abandoned. John Read, in the meantime, 

I went to Ohio, called on Mr. Shafi'er and requested to 
be released from the bargain, as he had received a 
much better offer. This proposition met the approval 
of Mr. Shaffer, who could not well make the journey 
at this time, and his money was refunded him. It is 
supposed that Read sowed the first wheat in the town- 
ship. His possession of the land, however, was of 
short duration, for in the fall of 1829, he sold out his 
betterments to Daniel Mcintosh, for $210, which 
sum was to be paid when the land was struck off to 
him at the land sales. Mr. Mcintosh emigrated from 
Scotland in 1800, and settled in Baltimore, Md., and 

1 twenty years later removed to Wayne County, Ohio, 

I where they resided until coming to Michigan in 1829. 

I There were nine in the family, viz. : James, William, 
Mary, Daniel, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Duncan 
and Jane. John, James and Elizabeth removed to 

' Illinois, and are all dead ; Mary and Jane, to Iowa, the 
former now deceased ; Margaret also deceased. Dun- 
can and Daniel now live in Penn, the former on the old 
homestead, while Daniel resides on land located by 
him in 1829, on Sections 29 and 32, and he still 
recalls most vividly the early scenes and incidents 
through which they passed, and is possessed of much 
valuable information of those times, which he cheer- 



246 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



fully imparts. He was married to Amanda Benson, 
and of their seven children, Mary Jane (Mathews), 
the only one now living, resides in Missouri. William, 
who died in May, 1877, entered the land now owned 
by his son Jacob. William was in the Sauk war four- 
teen days and drew a pension of $150, for services 
rendered. 

When emigrating to Michigan, Daniel Mcintosh, 
Sr., camped for the night about six miles from Tecum- 
seh. During the night, five of his six head of horses 
became so frightened by the howling of the wolves 
that they broke loose from their fastenings and dashed 
into the woods. Instructing his son Daniel to pursue 
their journey, with the family, in an ox wagon, he 
started under the escort of a man named Dorrel, who 
was to pilot him through the woods, in search of his 
property. He was soon deserted by Dorrel, and, los- 
ing his way, wandered through the woods for five days 
and nights, subsisting on wild fruits and berries. The 
weather was extremely cold, it being late in Novem- 
ber, and his hands and feet became so badly frozen as 
to be almost useless, and while in this pitiable state, 
on hands and knees, he crawled to a house, where he 
remained for fifteen days before he was in condition 
to be moved home. While fording a stream on his way 
home with his father, Daniel was obliged to place his 
back to the dash board of the old Pennsylvania wagon, 
which was hollowed out to keep the water from flow- 
ing in and drowning his father ; the weather being 
very cold, he suffered intensely with his wet clothing 
before reaching home. Mortification having set in, 
and no physician being attainable, his son Daniel un- 
jointed one foot at the instep with a carving knife, 
the only surgical instrument attainable. One foot and 
heel were subsequently amputated, in which deplorable 
condition the remainder of his life was passed, his feet 
never healing, his death not occurring until July 2, 
1851. Physically, he was a powerfully-formed man, 
and for many years could be seen making his way on 
his hands and knees, the latter were encased in leather. 
He could not brook idleness, and would work at wood- 
chopping, rail-splitting, sawing with a cross-cut saw, 
in fact, any farm labor his condition would enable him 
to perform. The horses came in of their own accord, 
they having been secreted by some evil-disposed per- 
sons who were vainly waiting for a reward. 

Rodney Hinkley was one of the first to locate on 
Young's Prairie, on the land now owned by James E. 
Bonine; was obliged to go to Fort Wayne, Ind., eighty 
miles distant, to mill with an ox team. He sold out 
his claim for $25 to John Rinehart, who entered it 
160 acres, June 27, 1829. Four or five years subse- 
quently, he sold to a Mr. Collins and removed to 
Porter Township, when he remained until the time of 



his death, 1858. Of the ten children born to them, 
John W., who married Lydia E. James, alone lives in 
Penn Township, on Section 16. Joseph Frakes, who 
was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, left the Uuckeye 
State in 1827 and came to Cass County, locating in 
this township. In his autobiography, published in 
the history of Kalamazoo County, it is stated, "at 
that time there were no settlers in that section, but 
Indians were quite numerous." In 1828, he went to 
Ohio and returned with his bride, the bridal equipage 
consisting of a lumber wagon, driven by oxen, the 
journey here consuming one month. The above would 
indicate that he was the first settler in the township. 
He sold his interest in land in Section 28 in 1829, to 
Charles Jones, who came from Preble County, Ohio, 
and removed to Schoolcraft, in Kalamazoo County, 
where he died in 1880, being at that time the possessor 
of 1,000 acres of land, on Gourdneck Prairie. 
Charles Jones married Anna Bogue, sister of Stephen, 
and they were blessed with eight children — William, 
Mary, Betsey, George, Charles, Anna, now Mrs. J. 
Trattles, in Iowa. Joseph and Keziah. the latter 
now Mrs. D. Bordie, with whom her sister Betsey 
lives. Joseph lives in Iowa, while Mary, George 
and Charles are deceased. William, the eldest, still 
lives on the old homestead. When Charles Jones 
came from Ohio, he brought with him some fruit 
trees, which were planted on his farm that spring, 
1830. Daniel Mcintosh and Thomas England also 
set out some fruit trees that spring, they being the first 
planted. Job Davis commenced the life of a pioneer 
in Section 29, in 1827-28, and had only just nicely 
commenced to make improvements when he disposed 
of his squatter's right in the land to Stephen Bogue, 
in 1829, at which time Mr. Bogue entered it, to- 
gether with enough other lands, so that, with subse- 
quent purchases, he owned nearly 1,000 acres. Davis 
removed to what was subsequently Whitraanville, in 
La Grange Township, and there erected a saw-mill, 
which was in turn disposed of, he removing to Texas, 
where he subsequently died. 

Having completed his purchases, Mr. Bogue re- 
turned to Ohio, and not until the fall of 1831 did he 
remove with his family from Preble County, hia home, 
the journey occupying twenty-one days. Horses, 
cattle and hogs were brought by him, so that they 
commenced pioneer life with more than many ©f their 
neighbors. A biographical sketch appears elsewhere. 

Men of all avocations penetrated the then Western 
wilds, and among them was Martin Shields, a saddler 
by trade, who came from Logan County, Ohio, in the 
fall of 1828, and June 17, 1829, located 160 acres of 
land in Section 20. The first election was held at his 
house, and he was the first postmaster in the town- 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



247 



ship. Mrs. J. Nixon recalls the time when he' 
Shields, after attending a series of revival meetings, 
thought he was called to preach, and, agreeably to 
notice promulgated by himself, those spiritually in- j 
clined assembled at his house, but he failed to proclaim j 
the Gospel, for, after a long search with the pioneers 
standing around, he could not find the text that in. I 
spired him. He eventually sold his property, and I 
went West. Duncan Mcintosh recalls the time when 
owing to the land being cultivated before it was sur. i 
veyed, Martin Shields first discovered that his wheat 
fields encroached on the land they had purchased of 
J. Reed. It was good-naturedly surrendered, but the 
fence rails taken in each of several similar cases. The 
following year, Mr. Mcintosh harvested ten bushels 
of wheat per acre from the land surrendered, enough 
wheat having dropped from the ripened heads to self- 
sow the ground. Among the early settlers to leave 
was Mr. Boyles, who, with Mcintosh, purchased 
eighty acres in Section 29, in 1829. 

John and Mary Pollock came from Ireland, and 
settleil in Pokagon Township ; he departed this life in 
1864, and she in 1848. John 0. Pollock, one of 
their seven children, now lives on Section 7, and is 
the father of six children, all at home, the elder boys 
helping cultivate the farm of 150 acres, which has 
been converted from a state of wilderness to one of 
fertility by the industry of Mr. Pollock. 

Amos Green was born December lU, 1789, in Sa- 
vannah, Ga. While young, he removed to North Caro- 
lina, thence to Preble County, Ohio, where he married 
Sarah Jones, who came from North Carolina, and 
they came to Michigan in 1830, settling on Young's 
Prairie, where he died August 6, 1854, and she De- 
cember 13, 1863. Their children were Hannah, Lydia, 
George, Rebecca, Esther, Asenath, Sarah (Mrs. Davis, 
in California), Amos, Enoch, Kesiah, Elizabeth (now 
Mrs. I. Bonine), Mary Ann (now Mrs. Stephen Jones, 
of Battle Creek), Solomon and Phtebe (now Mrs. H. 
Warren). George is in Vandalia, Solomon out west; 
all the rest being deceased, except Lydia, widow of 
Stephen Rudd, Stephen being one of four brothers — 
Marvick, Jeremiah, Barker F. and Stephen — who were 
born near the Green Mountains, Vermont, Stephen 
coming here in 1836, his death occurring in 1860. 
Mrs. Rudd now lives on the farm she helped make, 
and distinctly recalls the trying scenes when they 
first came into the county, a pile of stones doing duty 
in the house as fire-place. Mr. Rudd entered 120 
acres in Section 25, in 1836, but subsequently sold, 
and purchased in Section 17. He was a carpenter by 
trade, and built, or assisted in building, all the early 
buildings in that section. Her four children all live 
in the township, viz., Olivia, Eveline, Alonzo B. and 



Ella. Jeremiah Rudd, one of the above-mentioned 
brothers, was a good Baptist Deacon, always solicitous 
for the poor, and died in 1855, nineteen years after 
coming to the county, and his wife Orphia died in 
Minnesota. Of their three children, Helen is de- 
ceased, Orson in Dakota, and Jay, a farmer in Section 
9, he being a widower, his wife having died in 1861. 

Joseph Pemberton, who was born near Charleston, 
S. C, removed to St. Joseph County, Ind., and from 
there to Cass County in January, 1835. He located 
240 acres in Section 23, and died in three months 
after coming here, or March 16, 1836, leaving his 
wife Elener, who was originally from Hardin County, 
Ky., in charge of seven children, the oldest being 
fourteen years of age (some of the older children hav- 
ing married). Although she was left with some 
nioney, being kind and generous, and unaccustomed 
to conducting business, she soon disposed of the major 
portion of it, and was obliged to support her chil- 
dren by running the loom, manufacturing cloth. She 
would labor until 9 o'clock at night, and 3 o'clock the 
next morning would find her industriously laboring 
over the loom, anxiously counting each yard as it 
grew under her skillful hands, while thinking of the 
mouths to feed, and the many necessaries she must 
provide. Such parental love shows the devotion of 
woman, and no wonder her children revere her mem- 
ory as they contemplate the numerous hours of weari- 
some toil and deprivations she endured for them, Mr. 
Joseph M. Pemberton, who resides on Section 23, be- 
ing one of the three children. Thomas England was 
one of those who act as the forerunners of civilization. 
Coming from Virginia in June, 1829, he located eighty 
acres of land in Section 22, and, in 1831, eighty more 
in Section 15, which was disposed of to I. Bonine, he 
starting for the much-praised territory of Iowa. Con- 
temporaneous with Mr. England was William Mc- 
Cleary, who came from Virginia in 1829, and in 1830 
sold to John Nixon the 160 acres he had located, and 
removed to Indiana, in which State he died. Mr. 
Nixon, who is now enjoying the evening of life, for 
he was born in Randolph County, N. C, in 1806, and 
still resides on the first land he purchased for $4 per 
acre. 

Up to this period, 1831, a large number of those 
who came into the country acted as avant- couriers to 
the tide of civilization then pouring westward, and 
having spied out the western paradise turned their 
faces toward the setting sun for new fields to explore, the 
restraints of civilization being uncongenial to them. 
Their stay, however, was so transitory that it was 
" Like the snow-fall in the river, 

A moment white — then melts forever." 

It is extremely difficult to obtain anything authen- 



248 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tic regarding them. At this period, the people began to 
turn their attention to township affairs and held the 
election ordered nearly three years previous, and 
affairs began to assume a more permanent shape both 
of individuals and the community ; religious serv- 
vices were held by itinerant ministers of various 
denominations in private houses, and Martin Shields 
had built a frame barn on his farm, the first in the 
township. The first school was taught by Lousia 
Gedding, in the log house of Daniel Mcintosh. A 
blacksmith shop had been established by a man 
named Peck in 1828, near what is now Jamestown, 
and although he took his departure this year, 1831, he 
was soon followed by others. That much needed 
manufactory a grist-mill — the first in the county — 
had been built in 1828, by David Carpenter, on the 
Christiana Creek, and, although a most primitive 
affair, it did duty for the settlers even as far as forty 
miles distant in some instances. This enterprise is 
worthy of more than a secluded corner in the history, 
both on account of the importance it assumed in the 
community, and the ingenuity displayed in its con- 
struction by Carpenter, who had almost nothing at 
hand now considered indispensable in such enter- 
prises. With all his ingenuity the builder made a 
serious mistake, for he first located it on Donnel's Lake, 
and when completed turned the water into the flume, 
which from the natural construction of the ground 
was so high that only a few inches of water, not 
nearly enough for practical purposes, would run into 
it. It being impossible to correct matters there it was 
immediately torn down and placed on Christiana 
Creek. In simplicity it would rank with the mills of 
the ancient Egyptians, while for effectiveness it far 
surpassed them, its capacity being forty bushels of 
corn per day. Not a foot of lumber was used in its 
construction, except for the bolting chest, and it to- 
gether with the buhrs and irons were brought from 
Ohio in wagons drawn by oxen. 

A hollow sycamore log was inserted in a horizontal 
position in the dam into which the water flowed and 
from that into an upright sycamore log, through 
auger holes, and from thence onto the wheel that in 
turn, by means of belts, drove the stone which were two 
feet and seven inches in diameter. This mill, which 
exists only in history, did eflBcient service for many 
years and was run by James O'Dell after 1832. 

In 1830 or 1831, John Donnel constructed a distill- 
ery on Section 35, and sold whisky at 25 cents per gal- 
lon. In early days, it was not considered disreputable 
to drink whisky, and no raising, log-rolling, chopping 
or husking bee was considered complete without this 
favorite beverage was freely dispensed, and a failure 
to provide it would be considered not only a breach of | 



etiquette but an act of penuriousness none could brook; 
in fact its use was considered appropriate at all times 
and under all circumstances, hence the distiller WE^s an 
important factor in the community in which he re- 
sided and was frequently as strenuous for the mainte- 
nance of the moral and other laws as the most puritan- 
ical. Donnel removed to Illinois and from there to 
Oregon, where he died some ten years since, reputed 
to be worth $100,000. His successor, T. R. Johnson, 
was considerable of a sporting character, and his fav- 
orite race-horse, "Blue Buck," was the recipient of 
many encomiums from his neighbors, who had a settler's 
right or interest in him. " Blue Buck " was taken on 
numerous expeditions outside of the county to exhibit 
his speed and win dollars for his owner. The story 
goes that Johnson's son won $10 of some merchants, 
who were in Chicago purchasing goods, and they re- 
fused to pay. The old gentleman on being informed 
counseled his son to keep quiet for he would see that 
they paid roundly for their duplicity. Accordingly, he 
had his son attach his horses to their wagons, full of 
goods just purchased, and as the midnight hour ap- 
proached started for home with them, traveling by 
night and hiding in the impenetrable forests by day ; 
whether this is true or not, certain it is that they 
brought home a stock of goods, but as to whether he 
procured them without giving value received is doubt- 
ful, as Johnson was fond of telling a good story. 

About this time, 1833, an affair occurred that caused 
quite a commotion among the inhabitants, and was the 
topic of discussion for many years. Martin Hollis 
and Thomas Kirk were engaged in erecting a saw-mill 
on the Christiana Creek, in Section 23, when a num- 
ber of Indians repaired to the house of Mr. Kirk and 
flourished their weapons in a rather suggestive man- 
ner, in view of the fact that there was a feud existing 
between them and Kirk ; finally a gun was thrust 
through the door the barrel to which was caught 
by Mr. Hollis when it was discharged, the contents 
entering the person of an Indian named Pokagon, 
who died in about four weeks. The Indian was ar- 
rested, but released after an examination, to be tried 
by the Indians (who did nothing with him), he claim- 
ing that the discharge was purely accidental, not being 
aware that the gun was cocked. Those most conversant 
with the affair incline to the opinion that they went 
there on a mission of death, which was only prevented 
from being consummated in the manner intended, by 
the timely interference of Mr. Hollis. 

Being desirous of ridding the country of wolves, 
which were very numerous and destructive of stock, 
the records show that a bounty* of " $2 per head for 
large wolves, and $1 for whelps and prairie wolves," 
was allowed. These pests continued in such large 




THOMAS J. Cy^STE FELINE. 



JVIRS. THOMAS J.CASTERLIME. 




f;eside!^ice of dh-thom/^s j. caste rlNe , pe^([s(, iviich. 



.^^^^ 





johK j^/ixoM 



jviKS.joHN NixofJ. 



JOHN NIXON. 
The subject of this sketch was born in Randolph 
County, N. C, November 15, 1808. He was the 
son of Phineas and Millicent Nixon, who reared a 
family of twelve children. The elder Nixon was born 
in Perquimans County, N. C. ; of his ancestors but 
little is known further than they were English Quakers. 
He wiis a physician and a man of marked ability, and 
was sent to Congress in the interest of a colonization 
scheme for the negroes of North Carolina. In his 
religious ideas he was a Quaker, and exemplified in 
his life the teachings of that remarkable faith. He 
died in North Carolina. John, in his boyhood days, 
evidenced many traits of character that have since 
become his distinguishing characteristics ; he believed 
that the time to be happy was in the present, and that 
" suiBcient unto the day is the evil thereof." His 
happy disposition rendered him somewhat unmindful 
of the importance of education, and he received what 
might be called a limited common-school education. 
He learned the trade of a tanner and currier, which 
avocation he followed for a short time. In 1830, he 
started for Michigan, arriving at Richmond, Ind., 
where his brother Gabriel resided ; he induced him to 
accompany him, and the two brothers arrived in Penn 
in October of that year. John found employment at 



different vocations until February, 1831, when he 
joined a surveying party, and for a number of months 
was engaged in the northern part of the State. 

In 1832, he was married to Miss Esther, daughter 
of Henry and Hannah Jones, whose biography can 
be found on another page. Mrs. Nixon was born 
in Preble County, Ohio, in January of 1814. After 
his marriage, Mr. Nixon bought an interest in a saw- 
mill owned by his father-in-law, which he operated 
for three years, when he bought a farm of eighty 
acres on Section 18, where he lived until his removal 
to the place where he now resides. Mr. Nixon has 
been intimately connected with the affairs of Penn 
Township, and has served his fellow-citizens in vari- 
ous capacities. He may appropriately be called the 
father of the Cass County Pioneer Society, having 
made the initial movement for its establishment, and 
of which he has been President, and has done much 
to promote its growth and prosperity. 

This sketch would be incomplete without special 
mention of Mrs. Nixon, who has been the mother of 
eleven children, nine of whom are living. She in- 
herits many of the prominent characteristics of her 
father, and has been a devoted wife, a kind mother, 
and a valued friend. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



numbers, notwithstanding their large slaughter, that 
the township in April, 1833, appropriated ^50 to help 
pay for their exte.mination, the payment per head to 
be the same as tha' offered by the county, which really 
raised the price to that the settlers were amply re- 
warded for the labor spent in securing the coveted 
pelts. 

James B. Bonine, although not born in this coun- 
ty, has spent nearly his wholelife here, being but six 
years of age when, with his mother and step-father 
(Stephen Bogue), he came here, and was raised by the 
kindly Quaker gentleman who had assumed the posi- 
tion offaJ;her, his own father passing away the first 
year of his marriage, in the county of Wayne, In- 
diana. Although so long in the county, his recollec- 
tion of pioneer history is necessarily limited, owing to 
his extreme youth, when settlements were being made. 
Mrs. Bonine (daughter of that grand old Quaker di- 
vine, Charles Osborn), is with her husband, now en- 
joying the fruits of a well-spent life on a farm, in the 
corporation of Vandalia. 

Thomas Kirk came in as a young man and worked 
for others several years, until February 5, 1836, at 
which time he located eighty acres of land in Section 
24, and getting married about this time, henceforth 
labored for himself until his death. 

Indiana was the stopping-place, for a short time, of 
many from the South and East, who ultimately came 
to this county and became permanent settlers. Among 
this number was John Alexander, who was born in 
Burke County, N. C, in 1780, who, with his 
wife, who was born in 1785, made their way to the 
above-named State on horseback, carrying two chil- 
dren and all their worldly effects. In the spring of 
1831, this county was reached and a farm purchased. 
The house in which they lived for several months was 
nothing but a shanty covered with basswood bark. He 
passed away June 15, 1850, and his wife February 
16, 1845. As illustrative of his character, it is stated 
that one year, when grain of all kinds was very 
scarce and high, oats and corn bringing from 75 cents 
to ?1 per bushel, he having an abundance, placed the 
price at 25 cents per bushel, and would take no more, 
limiting his sales to settlers only. His family con- 
sisted of nine children — Sophronia, Mrs. J. Irving ; 
Sophia, Mrs. Alpheas Ireland, in Oregon ; Caroline, 
Mrs. H. Copley, in Northern Michigan ; Samuel and 
Margaret, deceased; Leah, now with her son-in-law, 
J. A. Jones, Sheriff in Cassopolis ; Ephraim, in Da- 
kota ; John, in Vandalia ; and Peter, the youngest, 
who lives in Section 8, is the possessor of 240 acres 
of land. His first wife, by whom he had one son, B. 
Frank, died some years since, and two children bless 
his second marriage with Hannah Haines. 



Hon. James O'Dell was a Virginian by birth, his 
birthday being on the 20th of July, 1779. At the age 
of twenty-one, he moved to Highland County, Ohio, 
where he remained until 1831, when he came to Mich- 
igan, first settling in St. Joseph County, where he 
raised one crop on Pigeon Prairie, and in 1832 came 
to this county and purchased the farm which he owned 
at the time of his death, which occurred August 23, 
1845, and on which still resides one of his sons, John 
W. O'Dell. Their journey to this State was a long 
and laborious one, as with all their household goods 
stowed away in the capacious wagon, with stock driven 
along the unfenced highway, or what was dignified by 
such a name, it being almost impassable in many cases. 
This was particularly the case in what was known as 
the Black, or Twelve-mile Swamp, through which they 
needed a guide to prevent losing their way, there being 
nothing to keep them from taking a trail and passing 
into the impenetrable bogs, mire and woods, with 
which they were surrounded. Even then they were 
not wholly exempt from casualties, for some having 
passed along with a portion of the stock, John W. 
O'Dell and others, who were driving the hogs, took the 
wrong forks in the trail. The hallooing of the men in 
the advance as it reverberated through the swamp, de- 
ceived them, and it was not until the voices waned so as 
to become nearly inaudible, that their mistake was dis- 
covered. Night was upon them and their steps could 
notbe retraced, and they stopped at a cabin overnight. 
No inclosure being at hand, their swine scattered in 
so many directions that it was several days be- 

I fore they were secured and again started westward. 

I A miller by occupation, he ran the Carpenter Mill, 

I which he purchased, for several years. In township 
affairs, Mr. O'Dell was very prominent, hoMing the 
office of Supervisor six years and tho ofiices of School 
Inspector and Highway Commissioner for several years, 
was also a member of the Constitutional Convention 
in 1835, and represented his district in the State Leg- 
islature. All of his oflScial actions were a credit not 
only to himself but the people he so ably represented. 
His public spirit led him often to neglect his private 
affairs, in the interest of the public ; particularly was 

1 this the case, when, in 1834, he visited Buffalo and 
helped secure commissioners, who had a railroad sur- 
veyed from Detroit to Lake Michigan, which survey 
was afterward followed by the Michigan Central Rail- 
road at almost every point. His integrity was unim- 
peachable and offers of Buffalo speculators to pay him 
liberally to locate the land along the prospective rail- 
road was quickly rejected. 

Mr. O'Dell served his township in oflScial affairs for 
many years, holding the oflSces of Collector, Consta- 
ble and Highway Commissioner, his numerous re-elec- 



250 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tions bearing witness to his efficiency in a public 
capacity. 

The first physician that settled among these people 
was Dr. Henry H. Fowler, who came from Connecti- 
cut and located 91 acres in Section 31, where the 
embryo village of Geneva once had an existence. He 
immediately came into prominence, being elected sec- 
ond Sheriff of the county while he did duty as School 
Inspector, and Treaurer for the township. His East- 
ern education rather unfitted him for his Western 
associates, who described him as being somewhat aris- 
tocratic. About 1836, he removed to Bristol, Ind., 
where he died, the failure to secure the much coveted 
county seat at his place in a measure curtailing his 
stay. These early settlers, while enduring the many 
inconveniences and deprivations incidental to the set- 
tling of any new country, did not experience the 
hardships which those in some less favored portions 
were called upon to undergo. They always had 
enough to sustain life, the fertile prairie yielding 
enough to maintain life, while the woody portions 
were being cleared up. The wild plums, cherries, 
grapes, strawberries, whortleberries and other fruits 
that grew in abundance extended the bill of fare, 
which, with the palatable meat of the wild turkey and 
deer, furnished a living by no means despicable. The 
people had many enjoyments in those early days, and 
the marriage feast was occasionally celebrated, the 
first one in honor of the marriage of George Meacham 
to Miss Catherine Rinehart, which took place on 
Young's Prairie, October 6, 182it. The first death 
also occurred this year, the deceased being a stranger. 
The coffin used was made out of boards, or slabs, split 
out of a cherry tree by John Reed. 

LATER SETTLERS. 

From this time on settlers came in very rapidly, 
and the development became quite general all over 
the township, and substantial buildings began to 
give place to those hastily erected when first com- 
ing in the county. The first land entries were made 
in June, 1829, and continued until May 2, 1853, on 
which day Amos Smith located forty acres in Section 
28, and Jacob Keen thirty-six acres in Section 13. 
The settlers who came in subsequent to those recorded, 
formed the nucleus for the present wealth and develop- 
ment of the county already established, still a great 
many entered upon land as found in a state of nature, 
and with the exception of having better facilities for 
procuring the necessaries of life, and disposing of their 
products, passed through the same hardships as those 
who came at a somewhat earlier date. Among those 
who came in at this period (1839) was Joseph D. 
Dodge, who is now with his son in Vandalia, previous 



to which he improved a farm of 200 acres. Mr. 
Dodge was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., 
and came from Baldwinsville here. He was engaged 
in the " Patriot war, " and was taken prisoner at the 
battle of the Wind Mill, fought opposite Ogdensburg. 
He with 124 others crossed into Canada with muni- 
tions of war, under the leadership of a Polander named 
Ben Schultz, and while there the boat that conveyed 
them over was taken away. The Canadians failed 
to come and get the supplies as agreed upon, and they 
were very unexpectedly forced to give battle to 1,500 
British soldiers, who bore down upon them, their force 
numbering but sixty, sixty-four having been detailed 
to care for the supplies. From behind their barricade 
they killed and wounded a large number before the 
British retired, and then with re-enforcements amount- 
ing, in all, to 3,000 men, they captured the hindful of 
adventurers and carried them prisoners — April 9, 
1839 — to Fort Henry, at Kingston, where thirteen 
were hung, and seventy transported to Van Diemen's 
Land for life. By dint of the neatest strategy, Mr. 
Dodge was freed and thus his life saved, but the 200 
acres of land promised by the weak-kneed Canadi- 
ans for supplies, was never secured. 

Among the prominent families are numbered the 
Bonines, they having done much to forward the in- 
terests of the township and enhance its value. Isaac 
Bonine, who was born in Virginia, removed to Ten- 
nessee, from there to Indiana, and then to Michigan, 
settling on Young's Prairie, on the place now owned 
by Mr. N. Jones, in 1842. Born of Quaker parents, 
he accepted their religious faith, and could not tolerate 
slavery, else it is doubtful if he ever left the South. 
He was the father of eleven children — seven boys and 
five girls, as follows: Susan, Daniel, James E., Sam- 
uel, Evan J., Jacob, Lot, Lydia, Isaac, Sarah and 
Jonathan. Daniel, Jonathan, Susan and Jacob are 
deceased, the first two when quite young, and Susan 
is the wife of Isaac P. James ; Evan J. is a practicing 
physician in Niles ; Lydia is the wife of Nathan Jones, 
in Penn ; Samuel, a Quaker divine in Kansas ; the 
other sons are farmers in Penn. Having farmed it 
largely in Indiana, and in the most approved fashion, 
he taking particular pride in blooded stock, he brought 
with him fine stock of all kinds, including Berkshire 
hogs, Blakewell and merino sheep. He passed away 
at the ripe old age of eighty-three years, beloved and 
respected by all, and his children look back with much 
pride to the time when, becoming involved to such an 
extent by going security as to nearly sweep away the 
fine fortune he had accumulated in Indiana, he liqui- 
dated every indebtedness, although it necessitated his 
moving to the then comparatively new country of 
Michigan. His son. Lot, has a farm in Section 34, 



HISTORY OV CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



251 



and takes much pride in fine stock, and now possesses, 
as he claims, the only Saxony sheep in the State. 
Their wool is of silky fineness, and brings double 
price in the market. When a young man, he trapped 
as long as it was remunerative. Another son, Isaac, 
also in this township, is a successful farmer ; he also 
devoting considerable attention to stock. Being of a 
progressive nature, he was the first man in his section 
to adopt the use of that great labor-saving machine, 
the mower. James E. Bonine came in one year sub- 
sequent to his father, and purchased eighty acres of 
land, and now is the possessor of 1,600 acres, contain 
ing five houses and eight barns. Everything around 
him betokens the man of thrift and cultivated taste, 
from the elegant brick house, with fine fountain and 
attractive surroundings to the farthermost field. 

On his farm is a beautiful grove, twelve acres of 
which are included in an elk and deer park, established 
some twenty years since by procuring one pair of elk 
from Iowa, and one pair of deer, also from the West. 
Since that time he has sold $1,000 worth of elk, seven 
of which were sold to King Emmanuel, of Italy, who 
sent a war vessel for them and numerous other animals 
of this country, he had purchased for his park of 
fifteen hundred acres, where they doubtless are to this 
day. The park is surrounded partially with a higli 
picket and the balance with a rail fence. It is most 
beautifully sodded, and is supplied with water from' a 
spring, and it is an attractive sight to see these deni- 
zens of the wild roaming around at pleasure with 
their young capering at their side. Nearly opposite 
his residence is a chestnut orchard of 100 trees, set 
out regularly, which is now bearing finely, the nuts 
being larger and finer than the seed procured some 
twelve years since from East Tennessee, they com- 
mencing to bear at the age of nine years. Thirty 
acres of fruit trees much more than supplies the 
necessities of the household. Around his residence is 
planted a row of native pines which although only 
fifteen inches high when set out, now measure more 
than thirty-two feet across the tops. They not only 
tell their age, but do service as a yearly barometer, 
plainly indiciting the wet and dry seasons for each 
year is sent forth a row of limbs encircling the trunk, 
and if the season is wet the growth may exceed two 
feet to the next years' outshoots, bat if dry, or very 
dry, the growth is proportionately small. Very 
fine stock of all kinds can be found grazing over the 
farm, while among the bovines, grazing as quietly as if 
upon the wild prairies of the West, will be found several 
buffalo, which adds a certain picturesqueness to the 
scene. 

Exactly opposite his residence, which is on a 
corner, is the finely-built storehouse, from which radi- 



ate two rows of arbor vita-. We doubt if Michigan can 
produce another farm that can compare with this. 

I. A. Bonine, son of J. E., possesses a farm south 
of his father's, and completes the list of Bonines, 
they possessing in the aggregate a very large amount 
of real estate. 

S. S. Ashcraft came in in 1840, from Berrien 
County, and purchased one of the old farms, on 
Section 20, while Samuel Thomas, of whom mention 
has been made, came in in 18-12, and removed to St. 
Joseph County in 18.50, where he died in 1856, 
his son, Silas H., residing on Section 34. Harmon 
Belong, who came from Steuben County, N. Y., in 
1847, is the husband of Caroline (James), her father 
coming here in about 1840. When in the fall of 
1846, Mr. George Longsdaft' came from Logan 
County, Ohio, Vandalia, his present residence, had 
no existence at that time, and having worked to 
obtain the money by chopping wood, he purchased a 
new farm and cleared up the same. He cut the tail 
race to the first mill erected in Vandalia, and now is 
President of this village. John Hollister came from 
Livingston County the same year and purchased the 
farm on which he now lives, it being at that time all 
woods, and he knows what it is to haul wheat to Con- 
stantino at 50 cents per bushel. Forty-four years 
ago, John N. Jones came from Ohio and settled in 
Porter Township. His daughter Emily, married S. 
Curtis, whose father came in one year previous. After 
a short residence in Porter, they moved to Penn, and 
in 1866 Mr. Curtis died, leaving his wife with two 
small children on a farm with but forty acres cleared, 
an unfinished house, no barn, and an incumbrance of 
$1,900. With a brave heart, she set to work, and to- 
day has a farm in good shape, with good buildings 
and no incumbrance. Her son, J. N. Curtis, who 
works the farm, assisted his mother soon as old 
enough, her daughter having married some time 
since. 

In 1848, Amos Smith came from Erie County, 

Penn. Twenty of the last thirty years he has spent 

as school teacher, and is now, and has been for a 

number of years. County Surveyor. The first land 

he possessed was eighty acres in Kent County, which 

was given in payment for forty days' work, making 

a road through the marsji west of Vandalia. Being 

unusually expert as a driver of oxen he was given 

more wages than ordinary hands. He now possesses 

a farm in this township and makes a specialty of 

fruits, having 1,000 apple trees, 100 peach, 50 

pears, 125 chestnut trees, all in fine condition. 

I Reason L. Pemberton and his brother Joseph came 

I toCassCounty with their uncle in December, 1885, and, 

1 staying less than one year, he went to Henry Coun- 



252 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ty, Ind., returning, however, in 1840. Since that time, 
he has been officially identified with the township as 
Supervisor, Treasurer, Clerk and Justice of the 
Peace, which office he now holds, while fulfilling the ; 
part of " mine hoste " to the Vandalia House at j 
Vandalia. 

•Jacob Mplntosh, son of William, went to the rescue 
of our country in the time of her distress, and enlisted 
August 7, 1861, in the Sixth Michigan Infantry ; was 
afterward transferred to the heavy artillery, and served 
for three years, when he was honorably discharged, 
having been promoted to Sergeant, May 27, 1863; | 
was wounded by a minie ball above his right knee, 
but not severely enough to disable him. He was at 
the siege of Port Hudson, battle of Baton Rouge, etc. 

Richard Stewart, a successful farmer, was born in 
Virginia, and, when ten years old, went with his par- 
ents to Tennessee ; in 1824, to Ohio, and, 1860, to 
Cass County. He had five sons in the army, two of 
whom died there. 

George Moon, father of B. Franklin, came into the 
county in 1846, and died in 1878. B. F., who is on 
the old homestead, is now living with his third wife, for- 
merly U. H. Overmyers. He had one son by first 
wife, John F., and four children by his second, of 
whom Reuben J. is at home. 

Thomas J. Casterline was one of the first settlers in 
the timber lands bordering on the northwest corner of 
Young's Prairie, only four families preceding him — a 
widow lady named Mary Hunter, who had been there 
some time, and came from Ohio, Albert White and Na- 
thaniel Casterline, the latter came from Allegany 
County, N. ¥., in 1843, and Hiram Wyatt; and, in 
the fall of 1844, two additional families — a Mr. Van- 
wart and Gabriel Hathaway — both building their log 
cabins in the woods ; the former was a blacksmith, and 
the latter a carpenter and joiner by trade, each being 
quite an acquisition to the settlement. Mr. Caster- 
line first mentioned came from Seneca County, N. Y., 
in the fall of 1844, and settled where he now resides. 
In the spring, he erected a log cabin, and commenced 
to clear his land, at the same time abandoning the 
practice of medicine, excepting in cases of urgent ne- 
cessity. Even at this late date, they were accustomed 
to go to Niles, twenty miles distant, and St. Joseph, 
about forty miles, to do their principal marketing — 
ox teams being the most used — notwithstanding it had 
been many years since the settlement of Young's Prai- 
rie and the erection of the county seat at Cassopolis — 
the principal market then in the county. 

In 1829, George Jones and his wife Lydia (Hob- 
son) became settlers on Young's Prairie. Their sons 
Henry, Charles, Nathan and George, and two daugh- 
ters, also came to the township. The old gentleman 



died at his home in Penn, in 1834. He was born in 
Georgia in 1770. He was an early settler in South- 
eastern Ohio — Preble and Butler Counties — and it 
was from the latter county that the family emigrated to 
Michigan. Henry, the oldest son, was married when 
he came to the State, his wife being Hannah (Greene). 
He died in 1850, in his sixty-first year. His children 
were Esther (Nixon), now in Penn ; Lydia, Rebecca 
and Elizabeth (all three of whom are deceased) ; Amos, 
a resident since 1853 of La Grange Township ; Phebe, 
(deceased); George, in Marcel 1 us ; Hannah and 
Abigail (deceased) ; Henry, in Oregon ; Jesse, in 
Penn ; and Phineas in Cassopolis. 

Jesse Kelsey and his wife Mary (Decou), from 
Warren County, Ohio, settled in Jamestown, Penn 
Township, in 1837. They were married in 1831. 
After residing in Michigan eight or ten years, they 
moved back to Ohio, and from there went in 1853 to 
Iowa, where the husband died in 1869. The widow 
returned to Cass County in 1872, and married George 
Moon, and after his decease was united with her pres- 
ent husband, Hiram Warner. 

Christopher J. Stamp and his wife, Caroline (Slor- 
row), now deceased, came from Steuben County, N. 
Y., and settled in Porter in 1844, their children at 
that time being John, Mary J., James H., Caroline, 
Maria and Nancy. Since then, Martin, Martha and 
Eugene have been born. Their son, James H., moved 
to Penn Townshipjn 1854, and represented his town- 
ship as Supervisor in 1875-76. He was elected 
Sherifi" in 1876, on the Republican ticket. Although 
retaining his farm in Penn, he resides in Cassopolis. 

C. M. Osborn,' formerly a resident of Chautauqua 
County, N. Y., but later of Berrien County, this State, 
came to Penn Village in 1860, and is conducting a 
mercantile business. While a resident of Berrien 
County, he was traveling salesman for marble and 
sewing machines. His first wife, Harriet L. Mont- 
gomery, died in Wisconsin. Sophia Tibbetts was the 
maiden name of his present wife. He is the father of 
two children — Lela, at home, and Mrs. Potter, of 
Niles. Both his grandparents were old Revolutionary 
soldiers, and lived to a ripe old age, ninety-six 
being the age of Daniel Osborn at the time of his 
death. 

Joshua G. Johnson came in the township in 1852, 
from New York State. His wife's (Emiline Hinshaw) 
father was an old pioneer, coming in 1832. 

Dr. L. Osborn, son of Josiali Osborn, formerly of 
Knox County, Tenn., is now a practicing physician 
in Vandalia, and one of its prominent men. He is 
identified with every good work, besides being officially 
connected with the village, of which he has been a 
resident since 1852. 





V/fA. JO^lES- 



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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In 1857, L. F. Williams came from St. Joseph 

County, and settled in this county. He is now en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. 

The following embraces the original land entries : 

Section 1. 

Robert Meek, St. Joseph County, Mich., July 13, 183r, 119 

William Meek, St Joseph County, Mich., July 13, 1836 78 

Abijah Hinshaw, Cass County, Mich., Deo. 10, 1836 80 

John R. Keller, Cass County, Mich , Deo. 18, 1848 40 

Section 2. 

James Martin, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1836 40 

Hankinson Ashby, St. Joseph County, Mich., March 7, 1836, 120 

Jeremiah Rudd, Rutland County, Vt., July 13, 1836 80 

Zebedee Mosher, Cass County, Mich., March 1, 1837 66 

Harling Bixby, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1846 137 

Bhoby Fish, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1848 30 

Hiram Emory, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 5, 18.50 40 

Section 3. 

Marverick Rudd, Cass County, Mich., July 13, 1836 80 

Samuel C. Olmsted, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 15, 1837 76 

Sylvester Olmsted, Cass County, Mich , Feb. 15, 1837 80 

Nathan Caswell New York City, April 6, 1837 76 

Elias Whitcomb, Cass County, Mich., June 17, 1837 80 

Jason Thursten, St. Joseph County, Mich., Sept. 4, 1837 80 

David M. Howell and Joshua Lofiand, Cass County, Mich., 

Oct. 2, 1848 80 

Section 4. 

Amus Northrop, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836 160 

Horace Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., March 6, 1837 40 

Oramel Griffin, Allegany County, N. Y., April 3, 1837 430 

Section 5. 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1836 316 

James Phelps, Calhoun County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837 160 

Horace Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., March 6, 1837 40 

Allen Ayrault, Livingston County, N. Y., July 25, 1837 115 

Section 6. 

David Brooks, Cass County, Mich., June 30, 1831 137 

Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, Onondaga County, N. Y., May 30, 

1836 453 

Section 7. 

William McCleary, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 14, 1830 160 

Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, May 28, 1836 297 

Isaiah Atkins, Washington County, Vt., July 23, 1836 80 

Walter Clark, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837 57 

Sf.i-tiojj 8. 

George Jones, Jr.. Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 80 

Ezra Hinchey, Cass County, Mich., July 7, 18.30 160 

John Townsend, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 9, 1834 80 

Martha Townsend, Cass County, Mich., .March 7, 1836 40 

Epaphro Ransom, Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 28, 1836... 240 

James Phelps, Calhoun County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837 40 

Section 9. 

Henry Whited, Lenawee County, Mich., July 2, 1829 160 

George .lones, Jr., Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 160 

John Townsend, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 4, 1833 80 

Thompson Smith, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1835 40 

Amos Green, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 40 

Tomlinson & Booth, New York City, May 27, 1836 160 



Section 10. 

Amos Green, Cass County, Mich., Deo. 29, 1835 80 

James Price, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 1836 40 

Tomlinson & Booth, New York City, May 27, 1836 480 

Jeremiah Rudd, Rutland County, Vt., July 13, 1836 40 

Section 11. 
David Tomlinson, Schenectady County, N. Y., July 13, 1836. 320 
De Forest Manice, New York City, July 13, 1836 320 

Section 12. 
D. Tomlinson, July 13, 183(i, entire 638 

Section 13. 

Samuel Thompson, Cass (^unty, Mich., Nov. 18, 1835 40 

James Martin, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1836 40 

Stephen Rudd, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1836 40 

Christopher R. Roberts, New York City, July 13, 1836 240 

Christopher R. Roberts, New York City, July 13, 1836 229 

Jacob Keen, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 1863 36 

Section 14. 

Michael Collins, Cais County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 40 

Michael Collins, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 13, 1836 40 

De Forest Manice, New York City, July 13, 1836 560 

Section 15. 

Thomas England, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 1831 80 

George Jones, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 12, 1831 80 

Charlotte Lamb, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1836 40 

Boyd & Byron, Highland County, Ohio, April 28, 1836 120 

Tomlinson & Booth, New York City, May 27, 1836 320 

Section 16. 
School Lands. 

Section 17. 
George Jones, Butler County, Ohio, June 17, 1829, entire 640 

Section 18. 
William McCleary, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 17, 1829, 80 

George Jones, Butler County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 139 

William Justice, Lenawee County, Mich,, July 13, 1829 160 

Tomlinson & Booth, New York City, May 27, 1836 57 

Epaphro. Ransom, Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 28, 1836.. 160 

Section 19. 

John Nicholson, Wayne County, Ind., June 17, 1829 160 

Charles .Tones, Preble County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 300 

Jacob Miller, Lenawee County, Mich., July 13, 1829 140 

Section 20. 

Charles Jones, Preble County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 80 

Charles Jones, Preble County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 160 

George Jones, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 80 

Mirtin Shields, Lenawee (bounty, Mich., June 17, 1829 160 

Isaac Commons, Wayne County, Ind., June 17, 1829 80 

John Nicholson, Wayne County, Ind., June 17, 1829 80 

Section 21. 

John N. Dimald, Lenawee County, Mich., June 17, 1829 160 

Thomas England, Warren County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 160 

George Jones, Jr., Butler (Jounty, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 80 

George Jones, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 240 

Section 22. 

Thomas England, June 17, 1829 80 

John N. Donald, Aug. 17, 1829 80 

John Price, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 27, 1830 80 

George Shaffer, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1834 40 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Martin Harle83, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1834 40 

B. A. Pemberton, .St. Joseph County, Mich., Nov. 2-3, 183-5... 80 

Drury .Jones, Cass County, Mich., .Ian. 31, 1837 40 

George Goodman, Berrien County, Mich., Jan. 31, 1837 40 

Samuel H. Whipple, Washtenaw County, Mich., March 9, 

1837 160 

Section 23. 

Thomas Kirk, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 1, 1832 40 



Thomas Kirk, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 183(1 40 

Martin Harless, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1833 40 

William Bacon. Ontario County, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1835 160 

Joseph Pemberton. St. Joseph County, Mich., Nov. 23, 183-5, 240 

Abram Ashby, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 183.5 40 

James Price, Cass County, Mich., March 13, 1837 40 

Timothy Straw, Hopkinton, N. H., May 24, 1837 40 

Section 24. 

Thomas Kirk, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 1836 80 

Hankenson Ashby, St. Joseph County, March 7, 1836 40 

Jason Powell. Calhoun County, Dec. 10, 1836 47 

William A. Mills. Livingstone County, N Y., Feb. 1, 1837.... 113 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Feb. 1, 1837 224 

Section 25. 

Martin Shields, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 6, 1836 80 

Stephen Rudd, Cass County, .Mich., Feb. 6, 1836 80 

Stephen Rudd, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1836 40 

Ephraim Rogers, Rutland County, N. T , July 17, 1836 ICO 

Jason Powell, Calhoun County, Dec. 10, 1836 80 

Barker F. Rudd, Cass County. Mich.. Dec. 14, 1836 80 

Lorenzo Little, Cayuga County, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1837 120 

Section 26. 

Thomas E. O'Dell. Cass I'ounty, Mich., March 2, 1833 40 

Thomas E. O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., July 10. 1834 40 

Edward Byram. Highland County, Ohio, Dec. 14, 1833 160 

Abram Ashby, Cass County. Mich., Dec. 16 1835 80 

Daniel Mcintosh. Cass County, Mi.h., Feb. 6, 1836 80 

Barker F. Rudd, Cass County. Mich., Feb. 8, 1836 80 

Barker F. Rudd, Cass County, Mich.. Feb. 18, 1836 40 

Charles Jones, Cass County, Mich,, Aug. 31, 1835 80 

Timothy Straw, Hopkinton, N. H., May 24, 1837 40 

Section 27. 

John Rinehart, Lenawee County, June 17, 1829 ICO 

George Jones, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1830 160 

Benjamin Bogue, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 18, 18.30 80 

Lewis Boon, Oass County, Mich., June 7, 1831 80 

Jones & Bogue, Cass County, .Mich., Dec. 28, 18 11 80 

Drury Jones, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 9, 1837 80 

Section 28. 

John Rinehart, Lenawee County, June 17, 1829 IBO 

John N. Donald, Lenawee County. June 17, 1829 80 

Samuel Boyles, Wayne County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 80 

Charles Jones, Preble County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 80 

George Jones, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 17,1829 80 

Joseph Frakes, diss County, Mich., March 1, 1830 80 

William Jones, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 21, 1835 40 

Amos Smith, Cass County. Mich., May 2, 1853 40 

Section 29. 

Daniel Mcintosh, Wayne County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 160 

Boyles & Mcintosh, Wayne County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 80 

Stephen Bogne, Preble County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 160 

Stephen Bogue, PrebleCounty, Ohio, Sept. .5, 1829 80 

Martin Shields, Ciss County, Mich., .March U, 1829 80 

Daniel Mcintosh, Jr., Cass County. Mich., .May 10. 1830 .... SO 



Seption 30. 
Isaac Commons, Wayne County, Ind., June 17, 1829. 



George Jones. Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829 78 

Ebenezer S. Sibley, Wayne County, Mich., June 2, 1830 17 

Abel I. McCleary, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 14, 1830. 80 

Robert Clark, Jr., .St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831.... 61 
H. L. & A. C. Stewart, St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 1, 

1831 80 

Alexander D. Anderson, Monroe County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831 61 

Section 31. 
Samuel Boyles, Wayne County, Ohio, June 17, 1829... 
Henry H. Fowler, Cass County, Mich, May 10, 1830. 



40 

91 

Levi F. Arnold, St. Joseph County, Ind., Nov. 10, 1830 17 

Job Wright Cass County, Mich., Island in Diamond Lake, 

May 1.5, 1832 ,39 

Section 32. 

Boyles & .Mclnlosh, Wayne ('ounty, Ohio, June 17, 1829 54 

Daniel McInto,sh, Jr., Cass County, Mich , May 10, 1830 46 

William Mcintosh, Cass County, Mich , June 21, 1831 Ill 

William Mcintosh, Cass County, Mich.. July 8, 1831 74 

John McDaniel, Cass County, Mich., July 8, 1835 61 

Section 33. 

Jesse Gardner, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 18, 1830 160 

Jonathan Colyar, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 1, 18-36 80 

William .Mcintosh, Cass County, .Mich., Feb. 1, 1836 80 

William Hannahs. Otsego County, N. Y., July 25, 1830 320 

Section 34. 

John Carpenter, Logan County, Ohio, June 17, 1829 80 

Thomas E. O'Dell, Cass County, .Mich.. March 8, 1832 80 

John Kelsey, Cass County, Mich.. April 8. 1833 40 

Thomas E. O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 25, 1834 40 

Sandford L. Collins, Monroe County, Jan, 8, 18.36 120 

Edward Byram, Highland County, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1836 40 

John W. Odell, Cass County, Mich., .March 16, 1836 40 

.Spencer Nicholson, Rutland County, Vt., July 6, 1836 80 

Truman Kilborn, Rutland County, Vt., July 25, 1836 80 

James Mcintosh, Rutland County, Vt., Dec. 14, 1836 40 

Section 35. 

Jonathan Donnel, Cass County, Mich., May 26, 1830 80 

Andrew riohnson, Cass County, Mich,, April 29, 1835 40 

Thomas E. O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1835 48 

James O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., .-Vpril 28, 1836 64 

RoUaT. Cushing, Washtenaw County, Jan. 28, 1837 118 

James O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 1, 1836 159 

Section 36. 

Robt. E. Ward, Berrien County, Feb. 23, 1836 25 

Ephraim Rogers, Rutland County, Vt., July 7, 1836 59 

Micajah Grennell. Cass County. Mich.. Dec. 14. 1836 157 

Ishmael Lee, Cass County. Mich., Jan. 21, 1837 71 

RoUa T. Cushing, Washtenaw County, Jan. 23. 1837 84 

Micajah Grennell, Cass County, June 8, 1837 45 

STOCK MARKS. 

Many of the early settlers were possessed of more 
stock than could find sustenance in their fenced fields, 
and as they were allowed to run at large, it was 
necessary to have some marks by which they could be 
recognized. 

The devices for marking stock were many and in- 
genious, yet the ears of the poor animals were badly 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



mutilated, and the " society for the prevention of 
cruelty to animals " would, in the new settlements, 
have found an ample field for work. Fortunately, the 
custom of "cropping," "splitting " and "punching" 
the ears of sheep, hogs and cattle has nearly gone out 
of date, and is only known to the pages of the records, 
where can be found a description of them, it being 
necessary to record them so that two individuals 
would not adopt the same device. The following 
description of some of the marks adopted will be read 
with interest by future generations : 

June 13, 1835. Samuel Coxe's mark — a slit in 
each ear. 

December 21, 1835. Neahmiah Dunn's mark — a 
crop off the left ear, and slit in each ear. 

April 6, 1833. Henry H. Fowler's mark — a hole 
in the right ear. 

March 22, 1834. Amos Green's mark — a crop oflf 
the right ear, and slit in left ear. 

December 21, 1835. Jacob Hill's mark — square 
crop off the left ear, and swallow fork in the right ear. 

January 13, 1836. Martin Harris' mark— two 
crops, two under-bita in each ear. 

October 2-4, 1853. .John Hollister's mark — half 
circle in the forward part of the right ear. 

February 14, 1848. George W. Jones' mark — a 
round hole in each ear. 

August 26, 1847. Joshua Leaches' mark — a 
square crop off the left ear, swallow fork in right ear, 
and under-bit in the same. 

September 16, 1834. James O'Dell's mark — a 
swallow fork in right ear. 

March 15, 1836. B. A. Pemberton's mark — a 
half crop out of the under side of the right ear, and 
upper-bit out of the same. 

January 18, 1844. Charles 0. Lamb's mark — a 
crop off and slit and under-bit in right ear. 

VANDALIA. 

The present site of the village of Vandalia was 
owned by Stephen Bogue, and he and G. P. Ball built 
a grist-mill here in 1848-49, and January 3, 1857, 
laid out the village. 

Abraham Sigerfoos was the first settler and became 
the village blacksmith. Asa Kingsbury was the first 
merchant, and T. J. Wilcox the first Postmaster. It 
is located on the Air Line Division of the Michigan 
Central Railroad, and is a pleasant little village of 439 
inhabitants and has its share of the business of this 
portion of the county. It now contains two general 
stores, one drug store, three drug and grocery stores, 
one dry goods and clothing store, one clothing store, 
two hardware stores, two millinery establishments, one 
urniture and one stationery store ; one harness, one 



cooper, two blacksmith, one wagon, one shoemaker, 
and one butcher shop; one foundry and one grist-mill, 
two hotels, viz., the Townsend House, kept by C. R. 
Dodge, and the Vandalia House, kept by R. S. Pem- 
berton ; one livery, kept by G. R. Anderson ; one 
private banking house, conducted by G. J. Townsend. 

The professions are represented by five physicians 
and one attorney. It contains three churches and one 
Masonic Lodge hereinafter mentioned. The village 
was incorporated in 1875, and the following officers 
first elected : President, George J. Townsend ; Trust- 
ees, J. B. Lutz, George Longsduff, Gideon Osborn, 
John H. East, Leander Osborn, W. F. Boot ; Mar- 
shal, N. J. Crosby ; Clerk, J. L. Sturr. The presen offi- 
cers (1882) are : President, George Longsduff; Trust- 
ees, George J. Townsend, Peter Snyder, 0. C. Gren- 
nell, Leander Osborn, George W. Van Antwerp, Will- 
iam Mulrira ; Clerk, J. L. Sturr ; Marshal, Steven 
A. Bogue. 

June 14, 1881, William A. DeGroot established 
the Vandalia Journal, a five column quarto, as will 
appear in the general history. 

FRIEND.S' MONTHLY MEETING. 

Nearly all the members of this meeting were former 
members of the Monthly Meeting, established on 
Young's Prairie in 1841, and they retained their 
membership there until the present edifice was com- 
pleted ; they, however, held meetings on the grounds 
now occupied by the present meeting for three years. 
In July, 1879, James E. Bonine, Silas H. Thomas, 
Henry Coat, W. E. Bogue and S. A. Bogue, were ap- 
pointed a building committee. The meeting house was 
completed and dedicated December 28, 1879, by 
Robert W. Douglass, of Wilmington, Ohio, and the 
building committee appointed trustees. The building 
is of brick, 34x57, with a twenty feet ceiling, sur- 
mounted by a belfry, and presents a very fine appear- 
ance, the cost of construction being $5,250. 

Heni-y Coate, the present minister, has been with 
the church since its first informal organization. The 
church officials are— Elders, J. E. Bonine, Sarah A. 
Bonine, Silas H. Thomas, Elvira B. Thomas. Over- 
seers— S. A. Bogue, Ira East, Mary Russey, Mabel 
East. Clerk — VV. E. Bogue ; Treasurer— Peter Sny- 
der. The Sunday school contains 100 scholars, 
taught by eight teachers, and is officered as followed : 
Superintendent, Henry Coat ; Secretary. S. A. 
Bogue ; Treasurer, Lot Bonine. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

For about fifteen years member.s of this religious 
denomination held religious services, first, in private 
houses, and later in the schoolhouse, until April 7, 18.54, 



256 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



when they were regularly organized by Rev. David 
Miller, with Ephraim Alexander and Julius E. Nich- 
olson as Elders, John Alexander as Deacon, and that 
same year built their present church edifice, which 
from time to time has been improved, until now its value 
is estimated to be $2,.500. The county records show 
its legal organization to have been perfected March 
15, 1855, with Ephraim Alexander, John Hurd, 
Stephen Jones, John Hcllister, Reason S. Pemberton 
and John Alexander as Trustees. The present 
officers are, Elders, John Hollister and John Alexan- 
der ; Deacons, George Green and George Wilson ; 
Clerk, Mary S. Hollister, and now has a membership 
of 100, while a flourishing Sunday school of seventy 
scholars and has, as Superintendent, G. J. Townsend- 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

In 1831, a Methodist minister named Felton 
erected a house on the ground now occupied for 
that purpose by John Moon, and commenced preach- 
ing. Since that time, services have been held 
at irregular intervals at private and school houses, 
with no regular place of worship. The schoolhouse 
at Vandalia long did service in this capacity, for many 
years the minister in charge at Cassopolis serving 
them as pastor. In the fall of 1876, the church was 
re-organized by Rev. J. W. H. Carlyle, the first 
Trustees elected being John Lutes, A. Bristol, Will- 
iam F. Bort, Isaac ReifT, L. Osborn. In 1877, the 
corner-stone to the present building was laid by Rev. 
Mr. Joy, of Niles, and the edifice completed that 
year, and the dedicatory sermon preached by Rev. 
Mr. Eldred, and the congregation rejoiced in the pos- 
session of a church home. The church now has a 
membership of about forty. 

The present Board of Trustees is composed of A. 
Bristol, H. H. Phillips, Eli Bump, L. Osborn, and 
1. Reiff. Rev. Mr. Robinson was their pastor 
for 1881. The church was first legally, organized 
June 17, 1858, with M. P. Grennell, David J. Whit- 
ney, Harrison Launburgh, Joseph Jones and William 
Russay as Trustees. 

A flourishing Sunday school of sixty members has 
as Superintendent E. Reed. Through the influence 
of the Red Ribbon Society, organized some four years 
since, who have simply enforced the laws, the liquor 
traffic has been driven from Vandalia. It has a mem- j 
bership of 100, who have selected Dr. L. Osborn as 
President. They now have no active work to perform, i 
but keep up the organization against a time of need. 
The society possesses a fine organ. 

MASONIC. 

Vandalia Masonic Lodge, No. 290, was chartered 
in 1871, the charter members being Amos Smith, 



Peter Snyder, George Longsduff, E. C. Cobb, Leander 
Osborn, G. S. Osborn, J. B. Lutes, John Lutes, 
Charles F. Smith, John H. East, R. S. Pemberton, 
John Klyne, George Green, William H. H. Pember- 
ton, William Muline. The first officers were: Amos 
Smith, W. M.; George Longsduff", S. W.; Charles F. 
Smith, J. W.; G. S. Osborn, Treasurer; J. B. Lutes, 
Secretary ; J. H. East, S. D.; R. S. Pemberton, J. 
D.; William Muline, Tiler. The lodge now numbers 
forty-eight members, and is in good working order, 
with the following officers : George Longsduff", W. M. 
Leander Osborn, S. W.; George L. Duff"y, J. W. 
Peter Snyder, Treasurer; H. A. Snyder, Secretary 
J. H. East, S. D.; F. M. Dennison, J. D.; James 
Salpan, Tiler. The hall is very tastefully furnished 
with a Masonic emblem carpet and other necessary 
adjuncts to the fraternity. The present Master has 
held that ancient and honorable position since the 
organization of the lodge, except three years, which 
speaks volumes for his efficiency. The present Treas- 
urer has held that position, with the exception of one 
year, since the organization of the lodge, while the 
Secretary, Mr. Snyder, has for five out of six years 
recorded the proceedings of the lodge. 

GENEVA, THE LOST VILLAGE. 

Geneva, the embryo village, now exists only in the 
imagination of the oldest pioneers of the county. Its 
ephemeral existence was signalized by the great activ- 
ity of its inhabitants, who had ambitions great and 
lofty concerning its future ; all of which were doomed 
to be blasted, and the traveler, as he wends his way 
past Diamond Lake, would never imagine that he was 
passing by land once platted for a city, and what was 
once the county seat of Cass County. 

In 1830, Martin C. Whitman, Hart L. Stewart and 
Col. Sibley, Commissioners, appointed by Gov. Por- 
ter, located the county seat at Geneva on the bank of 
Diamond Lake, which had previously been laid out 
and platted by Abner Kelsey, Mr. Silsby, Dr. H. H. 
Fowler, Mr. Hartwell and Alanson Stewart, who sold 
lots from $10 to $25, and gave away others to actual 
settlers. A spirit of envy was generated by others, 
who had land for sale, and, the following year, a new 
Board of Commissioners were appointed, who by shrewd 
management were induced to locate the county seat at 
Cassopolis, where it now is. The first store was opened 
in 1830, by Mr. Agard, the goods for which were 
brought by Daniel Mcintosh and George Meacham 
from Detroit to Edwardsburg, and then removed to 
Geneva. The time occupied in procuring the goods was 
one month, three yoke of oxen being attached to each 
wagon, that driven by Mr. Mcintosh weighing 66,000 
pounds ; coming to a very steep hill, the oxen abso- 




GEORGE J. TOVV^^fSE^JD. 



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f\ES|DFf.'CE OF JESSE G. JOKE'S, PElsIK; JVIICH. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



257 



lutely refused to ascend it ; a little strategy was resorted 
to, which accomplished the purpose. A bag of corn 
was spilled on the ground on top of the hill, and the 
o.xen allowed to eat about one-half, when, on being at- 
tached to the wagons, they settled into their yokes 
and drew the loads readily, so anxious were they to 
finish their repast. The St. Joseph River offered an- 
other impediment, but by laying logs along the bol- 
sters and with jack-screws raising the loads upon them 
they were enabled to ford the river, the cattle swim- 
ming, without injuring the goods. 

*"In the fall of 1830, Nathan Baker opened a 
blacksmith-shop, and, in 1833 or 1834, commenced 
the manufacture of cast-plows, which was the first 
furnace in the county. The iron used in the black- 
smith-shop and foundry was brought in wagons from 
Ohio. 

" Soon after Mr. Baker, his son-inlaw, John White, 
came, who was a blacksmith, and worked at the busi- 
ness with his father-in-law. Their business proved a 
decided success, and its development kept pace with 
the growth and wants of the country. For nearly 
twenty years, the ' Baker plow ' was the only one in 
use in the county, excepting the ' Bull plow,' which 
it superseded.. They added, also, in time, the manu- 
facture of cultivators, shovel-plows, and other agricult- 
ural implements. 

" Upon the decline of Geneva, the shops were moved 
to Cassopolis, and formed a leading feature of her pros- 
perity. In 1832, Mr. Agard was succeeded by Ira 
Nash, who carried on the business for a number of 
years ; Daniel and Abner Kelsey also sold goods for 
a time. A tailor, by the name of King, followed his 
avocation for a time. Nelson Shields worked at cabi- 
netmaking, and William Williams at carpenter work." 

The place never contained a church or schoolhouse, 
but a school was taught in a private house. The at- 
tractions of Cassopolis, however, proved disasterous to 
the future of Geneva, and it commenced to dwindle 
away until after a time nothing remained to colii- 
memorate its rise and fall. Ira Nash, who was one 
of its prominent merchants, died in Kalamazoo in 
1880. Baker went Westand died. White was kicked 
in the stomach by a horse and killed at a vendue, held 
at the Alexander place — now owned by James Dowels; 
and so all of those who were prominently identified 
with the lost village have died or moved away. 

PENN. 

Upon the completion of the Grand Trunk Railroad, 
Parker James, son of Isaac James, built a store and com- 
menced the sale of groceries, his father, on whose land 
the village is located, having laid it out November 12, 

* H. S. Kogeni, History of Caes County. 



1869. This store has changed hands several times, 
and now is owned by C. M. Osborn, who carries a 
general stock of goods, and does considerable business. 
He is also Postmaster of the village, which originally 
bore the name of Jamestown, in honor of Mr. James, 
but which has been changed to Penn. The post 
office since its establishment has been known as 
Penn. According to the last census, it contained a 
population of 100, not having gained any for several 
years, its location preventing its ever being more 
than a side station. It contains a shoe shop, wagon 
shop, blacksmith shop and saw-mill. It contains one 
church edifice— the Friends'. The Friends' meet- 
ings were first held at the house of George Jones, a 
Mr. Benjamin Cox, of Indiana, sometimes officiating. 
At the house of Stephen Bogue could frequently have 
been seen religious assemblages, and the first business 
meeting of the Friends, in this township, was held in 
his house. 

The first house of worship was built at Burch Lake, 
the Friends of Penn attending there until they built one 
on the prairie, called the Prairie Grove Church, when 
monthly meetings were held in these two churches 
alternately. 

The Prairie Meeting House has been abandoned 
for a much more commodious and modern structure, 
erected in the village of Penn in 1880, at an expense 
of $1,700. The following gentlemen composed the 
Building Committee : I. Bonine, J. W. Rinehart, M. 
J. Wright and Nathan Jones. There is now settled 
within the church limits a most able and efficient 
minister, Myron T. Hartley. 

It being contrary to the tenets of the Friends' 
meeting to employ religious instructors, we have no 
succession of pastors to record. The meeting at Penn 
now numbers about eighty members, and is in a 
very flourishing condition. The present officers 
are: Clerk, Evan J. East; Overseers, Garret- 
son and Nathan Wright; Trustees, Isaac Bonine, M. 
J. Wright and Nathan Jones. The county records 
contain the following record of the first legally organ- 
ized meeting : " Young's Prairie Monthly Meeting of 
the religious Society of Anti-slavery Friends, held 
10th month, 11th, 1845, unites with and appoints 
Zachariah Shugart, Ashmael Lee and Samuel Thomas, 
Trustees for said meeting, who are to receive and hold 
all deeds or titles to meeting houses and burial 
grounds, or other estate which may be vested in them 
and their succes.sors in office, for the use and of the 
Society at large." ["Extracts from meeting of 
aforesaid Society." " Subscribing witnes.ses, Stephen 
Bogue and Peter Marmon."] 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 
January, 1880, by Rev. J. Hoyt, with a membership 



258 



HISTORY OF CASS COUiNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of sixteen. The oflBcers are C. M. Osborn and Joel 
Cross, Stewards; C. M. Osborn, District Steward. 
The church now has a membership of twenty. They 
have no church building, and worship in the Friends' 
Church. 

EARLY ROADS. 

The first roads through this new country were those 
formed by the Indians, and are denominated trails. 
These are nearly all obliterated, one being still dis- 
cernable near Donnel's Lake. The first Road Com- 
missioners were H. H. Fowler, Andrew Grubb and J. 
Gard, elected in 1831. They met and declared all 
section lines on prairie and openings roads, but they 
were not surveyed or formally opened. The first road 
surveyed through the township was from Mottville 
to Cassopolis in June, 1832, John Woolman being the 
surveyor, John W. O'Dell carrying the chain. This 
was known as the old Territorial road and has been 
nearly all taken up. The next road was from Van- 
dalia to Constantine. The Road Commissioners next 
ran a road from Young's Prairie to Jones' Mill, when 
others followed in rapid succession. In 1846, when 
Henry Jones, David Mcintosh, Isaac Bonine were 
Commissioners, the roads were nearly all remodeled 
and located as at present, but it was many years sub- 
sequent before they were brought to their present state 
of perfection. 

Congress appropriated certain lands for the con- 
struction of mud roads, and it was placed in the hands 
of Commissioners to designate the improvements to 
be made. In 1848, Joseph Harper took, by sealed 
bid against all competitors, of David Histed, the Com- 
missioner, the contract for constructing about 100 
rods of road through the marsh on the Constantine 
and Paw Paw road about two miles west of what is 
now Vandalia, for which he was to receive 1,100 acres 
of land. The contract called for one foot of logs, one 
foot of brush and one foot of dirt, there being several 
feet of water on the marsh at that time. Mr. Harper 
took in, as partner, Daniel Mcintosh, and they sublet 
it to Richard Lake & Bro., who failed to fulfill, and 
the contract reverted to Messrs. Harper & Mcintosh, 
who agreed to raise it six inches higher than the origi- 
nal contract, and received therefor 320 additional 
acres of land. The water was so deep that brush was 
conveyed by boat from the island. Among the first 
bridges was one constructed by Joseph Harper, across 
the Christiana Creek at Vandalia, its place now being 
supplied by another structure. Since that period two 
railroads have been constructed through the township, 
known as the "Air Line" and "Grand Trunk," to 
both of which the citizens gave quite liberally, both 
by donating right of way and private subscriptions. 
To the Air Line, of which he was Superintendent, 



Mr. J. E. Bonine devoted three years time, $6,000 right 
of way, and |6,000 cash. Mr. S. T. Reed devoted his 
attention especially to the Air Line, to which Nathan 
Jones subscribed $3,000 and paid it, which is an 
index of the public spirit of the town, those above 
mentioned, however, being much the larger subscrib- 
ers, and the right of way, in several cases, it was nec- 
essary to purchase. 

SCHOOLS. 

Almost simultaneous with the advent of the pioneers 
were schools established for the instruction of the 
young. First in private houses, and a more incon- 
venient place could not readily be selected, for a house 
with one room, in which the household duties of the 
day were being performed, presented many distracting 
scenes. Still, necessity made it compulsory, no other 
place being available. These soon gave place to the 
log schoolhouse, and these were in turn superseded by 
more commodious and finer looking structures of wood 
and brick. Louisa Gedding doubtless taught the first 
school in 1830, in the house of Daniel Mcintosh, Sr., 
at $1.50 per week and board. She is now living with 
her husband on Gull Prairie. William P. Gedding 
taught in the same house in the fall and winter of 
1830, receiving as compensation $10 per month and 
board. 

James O'Dell and Thomas Kirk built in 1835, on 
Section 26, the first frame schoolhouse of which we 
have any record. Joseph White taught in 1832 in a 
log schoolhouse on Young's Prairie. The schools at 
this early period were sustained by voluntary sub- 
scriptions, and when we consider the limited means at 
the command of these sturdy pioneers, we feel almost 
a veneration for the wisdom they displayed in securing 
an education for their children in preference to all 
things else. A school district was organized in the 
Casterline settlement in 1844, a log house erected 
and school taught that winter. Various changes of 
school districts were made, until there are now seven. 
Districts No. 5, 8 and 9 being fractional (two num- 

I bers are omitted in numbering districts), and No. 4, 
a graded school at Vandalia. According to the 
Superintendent's report for 1S80, there are 512 chil- 
dren between the ages of five and twenty years ; 133 
volumes in the various libraries ; value of school prop 
erty, $10,200 ; wages paid male teacliers, $1,150 ; 
females, $991 ; bonded debt of the graded school, 

j $1,800, six frame and one brick schoolhouse. 

District No. 4 of Vandalia was organized in 
1865, but the old schooliiouse was used until 1873, 
when a fine brick structure, costing $6,500, was erected, 
G. J. Townsend, P. Snyder and Amos Smith being 
the building committee. Jesse P. Borton, who taught 
the school for five years, is credited with raising the 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



standard of scholarship and much improving the 
bchool. In 1879, Mr. M. Pemberton, the present 
Principal, established a course of study, and they now 
have a very fine school under his directorship, his 
assistants being Miss M. R. Thurston, Miss Lydia 
Burnham and Miss Rose L. Mears. The present 
Board of Education is C. E. Carrier, Director ; H. H. 
Phillips, Moderator; Peter Snyder, Assessor; J. B. 
Bonine, John Alexander and George Lnngsduff. 

EARLY ASSESSMENT ROLL. 

The following is a copy of the first assessment roll 
obtainable, it being for the year 1837, and includes 
the tax on both real and personal property : 

Amos Green, 320 acres, real, $12.80, personal, 
$2.35; John Price, 160 acres, real, $4.80, personal, 
$2.25; John Donals, 240 acres, real, $7.60 ; Jacob 
T. East, personal, $1.70; Elizabeth Cox, forty acres, 
assessment, $1.20; John A. Ferguson, personal, 
$1.40; Hiram Cox, personal, 60 cents; William 
Lindsley, 400 acres, '.real, $12, personal, $1.60; 
Marverick Rudd, 160 acres, real, $4.80, personal, 
$1.50; Ezra Hindhaw, 160 acres, real, $4.80, per- 
sonal, $2.25; Reubin Hinshaw, personal, $2 ; Abijah 
Hinshaw, eighty acres, real, $2.40, personal, 90 cents ; 
Mary Jones, 160 acres, real, $11.20, personal, $2.60; 
Lydia Jones, forty acres, real, $2.80 ; Jesse Beeson, 
personal, $1.10 ; Joshua Leach, personal, $1 ; Nathan 
Jones, 440 acres, real, $13.20, personal, $2.40 ; John 
Lamb, forty acres, real, $1.20 ; John Cays, personal, 
80 cents; John Nixon, eighty acres, real, $2.40, 
personal, 90 cents; Moses McLeary, personal, 60 
cents ; Henry Jones, acres, real, $9.60, per- 
sonal, $4.70 ; Ishmael Lee, 110 acres, real, $3.30, 
personal, 90 cents ; Christopher Bordes, personal, 95 
cents; Alpheus Ireland, sixty acres, real, $4.20, 
personal, $1.75; Drury Jones, sixty acres, real, 
$4.20, per.sonal, $1.20; Samuel Thompson, forty 
acres, real, $1.20, personal, $3.20. 

The above assessment roll forms the subject for an 
interesting study, as exhibiting the individual wealth 
at that early period, and, as compared with the report 
of the Secretary of State for 1880, presents a 
marked contrast, viz., 142 farms on which had been 
raised 74,238 bushels of wheat, 27,609 bushels of 
corn, 420 bushels of clover seed, 320 bushels of peas, 
8,085 bushels of potatoes, 1,598 tons of hay, 466 
head of horses, 953 head of cattle, 1.958 hogs, 2,943 
sheep, and there was sold in 1879 5,394 bushels of 
apples, 4,500 pounds of grapes, and sixty one bushels 
of cherries, currants, plumbs and berries, which 
shows the resources of the town in the line of produc- 
tions. Evidences of wealth, culture and refinement 
are seen on every hand as farm after farm passes 



before our view, nearly all provided with fine and 
appropriate farm buildings. 

SUPERVISORS. 

1831, John Agard; 1832-36, James O'Dell ; 1837, 
Alpheus Ireland ; 1838, Daniel Kelsey ; 1839, Dan- 
iel Kelsey ; 1840, James O'Dell ; 1841, Henry Jones; 
1842-45, Ira Kelsey; 1846-48, Elias Carrier; 1849, 
Isaac L. Seely ; 1850-1, Alpheus Ireland ; 1852, R. 
S. Pemberton; 1853, Barker F. Rudd; 1854, R. 
Pemberton ; 1855, R. S. Pemberton; 1856-58, Geo. 

D. Jones; 1859, E. Alexander; 1860, Amos Smith; 
1861, R. S. Pemberton; 1862, E. C. Collins; 1863, 
C. C. Nelson; 1864-65, Nathan Jones ; 1866-67, 
Amos Smith ; 1868, R. S. Pemberton ; 1869-70, 
John Alexander ; 1871, Reason S. Pemberton ; 
1872-74, John Alexander; 1875-76, James H. 
Stamp; 1877, Stephen Jones; 1878, John H. East; 
1879, Lucius D. Gleason ; 1880, Joseph H. Johnson; 
1881, Cliarles F. Smith. 

TREASURERS. 

1831, Hardy Langston ; 1832-33, Samuel Hunter; 
1834, Daniel Mcintosh (H. H. Fowler was elected 
successor in October) ; 1835, Thomas E. O'Dell; 1836- 
37, Daniel Mcintosh, Jr.; 1838, A. R. Lamb ; 1839, 
Daniel Kelsey ; 1840,' John Alexander; 1841, John 
Alexander; 1842-48, Stephen /Rudd* ; 1849-50, 
R. S. Pemberton; 1851, Stephen Rudd; 1852, J. E. 
Nicholson ; 1853-54, Edward Talbot ; 1855-56, M. 
Rudd ; 1857-59, John Alexander ; 1860, J. S. East ; 
1861, G. W. Jones ; 1862, J. W. O'Dell; 1863-65, 
A. W. Davis; 1866-67, R. S. Pemberton ; 1868-69, 
W. H. H. Pemberton ; 1870-72, John A. Jones ; 
1873-74. W. E. Bogue ; 1875, Charles F. Smith ; 
1876, H. East ; 1877-78, Joseph 11. Johnson ; 1879, 
Stephen Jones; 1880-81, Harmon Delong. 

CLERKS. 

1831-41, Ira Nash ; 1842-44, Allen W. Davis; 
1845, Elias Carrier; 1846, Ira Kelsey; 1847-48, 
Allen W. Davis ; 1849, Elias Carrier ; 1850-52, 
George D. Jones; 1853-54, John Hurd, Jr. ; 1855, 
J. B. Mcintosh ; 1856-58, A. L. Thorp : 1859, J. 

E. Nicholson ; 1860-61, W. H. Sullivan ; 1862, N. 
Monroe; 1863, A. J. Foster; 1864-65, A. L. Thorp; 
1866, G. Clendenan, refused to qualify, succeeded by 
A. L. Thorp; 1867, H.'C. Walker; 1868, H. Fran- 
cis; 1869-71, A. L. Thorp: 1872, W. E. Bogue; 
1873-74, A. L. Thorp; 1875, J. W. Bartlett ; 1876, 
John King: 1877, H. S. Cone; 1878, George W. 
Vanantwerp; 1879, Albert^'H. Snyder; 1880, Rea- 
son S. Pemberton : 1881, Leslie Green. 

•1854, E. Tiilboot died and S. Biidd appointed to fill vacancy. 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

HENRY JONES. 

Henry Jones, the eldest son of George and Lydia 
(Hobson) Jones, was born in Randolph County, N. 
C, in 1790. The elder Jones was a Friend, and 
his abhorrence of the " relic of barbarism " was 
so strong that, rather than rear his family under its 
demoralizing influences, he decided to remove to the 
then new country of Ohio. Here we find the family 
in 1807, in a sparsely settled region, bravely endur- 
ing the privations and hardships incident to life in a 
new country, but happy in the thought that they were 
free from the contaminating influences of human slav- 
ery. 

In 1813, Henry was married to Miss Hannah 
Green, a native of Georgia, and a most estimable 
woman, by whom he reared a family of twelve chil- 
dren. During his residence in Ohio, he was engaged 
in farming and merchandising and in both vocations 
was successful. In 1829, his father removed to Cass 
County and purchased a large tract of land in the town- 
ship of Penn. With him came two men, employed 
by Henry to make the preliminary arrangements for 
the emigration of his family. They were equipped 
with four yoke of oxen and the necessary implements 
for putting in a crop. The autumn of 1830 witnessed 
their departure for their new home. It was quite an 
event in the neighborhood, and was not wholly unlike 
the emigration of some of the patriarchs of old in many 
particulars. First were two four-horse teams loaded 
with household efi"ects ; then one two-horse team, fol- 
lowed by four yoke of oxen, the cattle, sheep and hogs 
bringing up the rear. The journey was devoid of inci- 
dents worthy of mention. On arriving in Penn, he 
bought a lease on the school section, where he re- 
mained four years ; ultimately he located on the west 
side of the prairie, where John Nixon now resides, 
and for the second time commenced the erection of a 
home and the development of a new country. 

Mr. Jones resided in Penn until his decease, which 
occurred in 1851, in the sixty -first year of his age. 
Mrs. Jones died in March of 1864, aged seventy-two. 
He was recognized as a man of ability and unques- 
tioned integrity, and was selected for many important 
positions of trust and responsibility, notably among 
the number that of County Commissioner, which po- 
sition he filled until the office was abolished by act of 
the Legislature. His benevolence and hospitality was 
proverbial and he endeared himself to the entire com- 
munity by his many acts of kindness, and, among the 
pioneers of the county, it is but justice to say that no 
one held a larger portion of public esteem than he. 



Of the family, six are now living in the county — Mrs. 
Nixon, Amos, George VV., Henry, Finney and Jesse. 

Amos was born in Ohio, and is now living in La 
Grange. Henry was also born in Ohio and has been 
a resident of Oregon for thirty years. Finney resides 
in Cassopolis. Jesse was born in Penn December 
13, 1832. On the death of his father, which occurred 
when he was eighteen years of age, he started in life 
for himself. He is one of the largest and most suc- 
cessful farmers in the county. 

He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Abram V. 
and Mary Huff, of Wayne, December 29, 1861. 
Mrs. Jones was born July 2, 1843, in Wayne, Cass 
County. Of a family of six children, four are living 
— Mary Belle, Jesse, George W. and Walter G. 

AVII.LIAM JONES. 
William Jones, one of the early settlers and promi- 
nent farmers of Penn Township, was born in Preble 
County, Ohio, March 8, 1813. He is the son of 
Charles Jones, a native of Georgia, who was born 
January 20, 1792, and where he remained until the 
emigration of the family into Preble County. As has 
been stated elsewhere, the progenitor of the family 
was an English Quaker, who came to this country 
about the middle of the last century, and settled in 
North Carolina, and from thence removed to Georgia. 
The family have always remaiined true to the traits of 
their faith, and their detestation of human slavery 
was the prime cause of their removal to Ohio, then on 
the extreme frontier. In 1812, the elder Jones, 
Charles, was married to Anna Bogue, who was born 
in North Carolina, in January of 1789. The boyhood 
days of William were spent in this then sparcely 
settled region, sharing the privation of a pioneer 
family, but laying the foundation for a robust consti- 
tution, and developing those habits of industry and 
perseverance which became, in later years, the salient 
points in his character. In the spring of 1829, the 
elder Jones came to Cass County, then known as the 
•' St. Joseph country," and located a large tract of 
land in the township of Penn ; returning for his family, 
he made permanent settlement in November of that 
year. He built a cabin 20x30 feet, on land now 
owned by his son William, which was occupied by the 
family, which consisted of seventefn persons, and in 
which they were obliged to remain for some time. 
The elder Jones became one of the prominent farmers 
of this township, and at one time owned over 1,000 
acres of land. He was an estimable man, and highly 
esteemed by all who knew him for his moral worth 
and social qualities. In 1852, Mrs. Jones died, and 
in 1853, he was again married to Prudy Pemberton. 
Bv the first marriasre there were ten children — Will- 





'4 -kII^^w ' 



H0^'. /\M':5 Sf./i ITH. 



AMOS SMITH. 
The present County Surveyor and ex-Representa- 
tive of Cass County in the Legislature, was born in 
Erie County, Penn., August 7, 1829, and was the son 
of Charles F. and Emily (Leach) Smith. One of his 
ancestors, his mother's father, James Leach, was a 
brave soldier in the war of 1812, and was killed at 
the battle of Niagara Falls, which occurred July 25, 
1814. The subject of our sketch obtained an academ- 
ical education in Erie County, and in the year 1848 
came to Michigan with his uncle, Joshua Leach, who 
was one of the pioneers of Penn Township. The first 
employment of the young man was teaching school. 
He taught two terms on Young's Prairie or more 
properly at the locality known as Geneva, and there 
worked for Joseph Harper and Daniel Mcintosh, who 
had the contract for building a road across the marsh 
in Penn Township. In 1849, he went back to Penn- 
sylvania, and from there journeyed to Yazoo County, 
Miss., in the same year. He there taught school 
until June, 1850, when he returned to his old home. 
He had gained many ideas in regard to the Southern 
country and people, and it was his intention to re- 
visit the Yazoo region, but obtaining a good offer to 
resume teaching in his old school in Michigan, he 
again journeyed here, in 1852. He taught occa- 
sionally for a considerable time, but having, in 185-3, 



commenced surveying, he made that his principal 
work, and, for the next twelve years, was continu- 
ously in occupation of the office, either as County 
Surveyor or Deputy Surveyor. In 1855, Mr. Smith 
bought forty acres of land, the beginning of his pres- 
ent fine farm of nearly two hundred and fifty acres. 
Cass County sent Amos Smith as its Representative 
to the State Legislature, in 1868. He was elected 
upon the ticket of the Republican party, to which 
he has been attached since its organization. In 1875, 
he was appointed County Surveyor, to fill a vacancy 
caused by death, and has since occupied the ofSce, 
by virtue of successive elections. He has been Super- 
visor of Penn Township three times, and held other 
positions of honor and trust. A man of much pub- 
lic spirit, he has endeavored to advance all of the 
best local interests, and perhaps has labored for no 
other cause more efficiently than for the public schools 
of Vandalia. He taught in them for two years 
subsequent to the time when they were graded, and 
has been, for nine years, a School Director. Mr. 
Smith was married, in 1855, to Martha J. East, 
daughter of James and Anna East, an old family of 
the county. Their children are Charles F., born 
September 29, 1856; Frederick E., born August 7, 
1858 ; and George D., born June 24, 1864. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



iaiii, Stephen, Mary, Elizabeth, George, Charles, ' 
Anna M., Joseph, Lydia and Keziah ; by the latter 
there were two, Merrill and liodema. He died in 
1832, " in a good old age, full of days, riches and 
honor." William was a member of his father's family 
until he attained his twenty-second year, at which \ 
time he was married to Miss Lydia, daughter of Henry 
Jones. After their marriage, the young couple com- 
menced life for themselves on the old homestead, 
where he has since resided. In 1845, Mrs. Jones 
died, and in 1857 he was again married to Miss Maria, 
daughter of Benjamin Parish, of Kalamazoo County. 
She was born in Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., March 
29, 1824, and came to Michigan with her parents in 
1841. By the first marriage there were six children, 
three of whom — Anna, Hannah and Elizabeth — are 
living, by the second, one child, William L., is living; j 
three are deceased. In 1856, Mr. Jones purchased { 
the old homestead, a view of which we present in this 
chapter. Mr. Jones is one of the largest and most 
successful farmers in the county, and his farm now 
consists of 970 acres, 500 of which is under cultiva- 
tion. His life has been devoted to agricultui-al pur- 
suits, and few men have applied themselves more 
assiduously than he, or have been more successful, not 
only in the accumulation of property, but in the per- 
fection of an honorable record. Politically, he affili- 
ates with the Democratic party, and both he and his 
wife are worthy members of the Friends' Meeting. 

DR. THOMAS J. CASTERLINE. 
Thomas J. Casterline, or Doctor Casterline as he is 
familiarly known, was born in Romulus, Seneca 
County, N. Y., January 3, 1813. His parents, Bar- 
reabas and Rhoda Casterline, were natives of Orange 
County, from whence they removed in the early part 
of 1800 to Seneca County. The mother was one of 
those noble women, who seem to be the personification 
of all the cardinal virtues. At the age of eleven 
years, Thomas went to live with a farmer by the name 
of Jonas Seely, with whom he remained four years, 
when he returned home and shortly after was pros- 
trated by sickness ; his life was spared, but he left his 
bed a cripple for life. His education was confined 
to the common schools of his native town, but what 
he failed to acquire from books he learned from obser- 
vation and experience. On arriving at that age when 
most young men realize the fact that the time has 
arrived when they are to do for themselves, and know- 
ing that his success in life was dependent upon his 
own exertions, and being physically incapacitated for 
many of the vocations in life, he resolved to make 
the profession of medicine his life-work. He com- 
menced its study with Dr. Champlain, of Allegany 



County, N. Y., and afterward studied with Dr. Alfred 
Griffin. In 1840, he established himself in the prac- 
tice of his profession in the village of Cuba. About 
this time, he met his destiny in the person of Miss 
Rachael M., daughter of Ralph and Mary Hurlburt, 
of Litchfield, Conn., whom he married in 1»41. 
Mrs. Casterline was born in Canaan, Conn., January 
4, 1818. After their marriage, the young couple 
made a brief visit to the home of Mrs. Casterline, 
and during the time decided to come to Michigan, 
where they arrived in October, 1844. His first loca- 
tion was the place which has since been his home, 
and which was at the time in a state of nature. By 
industry and economy, he has made repeated addi- 
tions to the little beginning of fifty-five acres, and his 
farm is one of the most valuable ones in that portion 
of the township in which it is situated. The Doctor 
has been successful, not only in securing a well-earned 
competency, but in the building-up of an enviable 
reputation. Both he and his wife are exemplary 
members of the Disciple Church, and in them all 
church enterprises find liberal supporters. Although 
not a politician, he has pronounced ideas on all polit- 
ical matters. He affiliates with the Democratic party 
and dates his conversion to its principles to the time 
of Andrew Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Casterline have 
been blessed with three children — Rhoda M., who 
married James M. Huey, in 1870; Mary E., now Mrs. 
George W. Paul, and Byron H. 

CHARLES OSBORN. 
Charles Osborn was born in Guilford County, N. 
C, in 1776, and commenced the ministry in the 
Friends Church about 1800 or 1808. He traveled 
and preached wherever there were Quakers for thirty 
years. A copy of his diary, as published, shows that 
his journeys in the interest of his religious belief ex- 
tended to the British Isles and nearly all continental 
Europe, as well as the United States. He was ac- 
corded a head seat wherever he was, even Joseph John 
Gruney refusing to take a seat above him, and was 
held in esteem wherever the name of Quaker was 
known. He was one of the earliest and most extreme 
of the abolition preachers, and devoted much of the 
energies of the best portion of his life in promoting 
the interests of the cause he so heartily espoused. 
There was a controversy on this subject within the 
Richmond Yearly Meeting (Indiana), which proscribed 
Osborn and several others " for their zeal in the cause 
of anti-slavery," but refused to state the cause in those 
words, but said they were disqualified for their posi- 
tion. This resulted in a separation, and Osborn died 
in 1850, before the two wings came together. They 
did come together, however, and the testimonial of his 



262 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



church, written soon after his death, shows that, hav- 
ing at an early period of his life seen the injustice and 
cruelty of slavery, he " engaged in the formation of 
associations for the relief of its victims, under the 
denomination of Manumission Societies." His diary 
shows that he began their formation in 1815 in Ten- 
nessee, the first society being organized with six mem- 
bers. He endeavored not only to enlist the feelings 
and the secure the co-operation of members of his own 
society, but also all others, and at that early day advo- 
cated and maintained the only true and Christian 
grounds — immediate and unconditional emancipation. 
In 1816, the Colonization Society was formed, which 
he promptly and energetically opposed. 

The first paper ever published which advocated the 
doctrine of immediate and unconditional emancipation, 
was issued by Charles Osborn, at Mount Pleasant, 
Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1816, entitled the Philanthro- 
pist, which was published about one year. He was one 
of the first, if not the very first, in the United States 
who advocated the doctrine of the impropriety of using 
the products of slave labor. Benjamin Lundy, who 
was also a Quaker preacher, became imbued with 
Osborn's doctrines, worked in the oiEce and occasion- 
ally wrote for the paper, and it was here that was origi- 
nated the germ of Lundy's subsequent operations. 
Mr. Embree commenced the publication of a paper 
called the Emancipator at Jonesboro, Tenn. Lundy 
purchased the material for the paper, and in 1821 is- 
sued the Genius of Universal Emancipation, which 
was a successor to the Philanthropist, established at 
Mount Pleasant by Charles Osborn. Lundy has been 
erroneously credited in all histories hitherto published 
with having published the first anti-slavery paper, 
whereas he was simply an occasional contributor to its 
columns. 

In 1833, he was chosen as Indiana's delegate to 
the World's Anti-slavery Convention, which was held 
in London, England, and started to attend the con- 
vention, but was forced to return home* on account of 
poor health. Let honor be accorded to whom honor 
is due, and no more fitting tribute can be paid his 
memory than that paid by William Lloyd Garrison, 
who, on meeting in Cleveland in 1847, a friend of 
Osborn's who mentioned his name, said : " Charles 
Osborn is the father of all us Abolitionists." 

From 1842 to 1847, Charles Osborn was a resident 
of Penn, owning a farm opposite James E. Bonine's. 
His death occurred in Indiana, to which place he re- 
moved at the latter date. He was twice married, 
having by his first wife, nee Neuman, seven children, 
only one of whom, Elijah, in Calvin, is still living. 
Jefferson, of Calvin, and Dr. Leander Osborn, of 
Vandalia, both sons of Josiah Osborn, are his grand- 



children. By his second wife, nee Hannah Swain, 
he had nine children, five of whom are still living; 
two in this county — Jordan P., who is a resident of 
Cassopolis, and Mrs. James B. Bonine, of Penn, at 
whose residence her mother died, some three years 
since. 



OHAPTEE XXVII. 

ONTWA. 

Early Historic Interest— Edwaidslniig, tlie Embryo City— Tlie Country 
as seen by Ezra Beardsley, the First Settler— Advent of the Meach- 
anis, ft ((?.— Beginning of f;niigration— Monroe Land Sales, Inci- 
dents at the Same— Pleasures of Pioneering— July 4tli Celebration 
in 1829— Early Double Wedding— A Queer Character— Philanthropy 
of an Early Settler— Pen Pictures of Ontwa in 1831— Adamsport— 
Original Land Entries— Tavern License— Edwardsburg, its Demise 
and Resurrection, including Early Merchants. Territorial Road, 
Stage Coach, etc.— Churches— Schools— Organization— Civil List- 
Biographical. 

THE written history of the American continent 
dates back scarcely four centuries, yet within 
that comparatively short period its pages have garnered 
from her hills and mountains, from her grand rivers 
and mighty inland seas, valuable additions to the 
world's stock of knowledge. 

Every State and every county has its historic 
points, its neuclei around which cluster the memories 
of initial events, attending its settlement and the 
settlement of adjacent territory, greater or less in 
extent. In the early settlement of this county, 
Edwardsburg was the point from which the settlers 
radiated into the adjacent towns. Here it was that 
they centered for information regarding desirable 
locations, and the impetus thus given caused many to 
look upon it as an embryo city, which, in the near 
future, would be the seat of a teeming populace, 
actively engaged in trade and manufacture ; but fate 
ordained it otherwise. 

We have only to take a retrospective glance, em- 
bracing a period of fifty-six years, and there could 
have been seen an individual accompanied by his sons 
passing in at the eastern portion of the township, who 
was slowly making his way toward the West, ever 
and anon stopping to admire this and that attractive 
point, as with the eye of a connoisseur he noted the 
productive soil lying at his feet in all its virgin purity. 
Arriving near the western boundary, the attractions 
became irresistible, for here, spread out before him, 
was a beautiful sheet of water, while the broad prairie, 
covered with luxuriant herbage, invited cultivation ; 
consequently, Ezra Beardsley unloaded his few simple 
household utensils, and commenced the life of a 
pioneer, and, like Selkirk's hero of the Pacific island, 
was " monarch of all he surveyed." 

Here it was that with that primitive agricultural 
implement, the wooden mold-board plow, that he 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MTCHTGAN. 



turned over tlie first furrow, while the dusky Indian 
maiden looked on in wonder and admiration, evidently 
contemplating the immense labor saved her white 
sisters by this wonderful invention. 

Having sown the first crop of wheat and erected a 
rude cabin for the reception of his family, Ezra 
Beardsley returned to his home in Butler ,County, 
Ohio, and in the spring of 1826 removed his family 
to their new home and commenced in earnest the life 
of a pioneer, all alone in the midst of a vast, unculti- 
vated region, uninhabited except by the wild Indians 
and their still wilder companions, the denizens of the 
forest. He remained the sole white inhabitant of 
this beautiful country until the spring of 1827, when 
George and Sylvester Meacham, George Crawford 
and Chester Sage arrived April 11, on the prairie, 
now designated Beardsley 's Prairie out of respect to 
the man who first made it his abode. This company 
erected their log cabin on the south bank of Pleasant 
Lake, near where the residence of Dr. John B. Sweet- 
land now stands. 

They left Ann Arbor in the eastern part of the 
State with an outfit which consisted of three yoke of 
cattle, a heavy lumber wagon, a good supply of pro- 
visions, camp equipage, ammunition and a plow, intend- 
ing to traflic with the Indians, in the meantime 
raising sufficient grain for their sustenance. 

Not long after their arrival, the tide of emigration 
which had already taken its way to this and other 
points in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, which was 
then on the outer verge of civilization, became so ex- 
tensive that they were obliged to abandon their first 
plans and commenced in earnest to cultivate the soil 
and make their squatters' claim, and in 1829, as soon 
as opportunity offered itself, they entered land in 
Section 17. George and Sylvester Meacham, ac- 
cording to previous agreement, taking the land they 
were entitled to, and George Meacham remained 
here until 1836, when, disposing of hi.s property, he 
removed to Porter, where he still resides. In 1830, 
George Crawford, who married Ann Beardsley, daugh- 
ter of Ezra, removed to Elkhart, Ind., where he, 
in company with Mr. Sage, built a log grist-mill, at 
which place they afterward built a hotel. 

It was during this year, 1829, that the famous land 
sales occurred, at Monroe, where certificates were 
given for a large portion of the land in the township 
although no patents were issued by the Government 
until November, 1831. At these sales the rights of 
squatters, or preeraptors, were respected, no settler 
bidding on another's claim, but occasionally an Eastern 
man, unaccustomed to the ways in the West, essayed 
to bid on the home of a settler, but soon deemed it pru- 
dent to desist, as was the case with one young man at j 



the sales at White Pigeon, which were held subsequent 
to the Monroe sales, who insisted on the right to bid 
on any land offered for sale, but only made one bid, 
when he was suddenly felled to the floor, which instantly 
inspired him with respect for settlers' claims, and oth- 
ers, similarly inclined, profited by this example. About 
this time Ezra Beardsley commenced keeping a tavern, 
which was the first in the county, to accommodate the 
large number of emigrants and land-lookers passing 
through the country, but was unable to accommodate 
them all, even with a bed spread upon the floor, and 
they repaired to " Bachelor's Hall," as the Meacham 
cabin was denominated, where they were given a 
hearty welcome and always found sufficient food, 
and that which was palatable, although served in a 
very primitive fashion. We have yet to learn of the 
individual who suftered for lack of food in the early 
settlement of this township, which possessed many 
salient features not to be found in others less favored: 

The broad prairie yielded ample returns to the hus- 
bandman, and afforded facilities for obtaining a living 
not to be found in heavily-timbered countries. The 
early settlers were proverbial for their hospitality, and 
cases of sickness, or distress, received the immediate 
attention of a philanthropic community, who regarded 
each new-comer in the light of a friend, who by their 
mutual improvements would render valuable their new 
habitations; therefore, the tales of trials, privations, 
hardships and even suffering related by settlers in some 
sections are wanting here. It is no uncommon thing 
to hear old veterans wish to live the old times over 
again, claiming that life was much more enjoyable 
then than now, although deprived of many of its luxu- 
ries. They loved the freedom from conventionalities, 
the kindly courtesy, and deep interest each neighbor 
evinced in the other's welfare, which is now wanting, 
because less dependent upon each other than for- 
merly. 

John Bogart, who was a native of New York State, 
moved to Richland County, Ohio, and, after remain- 
ing there eleven years, in 1828 moved to Edwardsburg 
and settled on Beardsley 's Prairie, one-half mile dis- 
tant. He assisted in the organization of the township 
and performed many of the initial events of its history. 
In 1833, he went to Ohio on a visit, where he 
deceased, his wife's death not occurring until 1863. 
His immediate descendants reside in Mason. 

Joel Knapp settled in an parly day on the farm 
now owned by George T. Howard, and by hard labor 
and close economy amassed a competency, at the 
same time assisting in maintaining the Baptist Church 
of wliich he was Deacon. He returned to New York, 
where he died in 1873. In 1828, Thomas H. 
Edwards, from whom Edwardsburg was named, com- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



menced selling goods in this place, in a pole shanty 
on Lake street, and was the first merchant in the 
county. While his stock was not large, his enterprise 
in disposing of his goods was commendable, and in 
1829 he employed Joseph L. Jacks to peddle goods 
from a wagon over the country, and to collect 
accounts. He continued in business until the fall of 
1831, when he disposed of his stock and village lots 
to Jacob and Abiel Silver, left the country, and is 
now supposed to reside in Wisconsin. In 1828, John 
Silsbee came from Chautauqua County, N. Y., and 
purchased Othni Beardsley's betterments and grain» 
on the farm now owned by C. D. Hadden, and then 
returned East in the fall, for his family, who came 
back with him the following spring, 1829, arriving in 
the month of April. The latter part of this month 
he went to Detroit to meet his son-in-law, Joseph L. 
Jacks, who married his daughter Susanah the year 
previous. He waited patiently for their arrival for 
nearly two weeks, and then took boat for Erie, Penn., 
where Mr. Jacks had been patiently waiting for a 
boat, and finally procured passage on one, passing Mr. 
Silsbee on the lake, but they finally got together in 
Detroit and made the journey to Edwardsburg, reach- 
ing there July 4, in the afternoon, but still in time 
to join in the celebration then in progress, which was 
being enjoyed by nearly all the early settlers, who 
joined together in a picnic, patriotism being one of 
their marked characteristics. To an American citizen, 
the celebration of July 4, would be a tame affair with- ' 
out the stars and stripes — that grand insignia of in- 
dependence and freedom, floated o'er him in the 
breeze — but they, unfortunately, did not possess a flag. [ 
July 2, Wilson Blackmar arrived with his family at '■ 
the settlement, and Mrs. Blackmar, who was present \ 
and participating in the festivities, volunteered to ! 
make one, and, being very expert, in one hour's time j 
manufactured one out of a sheet and two red and one 
blue bandanna handkerchiefs. It was then fastened 
to a pole, and William Bogart volunteered to climb a 
large tree on the south bank of Pleasant Lake and j 
lash the flag-pole to the center limb, which he pro- [ 
ceeded at once to do, and when accomplished, three 
rousing cheers were given by the proud settlers. 

John Silsbee subsequently sold out and removed to 
Jackson County, Iowa, where he deceased in 1879. A 
biographical sketch of Joseph L. Jacks, who was a very 
prominent settler, appears elsewhere. j 

Sylvester Meacham came to this State from Jeffer- [ 
son County, N. Y., in 1825, and packed for a sur- j 
veyor near Pontiac, and then worked for Maynard & 
Mills, in Ann Arbor, until coming to this county in j 
1827. In 1864 or 1865, he ,reraoved to Grinnell, 
Iowa, where he died. 



The marriage bells, had there been any, would have 
first rung in this township in the winter of 1828-29, 
to celebrate a double wedding, the high contracting 
parties being Thomas H. Edwards, who married Lovica, 
daughter of Ezra Beardsley, and Sylvester Meacham, 
who married Hannah Neblick, Mrs. Beardsley's 
daughter by a former husband. There was a little 
rivalry between the girls as regards personal adorn- 
ment, and Hannah quietly made arrangements with 
the wife of Sterling Adams for her silk dress, and 
appeared before the assembled company in garments 
that surprised them all, and Mr. Meacham often 
recalled the incident in a laughing manner. 

F. Garver, a native Virginian, who moved his family 
into this township in 1827 or 1828, was possessed of 
many of the superstitious and idiosyncrasies possessed 
by our forefathers. He lived in his log cabin for 
nearly a month without any roof, subject to the rain 
and inclemencies of the weather, waiting for the moon 
to be in the right position in the zodiac before shin- 
gling his cabin, so that the shakes would not warp 
up. In 1834, he disposed of his farm of nine 
eighty-acre lots, to Cyrus Bacon, for $6,000, and 
moved to the thick wood in Indiana, miles away from 
any habitation, for he loved solitude, and the numer- 
ous neighbors in this township, coupled with the fact 
that a road was surveyed past his dwelling, was so 
distasteful to him that he sold out. One house within 
five miles, and that a tavern, where whisky could be 
obtained, constituted his idea of a paradise. Cyrus 
Bacon became quite a prominent man, and was, at 
one time. Associate Judge, as will be seen elsewhere. 

Charles Haney, who was born in Baden, Germany, 
came to Philadelphia, Penn., in 1831, and engaged in 
peddling clocks until coming to this county, in 1833, 
when he, one year later, purchased his present farm, 
which he has improved, it containing at that time but an 
old log cabin. Mrs. Haney is daughter of the well- 
known pioneer, Jacob Smith, who deceased in 1849, 
who came into the county from Pennsylvania, in 1829, 
when she was but twelve years of age, and purchased 
J. White's betterments. At this time, the houses of 
S. Meacham and F. Garver were the only ones this 
side of Edwardsburg, and they were pioneers in the 
full acceptation of this term. Mrs. Haney and Mrs. 
Williams are the only descendants of tiie Smith family 
now in the county. Mr. Haney built two frame barns 
in 1835, which were among the first in the township. 
He is the father of five children. 

In 1834, Abner Van Namee came from Saratoga 
County, N. Y., and lived for a time on Beardsley's 
Prairie, and then moved to Indiana. His daughter, 
Elizabeth M., became the wife of -W. H. Bacon, and 
after his decease, married Samuel Starr. She now 







'HI ^ 



wJP 



JOSEPh L.J_y\CKS. 




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y\asTl^f c.jvi/\F^sh- 




Jz£*r7^«^ t/i. £j::pt>^^l^^a^ 



IIISTOIJV OF CASS COUNTY, MICHir.AN. 



resides in Section 17. The attractions of this country 
were such as to induce Daniel Folmer to come on a 
prospecting tour in 1884, and he became so favorably 
impressed with the country that he purchased a farm 
in Section 13. Milton Township, and the year follow- 
ing returned to his former home in Columbia County, 
Penn., and was united in marriage to Miss Margaret 
A. Anderson. He was withal shrewd at a bargain, 
and long before his death in 1864, accumulated » 
handsome competency. His widow, who now resides 
near Edwardsburg, contrasts her elegant home with 
the humble structure which greeted her after a long 
and laborious journey performed forty-six years ago. 

The pioneers were not confined to those of any 
nationality, the land being, by liberal provision of our 
Government, opened for settlement at the mini- 
mum price formerly asked, and among those 
cf foreign birth was James L. Brady, who was 
born in Ulster, county of Cavan, Ireland, March 
1,' 1802. At the early age of sixteen, he, in 
company with a sister, came to the "New World," and 
landed in Quebec, Canada, and shortly thereafter 
removed to Wayne County, N. Y., where, in December 
3, 1828, at Wolcott, he was united in wedlock to 
Marian, and seven years later moved here and 
was one of the successful agriculturists of the town- 
ship, being the arbiter of his own fortune. In Octo- 
ber, 1870, he removed to Elkhart, Ind., where he died 
in April, 1881, and where his widow still resides. 
They were the parents of seven children, of whom 
John M. resides on a portion of the old farm ; N. S. 
also occupies a portion of the old homestead, where 
he is now engaged in agriculture, having spent from 
1859 to 1868 in California; Marian E., now M-s. 
A. J. Moody, in Mason ;• Ophilia J., Mrs. Knick- 
erbocker, in Indiana ; while William J., Thomas L.» 
and Mary Jane are deceased. 

Ezra Miller is one of those quiet, unostentatious 
men who perform their allotted part in life in courted 
quiet. In 1834, he moved to Detroit from Erie 
County, N. Y., and dates his residence in this county 
from May, 1885, in which month he visited Cassopo- 
lis and was charged sixpence by the landlord who gave 
him a drink ef water, which forever turned him 
against that place. Forty-eight dollars comprised his 
worldly wealth at this time, but he entered eighty 
acres of land in Section 4, which he still retains, 
although a resident of Edwardsburg. 

In the fall of 1835, William Hanson came from 
Montgomery County, N. Y., with his parents, and 
settled in Jefferson Township. He now possesses 560 
acres of land in this township, and is one of the 
prosperous farmers, which is due entirely to his own 
exertions. Two of his five children, Henry and 



Charles, reside on his farms, he having retired to 
Edwardsburg. 

In^ 1835, Reuben Allen and his wife, Gamarias 
(Cloys), started for the West from Rutland County. 
Vt., with their household effects carefully packed 
away in the capacious wagon. A journey of one 
month brought them to Adarasville, where a rough 
frame building which had been used as a " corn- 
cracker" mill was occupied by them as a home until 
something better could be provided. He purchased 
eighty acres of land of the Government in Section 18, 
Mason Township, and continued to farm it until his 
death in 1863. His widow now resides with her 
daughter, Mrs. J. Fred Emerson, in Ontwa. When 
the surveyors laid through the road near his place, he 
hitched up his horses and followed close behind, so as 
to be the first one that traversed that portion of the 
road in his vicinity. J. Fred Emerson is a son of 
M. H. Emerson, also a native Vermonter, who came 
to Ontwa in 1839, and purchased the farm in Section 
13, on which his son resides, his death occurring in 
1877. His widow, Alzina R., was a daughter of 
Reuben Allen, the old pioneer. And thus does the 
historian find these old families sadly dismembered, 
death having severed the ranks so that but few now re- 
main of the noble men and women whose memories 
we revere, who underwent many privations and labored 
diligently under many discouraging circumstances 
that their descendants might reap the benefit of their 
labors. From 1833 to 1838, there was a very large 
emigration to this township, and there remained, after 
1838, but very little land subject to entry. Among 
those who came to this county in 1836, was Joseph 
W. Lee, from the historic State of New Hampshire, 
with his family, consisting of his wife, Maria (Hast- 
ings), and three children, the journey occupying six 
weeks, the only method of conveyance then being by 
wagons, and it was in one of these white covered 
vehicles, at that period so common, drawn by two 
horses, that the journey was accomplished. Mr. Lee 
was a fine model of the active, energetic, wide-awake, 
versatile Yankee, and could readily adapt himself to 
the circumstances with which he found himself sur- 
rounded, and having purchased 160 acres of land in 
Section 8, removed on it the block-house built by 
Ezra Beardsley, which had done duty as court house 
and hotel. Having successfully engaged in farming 
on the comparatively sterile soil of New Hampshire, 
as compared with the rich alluvial soil of his new 
home, his success became assured, and long before his 
death, which occurred August 24, 1874, he had accu- 
mulated a competancy, which was enjoyed by himself 
and family, his wife's death not occurring until Feb- 
ruary 3, 1875. His influence was given on the side 



266 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of right and justice. As a Methodist, he zealously 
advocated and supported his religious belief. He was 
the father of five children, viz.: Samuel H., who re- 
sides on the old homestead; Ednah S., now Mrs. 
Edminston, in California ; Mary E., now Mrs. J. M. 
Edminston, in Nebraska; Abiel S., deceased, while 
Moses H., the second son, resides in Edwardsburg, 
and holds the responsible position of Postmaster, and 
is therefore an active, energetic Republican. He has 
been identified with its interests since reaching his 
majority, believing it to be the exponent of good gov- 
ernment and liberal ideas, and therefore takes a work- 
ing interest in the party, having many times repre- 
sented it in county conventions. Having come in 
the county when a boy, and first attended the schools 
of early times, and subsequently taught them after 
they had made very material progress, he quite natur- 
ally takes a deep interest in educational aifairs, and 
has filled the oflSce of School Inspector and been a 
member of the School Board ; has been Notary Public 
for twelve years, and in addition has represented the 
township as Supervisor four terms. Mr. Lee's filial 
love and veneration of the early settlers causes him to 
take a great interest in perpetuating the memory of 
the pioneers, and the historian is indebted to him for 
many courtesies extended and facts garnered from his 
address delivered July 4, 1876, at a celebration held 
at Edwardsburg, to commemorate the 100th anniver- 
sary of our national existence. He and his wife, 
Mary L. ("Van Antwerp), are the parents of five chil- 
dren, viz.: Linnie M., Russell H., Harley H., Jay 
W., Ernie, of whom Linnie M. is a teacher in the Ed- 
wardsburg Graded School. 

When Eliakim Roberts reached this county in the 
winter of 1836, after a long journey through Canada 
from New York, he was in very destitute circum- 
stances. Even the rickety old wagon that brought 
him through, like the Deacon's chaise, went into a 
thousand pieces. Not having the advantages of an 
early education, he was unabled to read or write ; but 
he found a good friend and counselor in George Red- 
field, who not only extended many practical favors, 
but advanced the money and entered 120 acres of 
land for him in Mason, and allowed Roberts to pay 
for it at the original purchase price, after he earned 
the money to do so with, which is an act of philan- 
thropy seldom equaled, and caused J. E. Roberts, 
the youngest of his family of six children, and who 
now resides in Ontwa, to revere the memory of him 
who assisted his father, who died in 1854, in his 
time of extreme need. 

The journey from Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 
1836, especially if performed with an ox team, was as 
great an undertaking as a trip to Mexico to-day ; but 



the many favorable accounts Samuel C. Olmsted and 
his wife Eunice M. (Jackson) heard respecting this 
region, caused them to perform the journey, accom- 
panied by his father and mother, Sylvester and Sally 
Olmsted, the former of whom deceased February 3, 
1861, and the latter September 22, 18-54. Mr. 
Olmsted made a trip into Wayne Township, but the 
heavy timber and swamp he encountered caused him to 
return and purchase, in 1837, at $8 per acre, twenty- 
eight acres of land of John Vradenburg, the same 
he to-day possesses. The influx of emigrants at 
this time, and great demand for land, caused much 
speculation ; and several years later the same property 
could have been purchased at a less figure. The 
country was, even then, in a comparatively unde- 
veloped state — no fences extending along the terri- 
torial road, which then ran over the spot now occupied 
by his house. No doors or windows sheltered them 
from the chilling cold of the fall, when first moving 
into their house, but such inconveniences were con- 
sidered but trifles, and were soon forgotten amid the 
busy cares attending their settlement, and are only 
now recollected as among the novel experiences of 
pioneer life, and related for the diversion of inquiring 
friends. J. S. and Lucy M., who came through with 
their parents, deceased in 1854 and 1851, respectively, 
while J. C, another son who also accompanied them, 
resides on the old homestead, coming back from 
Illinois in 1870, to take care of the family, his 
mother's death occurring in 1854. This family have 
been prominently connected with the Presbyterian 
Church of Edwardsburg, and, taking the right side of 
every moral cause, have exerted a salutary influence 
on the community. 

Elijah Kingsley emigrated from Franklin County, 
Mass., in 1838, located in Mason, and thirty years 
since purchased his present farm, now conducted by 
his son C. R., the old gentleman being eightj-six 
years of age, and his aged partner seventy-nine, and 
are, therefore, representatives of a former generation. 

As will be seen in various portions of this history, 
part of the Silver family came to Cass County at a 
very early day and were prominently identified with 
many of its initial industries. On the 19th day of 
October, 1835, Orrin Silver, accompanied by his 
wife and son, George, reached Edwardsburg from 
New Hampshire, and for six or seven years kept 
tavern in this place, and subsequently moved on his 
farm, now supplied with fine buildings, which indicate 
the successful farmer. His father, John, Jr., followed 
his son, coming in 1844. Had it not have been for 
the pressing claims Mrs. Silver, who was ill, he could 
doubtless have furnished the historian with many 
interesting facts concerning the Silver family. 





JAjMES T. BF^/D/. 



jvlP^S-JAjvlEST. BF^^fKDY, 



JAMES T. BRADY. 
James T. Brady, one of the pioneers and well-known 
eharacters of Ontwa Township, was born March 1, 1802, in 
the parish of Druralane, county of Caviu and provint-e of 
Ulster, Ireland. His father, Michael Brady, who was born in 
1774, died in 1806, when James was four years old, and his 
mother, Katharine (Leddy) Brady, who was a little younger 
than her husband, died in 1832. The subject of our sketch 
and his sister Rose came to America in the year 1818. landing 
ill (inihic. In Canada, James followed various callings. 
While working at Quebec, sorting timber for the British Gov- 
einment, he was one day seized by a press gang, and, although 
making a desperate resistance, in which he received several 
bayonet wounds, was carried away and taken on board of an 
English war vessel, commanded by a certain Capt. Hours. He 
was given |40 in money and a suit of marine's clothes, and 
then told that the vessel was about to start on a seven years' 
cruise. He resolved to escape or die in the attempt. One 
evening lie managed to elude the guards of the vessel, lowered 
himself by a rope into the river, and the tide being in his 
favor, managed to reacli the wharf. liesolving to leave so 
dangerous a locality, he went to Wayne County, N. Y. For 
a lime he and his sister, who also went to Wayne County ,_ 
worked for the father of Joe Smith, the Mormon Prophet, 
with whom they became well acquainted. In 1824, young 
Brady became acquainted with Miss Mary Ann Jones, to 
w hom he was married December 3, 1828, by the Rev. William 
Powell, in the town of Wolcott. In the spring of 1832, he 
removed to Rochester, N. Y., and in November of the same 
year to Albion, Orleans Comity, where he remained until the 
fall of 1835, when he came to Michigan. After making a stay 
of a little more than a year at Lodi Plains, about forty miles 
west of Detroit, he settled in Ontwa. Cass County, in the fall 



of 1S86, and there resided until 1S70. when he removed to 
Elkhart, lud. Upon the 3d of December. 1878, Mr. and Mrs. 
Brady celebrated their golden wedding, all of their living 
children and many of their old friends being present. Mr. 
Brady died at his home in Elkhart, December 19, 1881. and 
his remains were buried at the cemetery in Adamsville. He 
was a man who was imiversally respected. In politics he 
was a life-long Democrat, and voted at fifteen Presidential 
elections. In rrli^iimis views he was liberal, and tolerant of 
the opinions of otlicrs. 

The family of Mr. ami Mrs. Brady consisted of four sons 
and three daughters, as follows: William J. Brady, born in 
Wayne County, N. Y., April 28, 1830, died August 1, 1878, in 
Elko. Nev. ; Thomas C. Brady, born August 29, 1833, in Mon- 
roe County, N. Y., died in Steptor Valley, Nev., December 
23, 1873; John M. Brady, born June 14, 1835, in Orleans 
County, N. Y.. now resident upon the old homestead in Ont- 
wa, married in 1869 to Miss Dora McNeil; Noah S. Brady, 
born March 17, 1839, in Ontwa, where he has since resided, 
married 1866, to Miss Maria E. McNeil ; Marion E. Brady, 
born September 22. 1843, in Cass County, married in 1866 to 
Andrew J. Moody, and now resides in Mason; Mary J. Brady, 
born May 7, 1846, in C^ass County, died October 12, 18.50 ; 
Ophelia J. Brady, born May 30, 1852, in Cass County, married 
August 5, 1879, to Clarence Knickerbocker, of Elkhart, where 
she now resides. 

Mrs. Mary Ann CJones) Brady, widow of James T. Brady, 
still resides at the house in Elkhart, Ind., and retains her 
faculties in a remarkable degree of perfection. She wsis born 
June 13, 1809, in Newtown, Gloucester County, N. J., and 
emigrated in 1824 with her parents to Wayne Comity, N. Y., 
where .she met and married James T. Brady, the subject of 
this sketch. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



26t 



Milton B. Robbins, a native of Massachusetts, 
removed to Mason Township from Ohio in 1836, but 
two years later changed his residence to Sturgis, and 
in 1848 purchased the farm in Section 10 where he 
deceased in December, 1879, and where his son 
David H. now resides. He served as Township 
Treasurer for two years, and filled several school dis- 
trict offices, being among its prominent members. 

In June, 1831, Hon. George Redfield, in company 
with eleven other young men, came to Michigan on a 
prospecting tour. The trip from Detroit was made 
on foot, the land-lookers carrying their provisions, 
camp utensils, clothes and a small tent on their back, 
camping out wherever night overtook them. At 
Ypsilanti they separated, Mr. Redfield, Sands McCaw- 
ley, afterward one of the leading men and a miller at 
Battle Creek, and Nathan Pierce, an embryo thou- 
sand-acre farmer of Calhoun County, being among 
those who took a westerly course and became infatuat- 
ed with the country, and as the beautiful scene is 
recalled to the memory of Mr. Redfield, no language 
would seem extravagant in its praise. The natural 
picturesqueness of the country, its surface so charm- 
ingly diversified with prairie, forest land and opening, 
lake and stream, was sufficient to charm them to the 
spot. The timber was dense, but, when the openings 
were reached, everything was changed. The trees 
were large and grew widely apart, and the sward 
between them, kept clear of underbrush by the annual 
fires kindled by the Indian hunters, was smooth and 
green. The prairie, spread out so temptingly to view, 
was covered with wild flowers of bright colors and 
beautiful forms and loaded the air with their fragrance. 
They fain would not step for fear of crushing them, 
or the luscious strawberry, half buried in a sweet 
seclusion of leaf and blossom, blushing and red, invit- 
ing to an epicurian feast, while the half-matured 
fruit, delicately tinged with green, white and red, which 
lay in prodigal profusion, extended an invitation for 
another day. Before the grass grew high enough to 
obstruct the view, the eye could glance down the aisles 
and passages of the forest and note the varied colors 
of the flowers, the verdant herbage, the flitting birds, 
the graceful deer, and chattering, frisking squirrel, 
and the ear could listen to the thousand voices of the 
woods, while the nostrils drank in the perfume-laden 
air, and the soul revel in the soft, mysterious delight 
afi'orded by so much beauty, sweet concord and 
harmony. To add to the picturesqueness of the 
scene, soon after the advent of the white man, dotted 
here and there over the smiling prairie and opening 
could be seen the blue smoke curling upward from the 
rustic house of the settler, whose little improvement 
presaged so much in the future, while in the near 



distance could be seen the busy little mart of Edwards- 
burg. Such was the situation soon after these lands 
were thrown open for settlement, and the rapidly 
swelling tide of emigration was sweeping onward from 
the East, and it is no matter of surprise that Mr. 
Redfield decided to make it his home, as will be seen 
in another place in this history. 

Jesse Quimby made his way from StafiFord 
County, N. H., in 1836, and settled in Ontwa, and 
his son, N. L., then a boy twelve years of age, resides 
on the old homestead. His father, passing away in 
1838, Mrs. Quimby married a Mr. Blackmar. N. 
L. Quimby followed threshing for twenty-two conse- 
cutive years, commencing with the old open cylinder 
machines, which were destitute of straw carriers, and 
did not separate the chaff from the wheat. He pur- 
sued the business through all the gradations of 
machines until the. present steam thresher came in 
vogue, and the first one of which was brought into 
the township by Moses H. Lee in 1862. 

It would seem that $2 per bushel for oats was an 
extortionate price, but this was what Russel G. May 
paid in Mottville, St. Joseph County, in 1837, when 
passing through that place, on his way to Beardsley's 
Prairie, from Canandaigua County, N. Y. The 
emigration had been so immense that nearly every 
thing had been consumed, and arbitrary prices 
were asked and received for what remained. After a 
stay of four years on the prairie, he moved to his pres- 
ent farm, where his wife, Hannah S., died in 1871. 
Of their four children two are deceased, and only one, 
R. D. May, who resides on the old homestead, lives 
in the county. When Nathaniel Hopkins reached 
Milton Township from Kent County, Del., in 1844, 
the farm he purchased contained no buildings, except 
a log house; but long before his death, in May, 1865, 
it presented a changed appearance, owing to the im- 
provements placed upon it. His widow Ann (Brown) 
now resides in Edwardsburg, with her son William K. 
On Section 22, but a short remove from the Indiana 
line, can be found the farm of J. B. Thomas, of 415 
acres ; its external appearance indicates the model 
farmer. They were not among the earliest settlers, 
as Evan Thomas, father of J. B., emigrated from 
Pennsylvania in 1843, and, like many of his prede- 
cessors, lived for a time on Beardsley's Prairie. He 
deceased in 1862, his wife, Nancy E., passing 
away many years previous. Although a Democrat, 
and this a Republican county, Mr. J. B. was elected 
Sheriff", having a majority of ninety votes, and is to- 
day one of the reputable farmers of Ontwa. G. T. 
Howard recalls, with marked distinctness, the prices 
of labor and provisions when he came in the county 
in 1845 from Delaware. He chopped wood at 25 



268 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cents per cord, and frequently put in one of the 
old-fashioned farmer's day's work, from sun to sun, 
for two bushels of corn, which sold in the market at 
from 18 to 20 cents per.bushel, one-half cash and one 
half store pay, while a man and team was paid $1 per 
day, and the wages thought to be ample. But he 
enjoyed good health, and possessed largely the quali- 
ties of industry and perseverance, which, coupled with 
commendable ambition, secured him a competency. 
George Rogers settled in Section 12 in 1853, and 
aside from farming, purchased produce and solicited fire 
insurance. He was honored with several offices, in- 
cluding Justice of the Peace, and was a prominent 
man up to this death, in December, 1879. He was 
the father of two children, Manning and Charles. 
His widow, Mrs. E. M. Rogers, resides in Adamsville. 

William H. Starr resides on Section 14, on a farm 
which, with its buildings, is a credit to the township. 
His wife, Mary F., is a daughter of the pioneer, An- 
drew Foster. 

Among the early settlers was Sterling Adams, who 
located where Adamsport now is, and which he laid 
out as a village in March, 18-33, with seventy-nine 
lots, while Christiana, across the creek, was platted 
by Moses Sage, in May, 1831, with forty-eight village 
lots and a public square, to which was added fifty lots 
by George Stevens, in April, 1836, and a second ad- 
dition by L. Johnson in June of this year. The first 
grist-mill was erected here in 1835 by Moses Sage, 
and ran night and day for several years, he paying 
from 44 to 50 cents per bushel for wheat, flour bring- 
$2.50 per barrel. In the winter of 1843-44, speecu- 
lators ran the price of flour up to $6.00 per barrel, 
and Mr. Sage disposed of 6,000 barrels he had stored 
at Niles, at this price, which enabled him to extricate 
himself from financial embarrassment. Adamsport has 
a population of 133, and contains a hotel, blacksmith- 
shop, general store and grist-mill. 

During the time the "wild-cat banks" were at 
their height, the farmers of this section called a 
meeting to devise some means to procure money 
for their surplus grain, they at the time receiving their 
pay in this worthless trash, called, out of courtesy, 
money. They duly organized themselves into a 
society, and concluded to store their wheat at the 
mouth of the river, and when a sufficient quantity was 
accumulated, to send a special agent to New York 
with it, to dispose of for them, and Hon. George Red- 
field was selected as their agent, but the grain pur- 
chasers finally concluded to not only pay a remunera- 
tive price, but to pay it in gold and silver. This 
practice once established, banished the worthless paper 
trash from the market, and inaugurated a new system 
of doing business, for the farmers received the price of 



their grain all in good money, and not a portion in 
''store pay " and the balance in Michigan money, as 
had been the custom for some time previous. 

EDWARDSBURG. 

Edwardsburg was laid out by Alexander H. Ed- 
wards, and a plat of the same, recorded August 12, 
1831, shows that it comprised forty-four lots. It was 
surveyed by George Crawford. Abiel Silver made 
an addition of 46 lots June 2, 1834, and a second ad- 
dition of 112 lots March 24, 1836. As before noticed, 
Jacob and Abiel Silver purchased the mercantile 
establishment of Thomas H. Edwards, in the fall of 
1831, and the next year erected a frame store on the 
ground now occupied by John Shook, on Chicago 
street. They procured the posts, beams, studding, 
and most of their lumber from Pine Lake Island, in 
Jeiferson Township, which, strange enough, was 
covered with pine timber. In 1832, they opened a 
branch store at Cassopolis, where Jacob removed with 
his family and eventually disposed of his interests here 
to Abiel. Henry Vanderhoof, who came from Ohio, 
started a store where Squire Hewitt now lives, and in 
a short time, disposed of his interests to Clifibrd 
Shanahan and Jesse Smith. In 1834, Shanahan sold 
out to his partner, and in 1844 was elected Judge of 
Probate, which office he filled until 1864. Mr. Smith 
continued in the mercantile business for many years, 
and then engaged in farming, his death occurring 
some ten years since. George W. Hoffman, of Niles, 
taking cognizance of this thriving place, which then 
bid fair to reach a city of considerable dimensions, 
brought in a stock of goods in 1835, and placed H. 
H. Coolidge in charge as agent ; after a time, he 
built where is now the furniture store of Dr. Aldrich. 
In the forties, Mr. Coolidge and P. P. AYillard en- 
gaged in business as copartners, and were succeeded 
by Mr. Millard, who, in about 1848, closed out his 
stock and went to Niles. H. A. Chapin engaged in 
business in 1837 or 1838, and afterward took in Samuel 
Griffin as partner. 

Even as early as 1836, the price of property had 
been forced to an extravagant price, and A. C. Marsh, 
who came from Dutchess County, N. Y., in this year, 
purchased the lot where he now resides for §500, and 
run one of the first blacksmith shops in the place. In 
1839, he established a foundry, which he conducted 
until 1875. A biography of him appears elsewhere. 

William Sherwood came to Edwardsburg from 
Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., with a family of four 
sons, who assumed considerable importance in an early 
day. B. D. acted in the public capacity of Notary 
Public, Town Clerk and Postmaster, and conducted 
the mercantile business for a time, but in 1849, re- 



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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



269 



moved to Elkhart, Ind., where he resumed his business 
and acted as express agent for twenty years. His son, 
Henry, now fills the position of express agent, his 
father having retired from active business. George 
Sherwood engaged in the mercantile business with his 
brother. B. D., in Edwardsburg and Elkhart. He 
was elected and served as Township Clerk here, and 
County Treasurer in Elkhart County, Ind., from which 
place he removed to Chicago, and is now a prominent 
business man of that city. 

Seth Sherwood removed to Calvin Township on a 
farm, and from there to Vandalia, where he conducted 
a hotel for some years, and then deceased. Charles 
Sherwood, a printer by occupation, removed to Cass- 
opolis, and from there to Mishawaka, Ind., where he 
still resides. 

Mrs. Vradenburg, wife of John, an early settler, 
moved to the West ; also her sister, Mrs. Powers. 

Benjamin Sweeney, a former resident of Edwards- 
burg, was a wheelwright and civil engineer. He sur- 
veyed and platted Silver's Addition to Edwardsburg, 
and numerous highways in the county. He removed 
to Illinois, and from there to California, during the 
early mining excitement of that State. He surveyed 
and platted the city of Sacramento, Cal., and after- 
ward returned to Illinois, where he died, respected by 
all. He was a whole-souled, genial and exceedingly 
humorous man, and a remarkable caricaturist — a 
second Nast — and used his talents to the edification 
of the people of those days. Mr. Sweeney's fertile 
brain was quick to perceive the eccentricities and 
peculiarities of an individual, and many a morning 
could be seen posted in a conspicuous place the results 
of his labors, which would convulse all with laughter. 
One individual threatened dire vengence should he be 
the butt of ridicule, and the day following he was 
found in the threatening and ludricous attitude in 
which he uttered his words of warning, which com- 
pletely unmanned him. 

Mr. Keeler, who came to Edwardsburg about 1837, 
was a basket and sugar-box maker, and, not possess- 
ing a horse, used to peddle his wares with an ox 
named " Bright " hitched to a cart, and his strange 
outfit, coupled with his humorous remarks, never failed 
to draw a crowd. He was a poet of considerable 
ability, and gave a champaign supper to which a large 
number were invited, and, when all were assembled 
around the festive board, he recited a piece of original 
poetry caricaturing each one of his guests, which 
was productive of much merriment. He attended a 
Democratic meeting at Niles, driving his favorite, 
"Bright," whose yoke was profusely decorated with 
flowers. He went West about 1845, and was lost 
sight of. 



Dr. Treat came from New York during the thirties, 
and was a son-in-law of Myron Strong. He was an 
able practitioner, and was respected by all. 

Dr. I. G. Bugbee came from Vermont to Cass 
County in 1839, and read with Dr. Treat, and then 
went to Oakland to practice his profession, but re- 
turned in 1849. where he remained until his death in 
1880. He was one of the charter members of Ontwa 
Lodge, No. 47, I. 0. 0. F., and was an honored 
member of the fraternity, having been Grand Master 
of the State Grand Lodge and Representative to the 
Grand Lodge of the United States. He was an ar- 
dent Democrat, a lover of education and a respected 
citizen. He was a man of ideas, and was free to ex- 
press them. 

Dethic Hewett was born in Pittston, Luzerne Co., 
Penn., December 26, 1795, and removed with his 
mother (his father having died) to Pike County in 
1812, and while there oflBciated as Postmaster and 
Justice of the Peace. 

In 1836, he emigrated to Calhoun County, Mich., 
and in 1847 to Edward.sburg. where he followed his 
trade, that of a blacksmith, until elected to the ofiice 
of Justice of the Peace in 1850, which office he is 
now holding and has filled continuously ever since. 
His ofiice has been sought by hundreds matrimonially 
inclined from Indiana, for they could be united in 
marriage here without a license. Although in his 
eighty-seventh year, he still possesses much vigor and 
easily discharges the duties of his oSice. No more 
fitting tribute to his honor and integrity can be given 
than to mention his long retention in office. His 
home is with his son-in-law — Dr. R. E. Griffin. 

Henry Walton, of Saratoga County, N. Y., came 
to Cass County in 1831, and remained one year, 
after which he went back to New York. In 1887, 
he settled in Edwardsburg and married Jane Orr, of 
that place, in the following year. He was elected 
County Surveyor in 1840, and in 1841 removed to 
Cassopolis, where he died in 1865, and where his 
widow now resides. Eleven years of his life were 
spent in Jefferson Township. 

James Boyd came to Edwardsburg from Ogdensburg, 
N. Y., in 1837, and established a hat shop for the 
manufacturing of hats, which industry he conducted 
for six yeiirs and it was the only establishment of the 
kind ever carried on in the county. He did a very 
large business, selling goods in Cassopolis and all the 
country round about. This was a very common busi- 
ness in more eastern settlements in early times. He 
carried on his trade in other places for several years 
and settled in Cassopolis in 1853, where he now 
resides, and where, for four years from 1861 he 
engaged in business with Dr. Tompkins. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The following comprises a complete list of 

ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES, 

and this includes the names of many regarding whom 
no data could be obtained, as neither they nor any 

representatives of their family now reside in the- 
county : 

Section 1. 

Havilah Beardsley, Highland County, Ohio, June 29, 183(1... 102 

Seth Gates, Ashtabula County, Ohio, May 7, 1834 69 

Henry Smith, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 17, 1844 40 

Henry W, Smith, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 17, 1844 34 

Section 2. 

Henry H, Fowler, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1830 97 

Andrew Spear, Chautauqua County, N. Y., May 9, 1832 99 

Luther Ward, Cass County, Mich., June 29, 1835 -57 

Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 29, 

1835 32 

Mathias Weaver' Cass County, Mich., July 2, 1846 86 

SECfflON 3. 

Philander B. Dunning, Erie County, N. Y., May 28, 1832 79 

Calvin Bibhop, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 16, 1883 36 

Calvin Bishop, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 16, 1833 79 

Barrack Mead, Dutchess County, N. Y,, Oct. 21, 1833 75 

Hazard Andrews. Cass County, Mich., .July 11, 1835 80 

Joel Brown, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1835 80 

Silas Baldwin, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1836 112 

Section 4. 

Lathrop Johnson, Chautauqua County, N. Y., March 2, 1830, 63 

John Garwood, Warren County, Ohio, June 7, 1830 80 

Hiram Rogers and L. Chapin, Niagara County, N. Y., Sept. 

27,1830 80 

Ezra Miller, Wayne County, Mich., June 4, 183-5 40 

Ezra Miller, Wayne County, Mich., Oct. 5, 1835 40 

Henry Dwight, Seneca County, N. Y., June 10, 1835 80 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 27, 1836 79 

A. H. Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1836 52 

Section 5. 

Ezra Beardsley, Lenawee (Jounty, Mich., June 18, 1829 57 

John Garwood, Warren County, Ohio, May 15, 1830.. 71 

Henry Whiling, Wayne County. Mich., Oct. 27, 1830 SO 

Abiel Silver, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1835 40 

.lohn H. Stanley, Livingston County, N. Y., May 16, 1835... 120 

Henry Dwight, Seneca County, N. Y., June 10, 1835 80 

William Sage, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 23, 1835 40 

Edwin Morse, Cass County, Mich., Deo. 12, 1835 40 

Clifford Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1835 40 

Vincent L. Bradford, Cash County, Mich., Jan. 6, 1836 40 

Section 6. 

John E. Hunt, Wood County, Ohio, June 18, 1829 .59 

John Silsbee, Lenawee County. Mich., June 18, 182'J 77 

John Silsh, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 182 87 

John Silsh, Lenawee (bounty, Mich., June 18, 1829 167 

Ezra Beardsley, Cass County, Mich., June 18, 1829 53 

.lames Gillespie, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 19, 1829 80 

John Silsbee 86 

Section 7. 

Ezra Beardsley, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 80 

John E. Schwarz, Wayne County, Mich., Feb. 4, 1831 86 

WiUon Blackmar, Huron County, Ohio, July 17, 1831 SO 

.lolin E. Hunt. Wood County. Ohio, Aug. 7, 1831 SO 



ACBE6. 

Henry J. H. Edwards, May 12, 1830 80 

John Garwood, Warren County, Ohio, May 15, 1830 85 

Ichiel Enos, June 24, 1830 80 

Asahel Kimbal, Erie County, Penn., Sept. 27, 1830 80 

Section 8. 

John E. Hunt, June 18, 1829 80 

Wilson Blackmar, July 17, 1829 80 

Wilson Blackmar, Cass County. Mich., June 18, 1830 80 

Catharine Schwarz, by Trustee, Wayne County, Mich., Oct. 

26, 1829 80 

Abiel Silver, May 29, 1835 160 

Joel Brown, July 18, 18H5 68 

Luther Humphrey, Oct. 28, 1835'. 50 

Section 9. • 

Andrew Jackson, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 1, 1832 : 40 

Andrew Jackson. Cass County, Mich., Nov. 9, 1835 40 

Ezra Beardsley, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 8, 1832 40 

Sylvester Meacham, Cass County, Mich., March 28, 1834 40 

Henry Dwight, June 10, 1835 71 

Henry Dwight, July 25, 1835 80 

Ezra Miller, July 18, 1835 40 

Israel Keed, Wayne County, Mich., July 24, 1835 40 

Cogswell K. Green, Berrien County, .Mich., Oct. 10, 1835 80 

Section 10. 

Roswell W. Acres, Chautauqua County, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1831. 80 

P. B. Dunning, Erie County, N. Y.. May 38, 1832 80 

Barnabas Eddy, Washtenaw County, Mich., June 30, 1834... 80 

Jasper Eddy, Washtenaw County, Mich., June 23, 1835 80 

Miles D. Plumb, Cass County, Mich., May 25, 1835 80 

John S. Brown, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1835 80 

Orrin Silver, Cass County, Mich., March 19, 1836 80 

Horace Eastman, Ontario County, N. Y., April 21, 1836 80 

Section 11. 

John Vanatta, Erie County, Penn., Jan. 22, 1831 80 

Benjamin B. Gates, Chautauqua County, N. Y., July 5, 1831 80 

R. W. Acres, Chautauqua County, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1831 80 

A. Spear, Chautauqua County, N. Y., May 9, 1832 80 

Juno Amelia Adams, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 30, 1832 40 

John Mcintosh, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1833 80 

Elijah Mowry, Cass County, Mich., .\ug. 28, 1834 80 

Elijah Mowry, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 21, 1835 40 

.lasper Eddy, Washtenaw County, June 23, 1835 80 

Section 12. 

Stirling Adams, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 160 

Stirling Adams, July 21, 1831 80 

Stirling Adams, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 26, 1834 120 

Havilah Beardsley, Highland County, Ohio, June 29, 18.30... 80 

Charles Kennedy, Saratoga ('ounty, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1831 80 

Noah D. Snow, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 6, 1833 80 

Edward Worth. Case County, Mich., May 14, 1836 40 

Section 13, 

George Stevens, Cass County, N. Y., July 31, 1832 40 

William Eddy, Washtenaw County, Mich., June -30, 1834 280 

George Redfield, Ontario County, N. Y., Aug. 6, 1834 160 

George Redfield, t^ass County, Mich., Nov. 6, 1835 40 

James Benedict, Cass County, Mich., April 10, 1835 40 

Asa Griffith, Otsego County, N. Y., June 20, 1835 40 

Section 14. 

W. and D. Eddy, Washtenaw County, -Mich., June 30, 1834.. 320 

Elijih Beardsley, Cass County, Mich., July .30, 1834 320 



1 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



271 



Section 15. 

Barnabas Eddy, June 30, 1834 80 

Elijah Beardsley, July 30, 1831 514 

Section 16. 
School Lands. 

Skction 17. 

G. and S. Meacham, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 18'20 80 

George Boone, Lenawee County, Mich., July 3, 1829 80 

Joseph Poole, Wayne, July 5, 1830 80 

Dempster Beatty, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 28, 1830 80 

Dempster Beatty, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 13, 1834 40 

Fred. Garver, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1834 40 

Barrack Mead, Cass County Mich., Oct. 29, 1835 80 

Abiel Silver, Cass County, Mich., July 1-5. 183f> 160 

Section 18. 

Jacob Smith, Lenawee County, Mich., June 18, 1829 80 

G. and S. Meacham, Lenawee County, Mich., Aug. 26, 1829.. 80 

Fred. Garver, Lenawee County, Mich., Sej^- 16, 1829 160 

Gabriel O'Dell, Randolph County, Ind., Oct. 26. 1829 80 

Adam Miller, Franklin County, Ohio, June 7, 1830 87 

George Crawford, Cass County, Mich., June 24, 1830 80 

Philip Shintaffer, Greene County, Ind., Sept. 1, 1830 . 86 

Section 19. 

Fred, (iarver, June 18, 1829 154 

Fred. Garver, Sept. 15, 1829 67 

Joseph Coe, Oct. 26, 1829 84 

Section 20. 

Nathan C. Tibbits. Cass County, Mich., Sept. 10, 1830 80 

Jacob Smith, Cass County, Mich , Sept. 10, 1830 66 

Jacob Graumlich, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 1, 1830 69 

Fred. Garver, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 6, 1834 80 

Section 21. 

Jacob Graumlich, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 1, 1831 71 

George Redfield, Ontario County, N. Y., July 6, 1833 70 

Peleg Redfield, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21, 1834 40 

A. H. Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 18, 1833 40 

Charles Hanny, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1834 80 

Section 22. 

A. H. ReJfield, March 27, 1833 40 

George Redfield, March 27, 1833 71 

Peleg Redfield, July 21, 1834 40 

Henry Judson, Columbia County, N. Y., April 8, 18.33 71 

Elijah Beardsley, July .30, 1834 80 

Section 23. 

Peleg Redfield, July 21. 1834 71 

Elijah Beardsley, .July 30, 18.34 80 

George Redfield, Aug. 6, 1834 151 

Section 24. 

Stirling Adams, Feb. 12,1834 40 

George Redfield, Aug. 6, 1834 l.-)4 

George Redfield, Aug. 6, 1834 40 

James Benedict, April 10,1835 40 

Johns. Worth, June 20,1835 42 

The following interesting document shows that " red 
tape " is not a modern invention and that ye landlord 
of ye olden time must not only be possessed of a " good 
moral character," but of "sufficient ability to keep 
tavern " before he could procure a license to do so : 



" Michigan, Cass County: — At a township board 
held for the township of Ontwa, convened at the house 
of T. A. H. Edwards in said township, on the second 
day of January, present: Othni Beardsley, Supervisor, 
and T. A. H. Edwards, Clerk, and John Bogart, 
Sterling Adams, Sylvester Meacham, Justices of the 
Peace, all of whom are officers of said township, resid- 
ing therein, and now forming a Township Board, up- 
on the application of T. A. H. Edwards, of the said 
township, for a permit to keep a tavern, in which he now 
resides, in said township, having duly considered the 
said, it is therefore resolved that T. A. H. Edwards 
is of good moral character and sufficient ability to keep 
a tavern, that he has accommodations to entertain 
travelers, and that a tavern is absolutely necessary at 
that place for the actual accommodation of travelers. 
We, the undersigned, having satisfactory evidence of 
the same, in testimony whereof we have hereunto sub- 
scribed our names on the day and year and at the 
township named as aforesaid. Onthni Beardsley, 
Supervisor ; Sterling Adams, Justice of the Peace ; 
John Bogart, Justice of the Peace ; Ezra Beardsley, 
Justice of the Peace." (Probable date, 1830.) 

THE "TERRITORIAL ROAD." 

One important factor in the early and rapid growth 
of Edwardsburg was the Territorial road, so-called, 
which passed through it on its way from Detroit to 
Chicago. This road was commenced at its eastern 
extremity in 1823, but it was many years before 
completed to Lake Michigan. 

One peculiarity regarding it was its crookedness, 
and it used to be said that it was surveyed by a flag 
and horn, and that the surveyor got far too many 
horns. Certain it is that for some consideration the 
road was deflected from its course in many instances 
in order to pass by the door of a settler, and it is 
claimed that the brown jug exerted a most potent in- 
fluence in the case. 

From 1832 to 1840, this road was literally lined 
with emigrants who were making their way to the 
Elysian fields of the West, in all manner of convey- 
ances ; but the canvas-covered Pennsylvania lumber 
wagon was the favorite vehicle with emigrants, both 
on account of its strength and capaciousness. 

Neither must we omit the stage coach, which, forty- 
five years ago, was an important institution, for it was 
the fastest and best public conveyance by land. A 
line of stage coaches plied between Detroit and 
Chicago, and day after day did they traverse the 
territorial road, loaded to the top with passengers and 
freight westward bound. It linked the woodland 
villages with each other, and kept them all in com- 
munication with the outside world. Its coming. 



272 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



which was heralded by the stage horn, was always an 
interesting event, and the settlement and village 
hailed its advent as a welcome messenger, bringing 
relatives and friends and news from foreign lands. 

This was the condition of this place, when the first 
Board of Supervisors met, and when was held the first 
court, of which Joseph L. Jacks was Clerk, and to which 
George Meacham summoned the jury, taking all those 
qualified, except five, in the territory north and west 
of St. Joseph County, which was then embraced in 
this circuit, as nothing less than the payment of a 50- 
cent ta.x would qualify them. 

EDWARDSBURG, 

Situated as it is in the midst of a magnificent agri- 
cultural country, with the Territorial road running 
past its door, acting as a substitute for river naviga- 
tion, was, at this period (1848) in the height of its 
glory — for it contained a population of about three 
hundred, three churches, good school and business 
houses, and all the necessary adjuncts of a thriving 
village — when railroads on either side cut it off from 
the outside world. Then the stage coach stopped run- 
ning, and other places, on the line of the railroads, were 
used .as shipping-points, therefore its business dwin- 
dled down, merchants packed up their stocks and left, 
until, in 1851 it contained but one small business house, 
kept by C. Kennedy. 

But Edwardsburg, phoenix-like, is redeeming her- 
self; for when, in 1871, the present Grand Trunk 
railroad was completed, it commenceii to rebuild, and 
now has a population of 500. It contains three 
general stores, and, prominent among them, is one 
kept by C. W. Smith, son of the pioneer merchant, 
Jesse Smith, who has been in business five years. Dyer 
Dunning, son of Allen, the pioneer, is proprietor of one 
of the three hardware stores. It also contains two drug, 
one grocery, three confectionery, one furniture, three 
boot and shoe stores, two blacksmith and one harness 
shop, one undertaker, two wagon makers, two paint- 
ers, three carpenters and builders, one grist-mill, two 
hotels, one lumber dealer, seven physicians, three 
churches, one weekly paper, the Edwardsburg Argus, 
a record of which appears in the general history, and 
one grain elevator, run by H. H. Birdwell, as agent, 
which has a capacity of 16,000 bushels, and from j 
which was shipped for the fiscal year ending July 1. | 
1881, some 89,600 bushels of wheat, 46.100 bushels ] 
of corn, 13,400 bushels of oats. They also purchased i 
1,500 bushels of clover seed, and 500 bushels of rye, j 
whicli shows this to be quite a point for grain ship- j 
ments. 

It can be said to the credit of this place that no I 
ilrinking saloon can be found within its limits, which 



presents a wonderful revolution in public sentiment, 
for in early days dram drinking was so common that 
it was found impossible to raise the Baptist Church 
without liquor, which the men demanded, and all 
labor ceased until some one procured a jug of whisky, 
which was thrown from bent to bent, until all were 
satisfied, when the building was raised without diffi- 
culty. In these days it was thought necessary to use 
immense timbers even in the construction of a house, 
and many men were required to raise the bents ; and 
when George Redfield, who was a temperance man, 
announced that his house should be raised without 
liquor, people predicted a failure ; but he did succeed, 
and it was the first building in the township raised 
without stimulants. The Edwardsburg Reform Club, 
which was organized March 18, 1877, claim the 
credit of closing the saloons, two in number. It has 
a membership of 150, and holds weekly meetings, and 
is ofiicered at present as follows: President, H. H. 
Bidwell ; First Vice President, Rev. J. E. King ; 
Second Vice President, J. C. Carmichael ; Secretary, 
Mrs. Elsie Crandell ; Assistant Secretary, Miss Kittie 
Vaughn ; Financial Secretary, Mark Olmsted ; Treas- 
urer, Rev. J. B. Fowler ; Sergeant at Arms, A. J. 
Curtiss. Edwardsburg also contains the following 
secret organizations : 

MASONIC LODGE. 

St. Peter's Lodge, No. 106, Free and Accepted 
Masons, was instituted January 14, 1858, with Israel 
G. Bugbee, as W. M. ; George Bignall, S. W. ; 
Amasa S. Cook, J. W., as charter officers, and the 
balance of the first officers were : Cyrus Bacon, Treas- 
urer ; Thomas Head, Secretary ; Uri Case, S. D. ; 
Andrew Longstreet, J. D. ; Isaac Dumbleton, Tiler. 
The lodge is in a flourishing condition and has a 
membership of sixty-eight. Its regular communica- 
tions are on last Tuesday on or before the full of the 
moon. 

The present officers are: J. Boyd Thomas, W- 
M. ; Eli Benjamin, S. W. ; Marion Holland, J. W. ; 
Asa Jones, Treasurer ; Edwin Case, Secretary ; Orson 
S. Lothridge, S. D. ; N. L. Quimby, J. D. ; A. J. 
Curtiss, Tiler. 

ODD FELLOWS. 

Cass Encampment, No. 74, was instituted in Cass- 
opolis February 11, 1874, and removed to Edwards- 
burg in 1880. The charter officers were : R. H. 
Wiley, C. P. ; H. H. Bidwell, H. P. ; J. W. Argo, 
S. W. ; C. C. Allison, Scribe ; Henry Tietsort, 
Treasurer ; Charles Morgan, Secretary ; H. Dasher, 
Guide. It now has seventeen members and regular 
meetings are on the second and fourth Tuesday of 
each month. The present officers are : H. Dasher, 



] 




^w^-y'^^S^ 




fl/THEW' H. Ej^AE^SOfJ. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



273 



C. P. ; Henry Tietsort, H. P. ; J. B. Sweetknd, S. 
AV. ; W. W. Sweetland, Scribe; H. H. Bidwell, 
Treasurer ; A. C. Cook, Guide ; C. Colby, J. S. 

Ontwa Lodge, No. 49, I. 0. 0. F., had a charter 
granted them July 18, 1850. The first ofiicers were : 
Henry Lockwood, N. G. ; A. Reading, V. G. ; I. G- 
Bugbee, Secretary — who has been Grand Master of 
the State — J. B. Cooper, Treasurer. This lodge is in 
a very flourishing condition ; owns the property where 
they meet, valued at $2,500 ; has a fine regalia and 
fifty-eight members. The present officers are: W- 
W. Sweetland, N. G. ; B. 0. Purt, V. G. ; E. D 
Bement, R. Sec. ; H. Dasher, F. Secretary ; H. H. 
Bidwell, Treasurer. Regular meetings every Saturday 
night. 

PRESBYTEKIAN CHURCH. 

Rev. Luther Humphrey was sent as a missionary 
to Cass County from New England, by the American 
Home Missionary Society, and arrived at Edwards- 
burg October 2, 1830. The following day he preached 
to a small congregation in the house of Jacob Smith, 
and continued to hold services in various places, 
when March 4, 1831, Sylvester Meachani, Mrs. Har- 
riet Meacham, and Sarah Humphrey, wife of Luther 
Humphrey, decided to organize a church and adopted 
a resolution to admit no one to membership who 
would not abstain from the use of ardent spirits as an 
article of drink. March 6, 1831, the above-named 
persons were solemnly constituted a Church of Christ, 
and two infants were baptized and the Lord's Supper 
administered. 

September 4, 1832, they adopted the Congrega- 
tional mode of church government, agreeable to a 
plan of union proposed by the General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church, as neither the Presbyterians 
nor Congregatio'nalists were strong enough to maintain 
a church. Sylvester Meachara was chosen the first 
Deacon and Silas Meacham the first Clerk. The 
records do not show when the first church was erected, 
but the second one was constructed in 1855, and 
dedicated April 7, 1856. 

April 18, 1877, the church members, by a majority 
vote, decided to join the Kalamazoo Presbytery, and 
elected Elders on the rotary plan, and the church 
now belongs to the Presbyterian denomination. 

The church, which now has a pastor, Rev. J. B. 
Fowler, has a membership of seventy-six, and the 
Deacons are S. B. Hadden, George M. Hadden, C. 
S. Olmsted, W. H. Starr and R. S. Griffin. 

Elder Rev. Humphrey, before referred to, returned 
East where he deceased. He was a rank Abolitionist 
and would use nothing the result of slave labor ; neither 
would he use wine at the sacrament, using the juice 
of grapes as a substitute. 



BAPTIST CHUKCH. 

Elder Jacob Price was one of the pioneer ministers 
of the Gospel, coming here in 1833 to promulgate the 
principles of the Baptist Church, of which he was a 
member. He preached in Edwardsburg and Cassopo- 
lis each alternate Sabbath until 1836. when he locat- 
ed on the land now owned by Edward Shanahan, in 
JeflFerson, and preached regularly in Edwardsburg until 
1842, when he removed to Cassopolis. It was under 
his ministrations that the Baptist Church was organ- 
ized. May 14, 1834 and Myron Strong, Luther 
Chapin and Barak Mead were elected Trustees. The 
church was at one time in a very flourishiag condition, 
but now hardly numbers twenty-five members. They 
have a frame house of worship. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized 
February 13, 1837, the first Trustees being Hiram 
Rogers, Clifibrd Shanahan, Leonard Hains, H. A. 
Chapman and Asa Smith. 

It now has a membership of ninety-two, a comforta- 
ble brick church and substantial parsonage. D. Strat- 
ton is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which 
numbers 105 scholars, who draw reading matter from 
a library of 150 volumes. The following list of pas- 
tors has been furnished us : Revs. Knox, Williams, 
Jones, Van Order, Meek, Tooker, Collins, Worthing- 
ton, Kellogg, Stanley, Shaw, Erkenbrack, Eldred, 
Granger, Hall, Pitezelt, Robinson, Ringold, Boynton, 
Johnson, George, Miller, Smith, Burns, Hicks, Bell, 
Robison and Iloyt. 

SCHOOLS. 

Clearly recognizing the importance of education, 
the pioneer fathers, as early as 1829 or 1830, organ- 
ized a school, which was taught by Ann Wood, in 
one part of the double log house of Wilson Blackmar, 
below the present residence of Orrin Silver. The 
next school of which we learn was taught by Angeline 
Byrd, in a house on Main street, in Edwardsburg, 
which was no departure from the prevailing style of 
architecture in those primitive times, for it was built 
of logs, and the scholars were subjected to all the dis- 
comforts incident to so rude and unfinished a struct- 
ures. 

It appears that several buildings were utilized for 
the purpose of holding school, and in which religious 
services were also held, for several years, and not un- 
til the summer of 1836 was the first schoolhouse erect- 
ed in the village and on a lot donated for this purpose 
by Abiel Silver. After a time, this house was found 
inadequate to accommodate the numerous scholars, 
and by a great effort the workers in the cause of edu- 
cation succeeded in causing to be erected a building 



274 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNT?, MICHIGAN. 



now known as the '' old brick," which was built in 
1845 or 1846, which is now occupied by Joel Case. 
This building, 24x30 feet, did good service in the in- 
terests of education, and within its four walls 115 
scholars were taught, in 1856 and 1857, by Moses H. 
Lee, who extended, for a time, the school hours to from 
ten to twelve hours, and even then was unable to 
hear the large classes more than twice a week, the 
smaller ones receiving instructions four times a day 

In 1861, the present schoolhouse was erected at an 
expense of ^3,000, with a seating capacity of 200. 
With additional improvements, the property is now 
valued at $4,000. This is known as District No. 3, 
and is a graded school, employing three teachers, one 
male and two females, who were paid the last fiscal 
year $1,090. 

There are 185 scholars between the ages of five and 
twenty years in this district. The first school district 
created was nine miles square in extent, one-half of 
which was within the limits of the present town of 
Jefferson. Ontwa now has five school districts, with 
a school population of 407. District No. 1 has a 
frame building, valued at $100 — the value placed on 
it by the School Board — with a seating capacity of 
thirty ; No. 2, brick building, value $600, seating 
capacity forty ; No. 4, frame building, value $450, 
seating capacity forty ; No. 5, brick building, value 
$500, seating capacity sixty : No. 6, frame building, 
value $200, seating capacity twenty-four. The aggregate 
amount paid teachers the last fiscal year was $1,736, 
only $550 of which was paid for male teachers. 

Among some of the early teachers, could be men- 
tioned Charlotte Hastings, Sebina Straw, Emma 
Cleveland, Mr. Rogers, Samuel Adams and ex-Judge 
H. H. Coolidge, now of Niles, Berrien County, who 
taught in the winters of 1839, 1840-41. He subse- 
quently rented rooms in the building now occupied 
H. B. Mead, as a hardware store, and for six years 
conducted one of the most successful select schools 
ever taught in the county. It became very celebrated, 
and attracted scholars from all parts of the county, 
many of whom are now living, and refer with pride to 
this school, which closed in 1846. 

There is quite a difference of opinion regarding 
some of the early school teachers, and we therefore 
present a list specially prepared by J. C. Olmsted, 
which differs somewhat from those above given : 

Winter of 1829-30, Thomas H. Edwards, in his 
house on Main street ; winter 1830- ''■I, Henry Wal- 
ton, in the house of Ezra Beardsley, on the bank of 
Pleasant Lake; summer 1831, Ann Wood, in Wilson 
Blackmar's house; summer 1832, Charlotte Hastings, 
in a log house near John Bogart's, on the prairie. 

This same building was used for school purposes. 



] with teachers as follows; winter 1832-83, Mary 
Meacham ; summer 1833, A. G. Jones ; winter 1833- 
34, Erastus Geary. 

In the winter of 1834-35, Myron F. Barber taught 
I school in a log house in Edwardsburg, followed by 
j Angeline Byrd, in 1835-36, and Sylvanus Trask, who 
j taught in the winter of 1836-37, in a house south of 
I Main street. On the completion of the schoolhouse, the 
I following teachers taught in succession : Seba Straw, 
Samuel Adams, Cynthia Silver, Samuel T. Rogers. 
I Other teachers are mentioned as follows : Mills Hum 
j phry, A. J. Smith, 0. M. Dunning, Rhemus Cook, 
Louisa Dean, Ruth Mead, Ebenezer Farewell, A. J. 
Dean, C. D. Thomas, Mr. Petitt, Ruth Mead, Mary 
Ann Smith, Alice Hewett, Ednah S. Lee et al. 
This township was named after an Indian maiden, who 
! was in the household of Abraham Edwards, of Detroit for 
j several years, and was organized by an act of the Territo- 
rial government, approved November 5, 1829, the enact- 
ing clause reading: " That all that part of the county 
of Cass known as the south half of Township No. 7, 
and fractional Township No. 8 south, in Ranges No. 
I 13. 14, 15 and 16 west, be a township by the name of 
j Ontwa, and the first township meeting shall be held 
at the house of Ezra Beardsley, in said township." 
The other townships were erected from this until re- 
; duced to its present size, as will appear in the general 
history. 

The boundaries were surveyed by William Brook- 
field, and also the subdivisions, the latter being com- 
pleted July 11, 1828, and it was on the bank of 
Pleasant Lake that an observation was taken, which 
established a base for the survey of southwestern 
Michigan. 

Almost the entire surface of this township is a rich 
sandy loam, and highly productive, and as it lies very 
level, is easily tilled, producing large crops of the 
cereals of this State. 

Twelve lakes dot its surface, six of which are digni- 
fied with names as follows : Pleasant, Spring, Co- 
bert's, Garver's, Eagle and Christianna, the latter only 
partially lying in this township. 

Pleasant Lake is one of the many delightful and 

attractive sheets of water to be found all over the State, 

and affords to the people of Edwardsburg and vicinity, 

an opportunity for recreation and sport which is 

1 largely embraced. 

i There are in Ontwa ninety-two farms, having a 
total of 9,915 acres, 8,060 of which is improved, and 
could Ezra Beardsley, who went West in 1833, again 
revisit the scenes of his early labors and note the fine 
farm buildings and cultivated fields, it would appear 
as if some Alladin hand had wrought the wonderful 
transformation, but the presence of a population of 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1,145 active, energetic, intelligent people would show 
him that it was not a myth, but a startling revelation 
of what has been accomplished in fifty-six short years. 
The following comprises a list of the principal town- 
ship ofiicers up to 1881 : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1881, Ezra Beardsley ; 1832-34, Dempster Real- 
ty ; 1835, George Meacham ; 1836-38, Joel Brown; 
l'839-40-41, C. W. Denton, James L. Glenn ; 1842, 
AVilliam Bacon ; 1843, Myron Strong; 1844, James 
W. Griffin ; 1845, George Redfield ; 1846, Myron 
Strong ; 1847-48, Cyrus Bacon ; 1849, Joseph L. 
Jacks ; 1850, James W. Griffiin ; 1851, N. Aldrich ; 
1852, Cyrus Bacon ; 1853-54, Charles Haney , 1855, 
A. Longstreet; 1856, Charles Haney; 1857, Aaron 
Lisle ; 1858-60, Charles Haney ; 1861, Moses H. 
Lee ; 1862-64, Charles Haney ; 1865, George F. Sil- 
ver ; 1866-67. Charles Haney; 1868-72, J. B. 
Thomas; 1873-75, Moses H. Lee; 1876-77, Noah 
S. Beardsley ; 1878-80, William K. Hopkins ; 1881, 
Davis S. Minier. 

TREASURERS. 

1831, George Meacham ; 1832-33, Eber Root; 
1834, Ariel Robertson ; 1835, Joseph L. Jacks ; 1836, 
Silas Baldwin ; 1837, W. H. Vandeventer ; 1838-40, 
Joseph L. Jacks ; 1841, H. A. Chapin ; 1842, Edwin 
Clark; 1843, E. Taylor; 1844-45, Abiel Silver; 
1846, N. Aldrich ; 1847, J. S. Brady ; 1848, S. Van 
Antwerp ; 1849, D. S. Kenson ; 1850, William R. 
Sheldon ; 1851, Kellogg Allen ; 1852, JohnL. Brown ; 
1853-54, J. Silver ; 1855, Kellogg Allen ; 1856, 
David Bement ; 1857, F. Wilkinson ; 1858, A. B. 
Patmer ; 1859, S. Van Antwerp ; 1860-61, M. B. 
Robbing ; 1862-63, Joseph L. Jacks ; 1864-65, A. 
S. Cook ; 1866-67, N. S. Brady ; 1868, 0. H. San- 
ford ; 1869-72, George Rogers ; 1873, J. W. Argo; 
1874, J. A. Howard ; 1875, H. H. Bedwell ; 1876- 
77, George F. Silver ; 1878-79, George Bement ; 
1880-81, Henry Van Tilberg. 

1831-38, T. A. H. Edwards ; 1834, Luther Chapin; 
1835-36, B. F. Silver ; 1837-39, H. H. Coolidge ; 
1840, H. Eastman ; 1841, George Sherwood ; 1842, 
Myron Strong ; 1843, T. T. Glenn ; 1844-45, Harvey 
Olds ; 1846-47, B. D. Sherwood ; 1848, E. M. Cur- 
tis ; 1849-50, B. D. Sherwood; 1851, H. Van 
Antwerp; 1852, E. Shaw; 1853, S. F. Ward; 
1854, Isaac Brown; 1855, 0. M. Dunning; 1856 
-57, J. Silver; 1858-59, Moses H. Lee; 1860, 
L. H. Glover ; 1861, C. Kennedy ; 1862-64, S. H. 
Lee ; 1865-66, George F. Silver ; 1867-70, J. C. 
Schock; 1871-72, William K. Hopkins; 1873, 
Stephen Bacon ; 1874, J. A. Luckenbach ; 1875, G. 
F. Bugbee; 1876, William H. Shaw; 1877, Manjuis 



D. Mealoy ; 1878, Percy Head ; 1879, Charles A. 
Bugbee ; 1880-81, Daniel Stratton. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

HON. GEORGE REDFIELD. 
The venerable pioneer and patriarch who is the 
subject of this sketch was born at Suffield, Conn., 
October 6, 1796. He is a descendant of one of the 
old and notable families of New England, the founder 
of which in America was William Redfield (or Redfen) 
who emigrated from England and settled in Vermont 
about 1639. The name was spelled in various ways 
until the third generation when it became fixed in the 
present form. Theophilus Redfield, grandson of 
William, was the great-grandfather of the man whose 
name stands at the head of this article. His son 
George had eight sons, of whom Peleg, the youngest, 
was the father of our subject. The mother of George 
Redfield was Polly Judd, a descendant of the Judd 
who is famous as the man who first moved the ques- 
tion of a State Constitution for Connecticut. In the 
year 1800, Peleg Redfield removed with his family to 
Clifton Springs, N. Y., and there began the life of 
pioneer, enduring hardships even greater than those 
borne by the pioneers of the next generation in the 
farther West. It was there in the thick woods that 
George Redfield was reared and obtained the very 
limited education aS'orded by the primitive schools of 
the time, which were sustained by two or three neigh- 
boring families and conducted by teachers whose qual- 
ifications did not enable them to give instruction 
except in the rudiments of reading, writing and 
arithmetic. Until he was twenty-four years old, he 
had no other than those opportunities for obtaining 
an education. In the year 1820, however, he was 
enabled to spend a brief season in the Middleburg 
(N. Y.) Academy, and that was the conclusion of his 
school days. When he was twenty-five years of age 
he had a good farm under cultivation but in 1822 left 
it under the charge of a tenant and went to Georgia, 
where he spent nearly or perhaps quite four years, as 
a teacher in the families of the large planters in 
Baldwin County. He had among his pupils many 
who were afterward men of note in the State. He 
gained a very intimate knowleilge of Southern life 
and the character of the people, and predicted even 
then, when slavery was in its palmiest stage of exist- 
ence, its ultimate overthrow. In July, 1826, he 
returneil to New York and resumeil farming. In 
1>^31, he made a trip through Southern Michigan, 
the fame of which hail but a short time before reached 



276 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the East. He was very favorably impressed with the 
country, and, after one or two more tours of inspection, 
bought, in 1834, eight hundred acres of fine land 
where he now resides. After spending about three 
months in visiting his brother Alexander H. RedBeld, 
Esq., in Cassopolis, he returned to New York. He 
was married June 9, 1835, to Julia Augusta Mason, 
daughter of Samuel and Martha (Lee) Mason, of 
Palmyra. She was his valued helpmeet until her [ 
death August 29, 1848. Immediately after his mar- 
riage Mr. Redfield removed to Michigan, but did not 
dispose of his New York farm until several years 
later, when the success of his Western venture was 
beyond doubt. In 1836, he bought of Government 
3,000 acres of land in Calvin Township ; 1,000 in 
Jefferson, and 1,000 in Mason, besides other and 
smaller tracts purchased at different periods later, 
making a total of nearly 10,000 acres. In 1837, he | 
bought the only water-power saw-mill in Jeflerson ' 
Township, rebuilt it in 1850, and again in 18t)2, after 
it was burned, in connection with a grist-mill which 
is still carried on. 

Mr. Redfield never sought nor desired public office, 
enjoying the quiet of home life, reading and the man- i 
agement of his extensive farm ; but honors have 
crowded thickly upon him. He evinced a high order 
of executive ability, and many other qualities of mind 
which fitted him for the occupation of places of trust 
and responsibility in the service of the people, and 
these, combined with his popularity, made it impossi- 
ble that he should remain in private life. He was 
elected a Representative to the State Legislature in 
1841, and served in the State Senate the three suc- 
ceeding years. During this period, his influence and 
exertions were the chief instruments in securing the 
liberal exemption laws, which have since been copied 
by the Legislatures of most of the Western States, 
and have done much to prevent the oppression of poor 
debtors, to diminish pauperism and encourage those 
who are struggling with adversity. In 1844, he was 
elected Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket. 

In 1845, he was appointed by Gov. Barry to the 
office of State Treasurer, and in the following year 
declined a re-election. In 1850, he was nominated by 
Gov. Barry, who was then serving his third term, to 
the position of Secretary of State, and, being con- 
firmed by the Senate, accepted the office, and dis- 
charged its duties until the adjournment of the Legis- 
lature, when he resigned. The same year, he was 
elected a member of tlie convention which framed the 
present constitution of Michigan. His influence in 
the convention was strong, and he left its impress 
upon the instrument then formed. He labored par- 
ticularly for the incorporation of the exemption laws, 



which he had a hand in framing, when he was in the 
Senate. The provision for the free-school system also 
received his hearty support. After the adjournment 
of this Convention, he returned to his farm, and has 
since refused to hold public office. 

On the 14th of September, 1854,. Mr. Redfield mar- 
ried his second wife, Jane E., daughter of Hon. Gid- 
eon Hammond, of Essex County, N. Y., who lived 
with him until her death in November, 1865. She 
left one son and three daughters. 

Politically, Mr. Redfield is a Jeffersonian Democrat, 
and sti-ong in his convictions. During the four years 
he spent in the South, he gained a very thorough 
knowledge of the institution of slavery and of the 
character of its adherents. Although heartily desir- 
ing the discontinuance of slavery, he never adopted 
extreme abolition views. It is his belief that had it 
been let alone it would have suffered gradual decay, 
and the benefits of freedom would have been secured 
to the blacks without the terrible political convulsion, 
bloodshed and sectional animosity which attended its 
forcible abolition. His practical friendship for the 
colored people has been demonstrated very fully by 
the nature of his dealings with them. A large pro" 
portion of the negro settlers in Calvin, who bought 
their lands of him, are indebted to his magnanimity 
and lenience for their present prosperity. In a num- 
ber of instances payments have been deferred for a 
period of twenty years, the value of the lands in that 
period increasing many times. And so it happens, that 
although of the opposite political party, no man in the 
county is looked upon with more gratitude and confi- 
dence by the colored people than he. They have con- 
stantly gone to him for favors and help, and never have 
turned away without some assistance. His generosity 
is really proverbial. 

The furegoing narrative of his life shows the prom- 
inent features of George Redfield's character. To 
sum up in the language of another, " lie is steady, in- 
dustrious, of unswerving integrity, and is possessed of 
more than ordinary business ability ; he is without 
political ambition or greed of gain, and is possessed 
of sound. common sense and good insight into char- 
acter, which guides the exercise of his generous prac- 
tical pliilanthropy ; domestic in disposition, yet a 
leader among his neighbors in public enterprise." 

Since 1871, Mr. Redfield has been almost totally 
blind, and while that infirmity has been " a great re- 
straint in some directions, it has increased his mental 
activity and developed a richness and subtlety of 
thought which prove the fineness of his mental fiber." 
His affliction has been borne with the sublimest pa- 
tience and submission. His motto, we are told, is, 
" be temperate," and lie illustrates not only in abstain- 




GEORGE F^OGEF^S. 



GEORGE ROGERS. 

The subject of this memoir, George Rogers, was 
born in Palmyra. Wayne County, N. Y., June 7, 
1829, and is a son of John and Mary (Mason) Rog- 
ers. The elder Rogers was known to all where he 
resided as honest John Rogers, which title was most 
worthily bestowed. 

Having arrived at manhood's estate, George decided 
to visit the West, and cast his lot with the enterpris- 
ing people there to be found, and accordingly, in 1852, 
came to Michigan and for one year acted in the capac- 
ity of clerk at Coldwater, and then removed to Elk- 
hart, Ind., where he clerked in the post office one 
year, and in 1854 moved on the farm of 165 acres in 
Mason, which he had purchased the year previous, 
and where he remained until his death, December 28, 
1879. Not being a man of much physical strength, 
in addition to farming, which he conducted successful- 
ly, he devoted considerable attention to fire insurance, 
and, in the capacity of agent, insured nearly all the 
property in the southern portion of the county. He 
also purchased large quantities of fruit for shipment. 

His business kept his time fully occupied, so that 
little attention was paid to politics, he affiliating with 
the Democratic party ; still, he filled the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace two terms. Township Treasurer, etc. 



His public and private business was conducted in a 
manner to win the confidence and esteem of all, for the 
mantle of honesty worn by the father had descended 
to the son. 

He was married October 1, 1854, to Elizabeth, 
daughter of Elias and Sarah (Frost) Manning, who 
was born in Miami County, Ohio, November 21, 
1831, and who when two years old removed to Indi- 
ana with her parents. 

Her father in the war of 1812 was under Gen. 
Harrison at the siege of Fort Wayne, and was pressed 
into the service to carry provisions at the time of 
Hull's surrender at Detroit. Her grandfather, John, 
was one of the pioneers of Ohio, and built the first 
grist-mill where Cincinnati now stands, when a small 
huddle of houses constituted the embryo city. In 
1798, he went to Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, where 
he built a grist-mill, and where his son Elias, the first 
white child in the county, was born. 

William Frost left his native State, North Caroli- 
na, to escape the demoralizing efiects of slavery, and 
when entering the now State of Ohio was obliged to 
cut his own roads through the almost impenetrable 
forests. Mrs. Rogers resides on the old homestead 
with her two sons. Manning E., born April 27, 1857, 
and Charles M., born September 28, 1862. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



277 



ing from the use of spirituous liquors and tobacco, but 
in every habit of his life and in every arrangement of 
his househohl. " Peace, order and quiet contentment 
are about him, and the special tenderness and regard 
which his affliction has called forth show the strong 
aftection of his family and friends. He is connected 
with no society whatever ; and while not deprecating 
benevolent and religious organizations, believes that 
as the race advances toward the practical recognition 
of universal brotherhood and obedience to true spirit- 
ual philosophy, sects and societies — now the works 
chiefly of controversies and divisions — will disap- 
pear, and all humanity be merged in one universal 
church, needing neither canons nor bishops, creeds nor 
ceremonials." 

Mr. Redfield is now in his eighty-sixth year, and 
his faculties are in a wonderful slate of preserva- 
tion, while his physical health is far superior to 
the condition which might be expected in one of his 
years. His old age has been passed in serene con- 
tentment at his home upon his large and beautiful 
farm, inclosed and partitioned with seven miles of liv- 
ing fence — as fair an agricultural domain as can be 
seen in the State. His remaining years can at the 
best be very few, and when the end of the earth-chap- 
ter of life shall be reached, the eyes, closed for the 
past ten years to the beauties of nature which he once 
looked upon so fondly, will be opened to more lovely 
sights. 

The Redfields are, by his first wife : Ann Maria, 
Julia Augusta and Lewis H., the latter deceased ; 
and by his second wife : George Hammond, Bertha, 
Myra J. and Abbie. 

REV. ARIEL SILVER. 

The subject of this sketch, by inherent force of 
character, superior educational advantages and favor- 
able environments, exercised, perhaps, as large an 
influence, socially, morally and politically, upon the 
character of society in the southern portion of Cass 
County, during the first twenty years of its settle- 
ment, as any individual could exercise in that era of 
personal independence. 

He was born in Hopkinton, N. H., April 3, 1797, 
and yas the fifth son of -John and Mary (Buell) Silver. 
The family included six sons and two daughters all of 
whom, finally, became pioneers and residents of this 
county. The boys received a common school educa- 
tion and were taught their father's trade, that of brick 
and stone masonry. 

John Silver, the father, died in Elkhart County. 
Ind., in 1843, aged eighty years, his wife surviving 
him five years. Jacob died in Cossopolis in 1872, aged 
eighty-six years ; John returned to New Hampshire 



and died in 1864, aged seventy years ; Jeremiah died 
in Pokagon in 1876, aged eighty-six years ; Josiah 
died in Pokagon in 1870, aged seventy years; Mar- 
garet died in Elkhart, Ind., in 1878, aged seventy- 
nine years; Joan is living in Elkhart and Benjamin F. 
in Pokagon, aged respectively eighty and seventy-four 
years. 

In 1825, Abiel migrated to St. Lawrence County, 
N. Y., where he engaged in teaching, met and married 
Edna Hastings, and afterward engaged in mercantile 
pursuits. One child, a daughter, was born to them 
who, with his wife, survive him. 

In 1830, he removed to Chautauqua County, and in 
company with his youngest brother, Benjamin F., 
opened a stock of goods, but they caught the far- 
western fever of the day and, after enlarging their 
capital by including Jacob in the firm, determined to 
ship their wares to Chicago or Ottawa, the precise 
location to be determined after their arrival at the 
former port. 

Benjamin remained temporarily to close up their 
collections ; Jacob embarked with the goods and Abiel 
started overland for health, pleasure and observation. 

While journeying along the military road between 
Detroit and Chicago, he was so impressed by the 
beauty and fertility of Beardsley's Prairie and the 
glowing prospects of the thriving village of Eilwards- 
burg, that he halted and wrote Jacob to at once reship 
the goods to that point, via the St. Joseph River. 
Various causes served to delay until so late in the fall 
of 1831 that the last boat load was frozen in the 
river, thus necessitating a long and expensive portage, 
but all was finally received and displayed for sale, 
or barter, in a large log storeroom, and the business 
of the Silver Brothers fairly launched. 

In 1832, upon the location of the county seat at 
Cassopolis, the Silvers opened a branch there which 
was under the management of Jacob. 

During the Sauk war panic, Abiel was drafted into 
Capt. Butler's company, and marched with the Mich- 
igan contingent to Chicago, declining the offer of his 
unmarried brother, Benjamin, to serve as his substi- 
tute. 

In 1835, the partnership of the brothers terminat- 
ed, Jacob retaining the Cassopolis plant (which then 
included a distillery and a well-filled store), Benjamin 
the Edwardsburg stock, and Abiel embarking his 
withdrawn capital in real estate speculations, until, in 
1838, he repurchased Benjamin's business and (in 
company with a Mr. Emerson, who died the following 
year) resumed trade. In 1839, a cargo of merchan- 
dise, valued at $20,000, consigned to him, was lost in 
Lake Erie, and his reimbursement from salvage and 
insurance was only partial. This loss, with the gen* 



2 78 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



eral stringency of the ' wild-cat " panic days, caused 
his failure. He assigned his property to his creditors 
(who showed their appreciation of his integrity by 
placing it back in his hands for realization) and went 
through bankruptcy, obtaining a release on an honor- 
able compromise. In after years he paid the balances 
in full, although under no legal obligation to do so. 

At about this time his residence, a fine brick build- 
ing on the bank of the lake, noted in those days for 
its elegance and hospitality, was burned, and a small- 
er one built by his brothers on the "bee" plan. 

From the beginning of his stay in Edwardsburg, he 
was acknowledged leader in every good work. He gave 
gave the sites of each of the three churches there, and 
contributed largely to their building and support. He 
was an Associate Judge of the county and a member 
of the second Convention of Assent to the terms of 
admission to the Union, held at Ann Arbor Decem- 
ber 14, 1836. He voted for Adams in 1824, but for 
Jackson in 1828, and subsequently identified himself 
with the Democratic party. 

In 1846, he was appointed Commissioner of the 
State Land Office, by Gov. Felch, and was re-appointed 
by Govs. Greenly and Ransom, serving until 1850. 
During this service the State Capitol was removed, 
and its location on a " school section " in Lansing, 
was largely due to his persistent efforts, instigated by 
a zeal for the welfare of the State School Fund. 

Through the malpractice of a drunken surgeon, in 
1834, he lost an arm, and was led through specula- 
tion upon the sensation of feeling it still in its place, 
after its removal, to examine the theories and doc- 
trines of Swedenborg, which investigation resulted, in 
January, 1844, in his adopting the New Church be- 
lief, and entering upon a course of study preparatory to 
its advocacy. 

In 1850, he closed up his affairs in this county and 
commenced preaching at Marshall, whence he removed 
to Detroit. He afterward established a Seminary, 
under Swedenborgian auspicies, at Con-too-cook-ville, 
N. H., which is still flourishing and upon a firm basis. 

The remainder of his life was spent in this ministry, 
at Wilmington, Del., New York City, Hopkington, 
N. H., Salem, Mass., and in 1867 he was finally set- 
tled over the church at Boston Highlands. 

He was a successful preacher and vigorous writer, 
publishing a very large number of books, pamphlets 
and tracts, in defense of his faith. 

On Sunday evening, March 27, 1881, while return 
ing from an exchange, at Salem, where he had 
preached that day, he stepped off the train, while it 
was stopped on a bridge over the ('harles River, fell 
through the ties, and was drowned. He was univer- 
sally respected and widely mourned. 



-JOSEPH L. .JACKS. 
j Joseph L. Jacks was born in Harbor Creek, Erie 
I County, Penn., May 18, 1804. He was the son of 
Robert and Ann (Robinson) .Jacks, who reared a fam- 
ily of ten children, six boys and four girls. The elder 
Jacks was a farmer, honest and upright,and one of 
! the first settlers of Erie County. Both died on the 
' farm they improved, the father in 1883, in the sixty- 
seventh year of his age, and the mother in 1868, in 
her eighty-sixth year. Joseph L. shared the priva- 
tions and hardships of a pioneer family and received 
such an education as was afforded by the district school 
: of that early day. He remained under the parental 
roof until 1827, when he went to Chautauqua County, 
N. Y., where he remained two years, when he decided 
to emigrate to Michigan. In September of 1827, he 
\ was married to Miss Susannah Silsbee, and the follow- 
[ ing year Mr. Silsbee came to Ontwa and located on 
I the southwest side of Pleasant Lake. In 1829, Mr. 
I Jacks and his young wife followed them, and with 

them remained five years. 
I Very soon after Mr. Jack's emigration he took a 
I prominent part in the affairs of the little settlement. 
! In 1830, he was appointed by Gov. Cass as County 
; Clerk. 

In 1831, he was Assessor of Ontwa under its first 
organization, which embraced an area of about 144 
square miles, he made the assessment in just five days. 
The following year came the " Sauk war," and Mr. 
Jacks was one of the number who went to defend the 
I homes of the pioneers. He was afterward commis- 
I sioned by the Governor as a Lieutenant. In 1848-49, 
; he represented Ontwa in the Board of Supervisors. 
The life of Mr. Jacks has been almost wholly de- 
voted to agricultural pursuits, and the farm which he 
purchased in 1840 was his home until 1874, when he 
retired from active business, and removed to Edwards- 
burg. 

Mr. Jacks has been twice married, the last time to 
Alvira Penwell ; she was born in Indiana in 1824, 
and died in 1872. 

By the first marriage there were two children — John 
S. and Mrs. T. J. Jordan, of Marcellus; by the second 
three — Mrs. Harwood, of Jefferson ; Mrs. K. Shan- 
ahan, of Ontwa ; and Miss Belle, a young lady of 
much promise, who died in 1879, in her twentieth 
year. 

In his political convictions, Mr. Jacks is a Demo- 
crat, in his religious views he is liberal, according to 
all the right to be guided by the dictates of con- 
science. 

He is now in his seventy-eighth year, hale and 
hearty, and enjoying the fruition of a well-spent life. 
Socially, he is genial and pleasant, winning the regard 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



279 



of all with whom he comes in contact. He is always 
disposed to look upon the better side of life, and has 
an unlimited fund of anecdote and jokes, with which 
he regales his friends. He has been closely identi- 
fied with the interests of Ontwa for over half a cen- 
tury, and among the founders of the county holds a 
prominent position. 

.TAMES L. GLENN. 

James L., or Col. Glenn, as he was commonly 
called, was one of the early residents and prominent 
men of Cass County. He was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and most of his early life was spent in Phila- 
delphia. He acquired a good education, and adopted 
the profession of a civil engineer, which he followed 
successfully upon public works until he came West in 
1834. He first located at Niles, but soon afterward 
removed to Cass County, and settled upon a farm on 
the south side of Beardsley's Prairie. He was elected 
Sheriff and Representative in the State Legislature. 
He was not a political aspirant, and held no other 
elective offices than these, but was several times ap- 
pointed to honorable positions. In 1847, he was ap- 
pointed a commissioner to plan and survey the city of 
Lansing, the then newly located capital of Michigan, 
and to erect a State House in time for the ensuing 
session of the Legislature. The appointment was in 
the line of his profession, and he accepted it with 
alacrity. Although the time allowed for the work 
was short. Col. Glenn accomplished his task in due 
season, and to the satisfaction of the State. The 
Sault Ste. Marie Canal is another monument of his 
engineering skill, of which there are several in the 
State. 

Col. Glenn died after a short illness January 1, 
1876. He seemed almost to the last to be hale and 
strong. He was a man of fine social qualities, led a 
blameless life and occupies an enviable position in the 
memory of a very large number of Cass and Berrien 
County people, having been associated with the latter 
almost as intimately as with the former. 

ORREN SILVER. 

Probably no one family were more prominently 
identified with the early history of the southern por- 
tion of Cass County than the Silvers. Orren Silver, 
the subject of this memoir, was born in Hopkinton, 
Merrimack County, N. H., December 8, 1812, and is 
a son of John, Jr., who was born in the same place 
May 30, 1788, and Julia (Colby) Silver, who was 
born in 1785. 

John, Jr., was taught the mason's trade by his 
father (John), but in 1827 commenced keeping a tav- 
ern, and also became proprietor of a stage route in 



Newport, which business he pursued for many years. 
After his first wife's death in 1821, he married Susan 
Russell, who accompanied him to Cass County in 
1846, and who some two years subsequent departed 
this life. About ten years after this event, he re- 
turned to New Hampshire, where he died August 22, 
1864. 

Orren Silver, who was raised on a farm, had no op- 
portunity for scholastic attainments other than those 
afforded by the common schools. He removed with 
his father to Newport when fifteen years of age, 
where he remained until coming to Cass County in 
October, 183.5. 

Being conversant with the business of hotel life, on 
reaching Edwardsburg he commenced keeping a tav- 
ern on the Thomas H. Edwards stand, where he re- 
mained for two years, and after three years spent in 
farming, he disposed of his property and returned 
East, but returned one year subsequently, and after a 
few changes purchased his present farm, and has since 
been prominently identified with the agricultural in- 
terests of Ontwa. As his business has been man- 
aged with prudence and sagacity, coupled with 
marked industry, success has crowned his efforts, as 
will be indicated by a view of his fine farm residence 
to be found on another page. 

In politics he is a Democrat, but has eschewed 
active political life ; nevertheless, has filled several 
important township ofiices, and is accounted among 
the substantial and honored residents of Ontwa. 

In October, 1833, he was united in marriage to 
Abigail, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Thomp- 
son) Fifield, who was born in Salisbury, N. H., April 
8, 1815, near the birthplace of Daniel Webster. In 
May, 1845, Mr. and Mrs. Silver united with the 
Swedenborgian Church, of which they have since been 
consistent members. They are the parents of one 
child, George F., who was born in Newport, N. H., 
January 9, 1835, and has filled the offices of Town- 
ship Treasurer and Clerk of Ontwa. He was united 
in marriage May 6, 1863, to Miss Sarah J. Haney, 
and they are blessed with five children, viz.: Mary, 
Ray, Isabelle, Dora and Benjamin. The two first 
named are deceased. 

AUSTIN C. MARSH. 

Austin C. Marsh, son of Jesse and Althea (Foster) 
Marsh, was born in Sharon Township, Litchfield 
County, Conn., July 15, 1793. The family is of 
English extraction, and Jesse acted in the capacity of 
teamster during that sanguinary struggle, the Revo- 
lutionary war. 

Having received u common school education, Austin 
C. went to Armenia, Dutchess County, N. Y., in 



IIISTOKV OK (lASS COIIXTV. MICIIIOAN. 



1809, to learn the scjthe-maker's trade, which at this 
time was an important industry, and there, in 1824, 
married Miss Zade (Case), who was born in 1796, 
and died in February, 1831. They became the parents 
of three children, Rufus, Walter and Emmott, the 
two former of whom died in that State. ' 

Having married Abigail Darling in April, 1.834, 
who was born in Armenia, Dutchess County, N. Y., 
in the year 1794, he, in June, 1836, came to Edwards- 
burg to carve out for himself a home, and purchased 
the village lots on which he now resides and which 
since that time have been his home. 

Owing to Eastern competition, there was no possible 
opening for pursuing his trade, and for two years he 
turned his attention to blacksmithing, and then, in 
company with Abiel Silver, H. H. Cooledge and E. 
Taylor, established a foundry of which he shortly 
became the sole proprietor, and to which his son 
Emmott was admitted as a partner when arriving at 
manhood's estate. This business was conducted until 
1875 and then discontinued, owing to the death of his 
son the year previous. In 1840, he cast a cannon 
which did duty for the Whigs during the memorable 
campaign of this year. Mr. Marsh has been an 
active, energetic and successful business man, and 
during his long residence in this place of nearly half 
a century has won and maintained the esteem and 
respect of the community of which he has been an ; 
honored member. Although he-has long since passed 
his threescore years and ten he is in the possession of 
all his faculties, and bids fair to enjoy many more 
years. He is now the sole survivor of his father's 
family of nine children. I 

Although an ardent Republican, Mr. Marsh has ' 
not taken an active part in politics, but has held 
several township offices. 

His second wife having died October 1, 1839, he 
married Sarah S. Lofland May 1, 1845. She was 
born in Milford, Kent County, Del., February 6, 
1812, and departed this life January 6, 1879, leaving 
one daughter, Althea M., now Mrs. Thomas, a widow 
lady, who now resides with her father on the old 
home he purchased so many years ago. 

MATTHEW II. EMERSON. 

The pioneers who settled in Cass County were 
noted for their honesty and integrity, and none more 
so than Matthew H. Emerson, in whose veins flowed 
the commingled blood of the honest, high-minded 
Scotchmen and the sturdy, methodical and progressive 
Englishmen. He was born in Hopkinton, N. H., 
December 11, 1808, and was one of a family of six — 
the children of Joseph and Susanna (Harvey) Emerson. 

In 1829, he went to Rensselaer County, N. Y., and 



two years later, to Albany County, where for eight 
years he clerked in a hardware store, and then came 
to Edwardsburg in 1839, his brother, Jeremiah, hav- 
ing preceded him. At this time, he possessed but 
$6.50, and was obliged to rely on his own industry 
and natural resources to farther his financial interests ; 
and they brought their sure reward, for, before his de- 
mise, which occurred March 17, 1877, he had accu- 
mulated a competency. 

In the spring of 1841, he purchased eighty acres of 
the farm in Ontwa, where his widow now resides, to 
which forty acres was subsequently added. His whole 
attention was not given to agricultural pursuits, for 
five years was spent working in the store for the Sages, 
who ran a grist-mill at Adamsville. 

In politics, Mr. Emerson was a stanch Democrat, 
and was by this party elevated to various township 
offices including that of Justice of the Peace, and held 
this office for twenty-eight consecutive years, which is 
a most fitting tribute to his ability and integrity, for, 
in early times, this was a most important office. So 
great was the confidence reposed in him that he was 
made the custodian of money belonging to others, for 
whom he did a large amount of business. 

While a resident of New Hampshire, he was a mem- 
ber of the State Militia and held the offices of Ensign, 
Lieutenant and Captain, which latter office he resigned 
when moving to New York. March 25, 1841, he mar- 
ried Alzina R., daughter of Reuben and Damarias 
(Cloys) Allen, who was born in Anderson County, 
Vt., January 29, 1823, and who came to Cass County 
in 1885, with her parents, who are numbered among 
the pioneers. Reuben Allen died February 23, 1863, 
and his widow is still surviving at the advanced age of 
eighty-four years. The Aliens are descendants of the 
same paternal stock as the historical Ethan Allen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Emerson were blessed with two chil- 
dren — J. Fred, who is married to Delia A. (Thomas), 
and resides on the old homestead, and is at present 
holding the office of Justice of the Peace ; and Reuben 
A., a resident of Buchanan, Mich. 

GEORGE T. HOWARD. 
George T. Howard was born in Kent County, Md., 
May 21, 1816, and is a son of Stephen Howard, who 
was born in Delaware September 12, 1791, and Mar- 
garet (Lamb) Howard. The Howard family consisted of 
seven children, who grew to manhood's estate, and his 
father being in very moderate circumstances, George, 
as soon as able, was necessitated to labor in behalf of 
his own support, and at the tender age of seven years 
was placed out for three years, and when quite a lad 
worked three years at $9 per annum, his board and 
his clothing, which it is needless to say were raanu- 






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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



factured of the most simple and inexpensive material. 
The $27 thus earned was passed over to his father to 
assist in maintaining the younger children, as was all 
the money he earned, until he attained the age of 
twenty-one years, which was an act of filial duty all 
would expect of Mr. Howard. Having been, by the 
force of circumstances, deprived of the opportunities 
of obtaining an education, he started out on the uncer- 
tain voyage of life under adverse circumstances, but 
being possessed of great bodily vigor and a resolute 
heart, he commenced life for himself as a farm hand, 
firmly resolved to succeed, and success has crowned 
his efforts. 

September 5, 1843, he was married to Eliza, daugh- 
ter of Benjamin Parsons, who was born at Milford 
Neck, Kent County, Del., February 28, 1827. In 
the fall of 1845, they started for Cass County, and 
arrived here in September, and money being very 
scarce, he received, but 60 cents per day for his labor, 
and frequently worked for two bushels of corn per 
day, the corn being worth from 18 to 20 cents per 
bushel, one-half store pay. 

He soon purchased 103 acres of land and com- 
menced farming for himself, and has succeeded admir- 
ably, for he now possesses the farms taken up by 
George and Sylvester Meacham, having in all 310 
acres, and great credit is due Mr. Howard for his suc- 
cess. Mrs. Howard, who departed this life September 
y, 1880, after an illness of seventeen years, was a most 
estimable lady and did her full share in the matri- 
monial voyage of life. 

They became the parents of three children — Mar- 
garet S., now Mrs. B. F. Thompson, in Ontwa, who 
was born August 11, 1844 ; William G., an attorney 
in Kalamazoo, where he graduated, and former Prose- 
cuting Attorney of Cass County, who was born May 
18, 1846 ; John A., born December 14, 1848, died 
June 8, 1874, and who was Treasurer of the town ; 
and an adopted daughter, Ann May, who was born 
November 14, 1856. His fether Stephen, came to 
Cass County, and died here December 26, 1863, his 
mother's death occurring East, April 13, 1845. 

CHARLES HANEY. 

Among the prominent representatives of the German 
race in the township of Ontwa can be mentioned 
Charles Haney, who was born in Baden, Germany, 
January 29, 1809. Although his youthful days were 
spent on a farm, he became somewhat conversant with 
the watchmaker's trade, and after coming to America 
in 1831 he engaged in peddling and repairing clocks, 
and while so engaged came to Cass County in 1833. 

He here formed the acquaintance of, and March 27, 
1834, married Miss Jane, daughter of Jacob and 



Elizabeth (Sponsler) Smith, who was born in North 
Middleton Township. Cumberland Co., Penn., August 
24, 1817, and when twelve years of age, accompanied 
her parents to Cass County, and they settled on the 
farm now owned by John Adams, having purchased 
the betterments of two men, one of them named 
White, where they remained until their deaths. 

After marriage, they settled on the farm where they 
now reside, and here erected one of the first frame 
barns in the township. 

The life of Mr. Haney has been a quiet, uneventful 
one, unmarked by many of the vicissitudes that over- 
take those in mercantile or manufacturing enterprises, 
or who are actively engaged in public life. 

By the exercise of those sterling qualities charac- 
teristic of his race — economy and industry — aided by 
theeff'orts of his life's partner, he has amassed a compe- 
tency, and has won the esteem of those with whom he 
has associated so long. 

The fruits of their marriage have been five chil- 
dren, of whom Lewis C, the eldest, gave up his life 
in defense of his country, for he was killed at the 
battle of luka. Miss., September 19, 1862. He was 
a member of Company A, Forty-eighth Indiana Vol- 
unteers. Sarah J., now Mrs. George F. Silver ; 
Lovina, now Mrs. Boyd Thomas ; Albert and Vol- 
enti ne 0., all of Ontwa. 

CH.\RLES D HADDEN. 

Charles D. Hadden wa^ born in Westchester 
County, N. Y., January 31, 1811, and is a son of 
Gilbert and Deborah (Barton) Hadden, who were of 
Scotch descent. 

He removed with his mother to Auburn, of that 
State, his father dying when he was two years of 
age. He received a common school education, and 
was early cast upon his own resources for a livelihood, 
there being a family of eleven children who were left 
in very moderate circumstances. He commenced life 
as a farmer boy, working for a relative in Ithaca. 

He first purchased a new farm in Savannah Town- 
ship, Wayne County, and moved on it in the fall of 
1835, and some four years later moved to a farm in 
Butler Township, and some twelve years subsequent 
on another farm, on which he resided until coming to 
Cass County in 1867, at which time he purchased 
400 acres just west of Edw'ardsburg, where he resided 
until his death, January 26, 1878. He erected on 
this farm fine farm buildings, a view of which will be 
found on another page. He was a very successful 
farmer and before his death accumulated a fine com- 
petency, which was the result of his own unaided 
efforts. 

Politically, he was a Republican, and while a resi- 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



dent of New York State was repeatedly elected to 
the highest township offices ; but he eschewed politics 
after coming to this county. Mr Hadden was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church and a very char- 
itable man. He was possessed of many estimable 
qualities and was a man of sterling integrity. He 
was married, November 11, 1835, to Nancy (Blythe), 
daughter of Samuel and Margaret Gilmore, who was 
born October 31, 1809, and she has born well her 
part in the active scenes of matrimonial life. They 
were blessed with six children, viz. : Samuel, Mary, 
George, Alonzo, Elizabeth and James, all of whom 
reside in this county e.xcept Alonzo, who is deceased. 
Mrs. Hadden resides on the old homestead together 
with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Harris. 

HON. CYRUS BACON. 
This gentleman, who for so many years was one of 
the prominent and esteemed citizens of Cass County, 
was of English descent. According to family tradi. 
tion, the progenitors of the Bacon family in this coun- 
try were two brothers who came from England at a 
very early day, and settled in Hebron, Conn. ; from 
this place the family from which our subject is de- 
scended removed to Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y., 
where Cyrus Bacon was born October 26, 1796. He 
was the son of David and Hannah (Tarbox) Bacon, 
the former of whom was born in 1766, the latter 
in 1768. They were farmers, and possessed of those 
sturdy qualities of mind and heart that characterized 
the people of those days. The father of Mrs. Bacon 
(Capt. Tarbox) followed the sea for a livelihood, and 
it is said that he knew the notorious Capt. Kidd, who 
at one time attempted the capture of his vessel, but 
on learning who was in command left him to pursue 
his course unmolested. Cyrus was reared on the 
farm, and acquired what was considered in those days 
a good education ; he studied surveying, and when a 
young man removed to Chautauqua County, where he 
purchased a farm, but his services as a surveyor were 
in such demand that he devoted but little time to agri- 
cultural operations ; he surveyed a large portion of 
Chautauqua County, and many others in that portion 
of the State. In 1828, became to Michigan, and lo- 
cated a large tract of land near the present site of 
Adrian, Lenawee Co., and returned to New York. 
He held a captain's commission in the New York State 
Militia from 1822-24. There he remained until the 
death of his father, and, in 1834, he again came 
west in company with his brother William. It 
was his intention to settle upon his purchase in 
Lenawee County, but through the efforts of his 
brother (the late Judge Bacon, of Niles) who had 
preceded him, and had located in Berrien, he was in- 



duced to change his plans and settle in Ontwa, where 
he purchased from F. Garver nine hundred and eighty 
acres of land, where his son, James G. Bacon, now 
resides. Mr. Bacon immediately entered upon the im- 
provement of his purchase and the development of the 
township, with that energy and zeal that characterized 
his subsequent career ; his farming operations were 
extensive. The first season he grew a crop of nearly 
nine thousand bushels of oats, which, owing to the great 
demand for coarse grain, and the cheap currency of 
that period, were sold for one dollar per bushel. Al- 
though deeply engrossed in business, he took a deep 
interest in political and social matters, and the people, 
recognizing his ability and integrity, called upon him 
to represent them in various positions of trust and re- 
sponsibility ; for many years he represented Ontwa 
upon the Board of Supervisors, and in 1849 was 
elected to the representative branch of the State Leg- 
islature, and his constituency were so well pleased 
with the able manner in which he represented their 
interests, that they placed him at the succeeding elec- 
tion on the ticket for the State Senate, but, owing to 
the organization of the Know Nothing party, and the 
consequent defection from the Democratic ranks, he 
was defeated by a small majority. The path to public 
favor was at that time guarded by the broad expres- 
sion of popular will, and an election could not be 
secured by mere force of party control as now, and, 
although defeated, his nomination for that important 
office was no small compliment to his general char- 
acter. 

For twenty years he was a magistrate, doing a large 
legal business ; his advice and opinions were marked 
by sound judgment and erudition. He was an Asso- 
ciate Judge, and held the office until it was abolished 
by act of the Legislature. In April of 1882, he was 
married to Miss Melinda, daughter of James and 
Sarah (Roe) Guernsey they were also of English 
descent. Mrs. Bacon was a native of Ballston, Sara- 
toga Co., N. Y., and was born March 15, 1802. She 
is still living (1882), with her son, James G. They 
reared a family of five children — David, an attorney 
doing business at Niles ; James G., one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of Ontwa ; Stephen, an attorney, now 
living in Wisconsin ; Sarah H. (Mrs. Rev. J. Boon), 
and Cyrus J., a short sketch of whose life will be 
found on another page. The elder Bacon died 
October 4, 1873. and in his decease the people of Caas 
County met with an irreparable loss. One who knew 
him intimately in his lifetime says of him : " He was 
a plain, unostentatious gentleman, who, by a long life 
of industry, and a conscientious discharge of his 
duties, both public and private, endeared himself to 
all." 



filSTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



283 



Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party. 
Patriotism was inherent in his natiire, and during the 
war of the rebellion he was an ardent supporter of the 
Union cause. 

Socially, he was genial and pleasant, courteous to 
all, and in his intercourse with the people impressed 
every one with the fact that he was far above the 
average man in intelligence and true nobility of char- 
acter. 

CYRUS BACON, ,Tii., M. D.* 

Dr. Bacon was born in Ontwa, in 1837. and 
studied medicine with Dr. I. G. Bugbee, of Edwards- 
burg, At the age of twenty-one, he graduated with 
honors at the Medical College, Washington, D. C. 
After his graduation, he established himself in the 
practice of his profession _at Mishawaka, Ind. In 
1861, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the 
Seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and after a 
few months' service in this regiment he was promoted 
to the position of Surgeon General in the regular 
army, which position he held at the time of his death. 
At the close of the war, he was breveted Major for 
meritorious services in the field, the highest honor 
that a soldier could ask. At the time of Leo's sur- 
render, he was stationed in Texas, where he remained 
until about 1867, when he was ordered to Baton 
Rouge, La,, where he remained until September, 
1868, when he resolved to visit his parents and make 
an effort to recover his health, which had been failing 
for some time. Arriving at St. Louis, he was obliged 
to lie over for a day, but anxious to reach home he 
again started, but died before reaching his destination. 
One of the local papers, in speaking of him, says : 
'■ He was a young man of brilliant talents, a fine, 
cultivated mind, excellent social qualities, justly emi- 
nent for one of his age in his profession, and above all 
a sincere, devoted Christian, honored and respected 
by the soldier, loved by all. He was buried in Niles 
with military honors." 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

VOLINIA. 

Characteristics of Pioneers— Tour of Inspection— Prophecy of .Jona- 
than (iard Fiiiailed— Early Settlement— Narrow Escape of Miss 
Ann Newton from the Wolves— First Pioneer Picnic— Original 
I^and Entries — Legal Organization — Schools — Early Uoads — 
Charleston — PLeniiniscenccs Voliiiia Fanners' Cluli— Civil List 
—Biographical. 

~l TISTORY knows of no worthier theme than that 
-L-L of those pioneers in a primal forest, by whose 
toil the wilderness was cleared for cultivation, at whose 
will the heavy, dark woods gave way to fields of grain, 

*Data fiirnitibed by Jaoies G. BacoD. 



log cabins and initial industries. Where sixty-three 
years ago no sound was heard but that of nature in her 
wildest phase, and the council fires of thePottawatomies 
illumed the prairie and forests, can now be found the 
modern highway, finely cultivated fields, the civilizing 
schoolhouse, and the happy homes of an industrious 
and progressive people. The pioneers who made their 
journey thitherward were men of fearless character, 
who came to improve their condition and carve out for 
themselves and families a future home. Their inter- 
course was unaffected, and they were bound together 
by ties of interest, like experience, friendship and re- 
lationship ; and, by their united efforts, not only suc- 
ceeded in their endeavor, but have impressed their 
character upon the manners, customs and fashions, not 
alone upon the succeeding generation, but upon all 
future generations. From necessity, the earliest pio- 
neer was a tiller of the soil, and if possessed of a trade 
pursued it to meet the immediate and pressing neces- 
sities of themselves and neighbors, and in the interval 
of labor on the clearing and prairie. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The entire career of an individual, and the fate of 
communities, and even nations, are ofttimes shaped 
from the smallest incidents, circumstances or remarks 
dropped by an uninterested person, and the early set- 
tlement of this township was, in a measure, no excep- 
tion. In 1826, Elijah Goble incidentally met George 
Claypool, who had been to Michigan, and who extolled 
the new territory in terms of the highest praise. The 
remarks thus hastily dropped were carefully cher- 
ished by their recipient, who determined to ex- 
plore the almost unknown wild for himself, but not 
until October, 1828, did opportunity present itself. 
In this month, Elijah Gobel, Jesse and Nathaniel 
Winchell all started afoot, with knapsacks on their 
back, from Fort Wayne, Ind., for Pigeon Prairie, 
eighty miles distant, where they stopped over night 
in a house for the first tiine since starting on their 
journey. Here the Winchells decided to pitch their 
tent and pursue their searchings no farther, but their 
companion pushed on to the house of Henry Lybrook, 
near Niles. Here he met Jonathan Gard, who had 
left Union County, Ind., to look for a location, and, 
being inspired by the same desire, they decided to 
unite in their search and, in company with James 
Toney, who was also on a tour of inspection, they 
went to the residence of Squire Thompson on Poka- 
gon Prairie. Thompson was so elated to see them, 
they being old acquaintances, that he not only agreed 
to assist them in all ways possible, but killed a heifer 
to provide them a feast. After a much needed rest 
of a few days, during which time one-half bushel of 



284 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



corn was haskeJ, ground bj hand, and baked in suit- 
able sized loaves for their journey, these three, with 
Squire Thompson as a guide, started for what is now 
called Volinia, where tbey ate their first meal with an 
Indian Chief, named Weesaw, on the present farm of 
B. G. Buell. Little Prairie Pond presented such an 
attractive appearance that Elijah Gobel immediately 
decided to make his claim, the date being October 16, 
1828. Mr. J. Gard also selected a farm on this 
prairie. They camped for the night near the foot of 
Bunker's Lake, and the next day pursued their way 
to the spot now known as Gard's Prairie, which was 
selected by J. Toney. The party then returned to 
Squire Thompson's, and from there the explorers 
wended their way home. 

March 3, 1829, Jonathan Gard, Elijah Gobel and 
Samuel Rich started from Union County, Ind. for 
their new home. Reaching the residence of Squire 
Thompson, they remained there for several days because 
of a severe snow-storm, but on the 30th of this month 
reached the location selected by J. Toney, which was 
taken by J. Gard, because Mr. Toney, being unable to 
dispose of his property, could not come. When they 
reached a gentle eminence, J. Gard said, pointing with 
his index finger, " there I will build a two-story sixty- 
foot barn, andsjli^Bre I will build my house." 

When we realize that he was 800 miles from his 
old home, on a small prairie of one hundred acres, sur- 
rounded by heavy timber ; that railroads aud swift 
transportation were unknown, markets far distant, and 
he a man of limited means even for that early day, we 
can, in a measure, appreciate the true heroism and 
brave and hopeful spirit that could thus enable him to 
forecast the future amid obstacles that would appear 
almost unsurmountable to the present generation. 
He seemed almost inspired with a spirit of prophecy, 
for certain it is that he lived to see his predictions ful- 
filled to the very letter. 

They, in conformity to advice given by Mr. Thomp- 
son, decided to work together the first season, and ac- 
cordingly soon erected a log cabin, which they all 
used in common, and commenced tilling the prairie 
soil, splitting rails, and performing the first labors so 
necessary in the development of any new country. 
Forty acres of land was fenced and fifteen put into corn, 
potatoes, etc., and a cabin was also erected on the farm 
selected by J. Gard, which was taken by Mr. Rich. 
July 6, 1829, they started back to bring their fami- 
lies and effects, and were only enabled to obtain one- 
half bushel of musty corn, which was duly ground at 
a mill near Niles, to sustain life while returning. A 
chip, clipped from a tree, served as a bake-tin for their 
corn-bread, and as the bread, while baking, necessarily 
absorbed much of the sap from the chip, its flavor was 



by no means desirable, in fact hardly palatable, and 
the three were overjoyed to again reach their home. 
The family of Mr. Gard consisted of nine children 
— Milton J., who resides on the old homestead ; Reu- 
ben F., a resident of Van Buren County; Isaac N., 
Benjamin F., Eliza, now Mrs. Whitam, and Almira, 
now Mrs. Welcher, all being residents ofVolina. Em- 
ily, now Mrs. J. Huff, resides in California, and 
Esther, Mrs. Eli Green, resides in Dakota ; Mary is 
deceased. 

At a club meeting held for this especial purpose, 
by old residents in 1869, it was decided that Samuel 
Morris, Sr., J. Morelan, H. D. Swift and Dolphin 
Morris reached Little Prairie Ronde on the evening 
of March 26, 1829, and Samuel Morris commenced 
building a log cabin on Section 1, on the farm now 
owned by Elias Morris, on the morning of the 27th, 
this being the first building erected in the township. 
Dolphin Morris located in Van Buren County. So 
many people entered this township almost simultane- 
ously, each claiming the precedence of a few days, that 
it is difficult to decide the point as to priority to the 
satisfaction of all, but as a preponderance of the evi- 
dence corroborates the above statements — also Elisha 
Goble, one of the first settlers and now a resident of 
Decatur, who has been consulted, confirms it — we 
incline to the opinion that it is absolutely correct. 

Dolphin Morris made his claim in La Grange 
Township on the farm now owned by J. K. Ritter, 
and went back to Ohio after his family, where he was 
detained by sickness, and on his return in the fall of 
1828, finding Mr. Ritter had jumped his claim, he 
went to Van Buren County and located on Section 
35, in 1829. His family consisted of his wife, Nancy 
(Beaver), and three children — Samuel, then five years 
old ; Amos, who resides at Lawton, and Zerilda, 
deceased. Dolphin Morris died January 7, 1870, 
and his wife October 14, 1877. Samuel Morris, Sr., 
bought considerable stock, which was wintered in 
Pokagon before moving on his farm in the spring, and 
as it was an unusually, late season, the snow covering 
the ground, they were obliged to feed the straw in 
their bedticks to their stock to keep them alive. In 
those days, wolves were very thick and, as they were 
unmolested by the Indians, very bold, and would fre- 
quently rush from the woods in the daytime, seize a 
sheep or lamb and make off with it before the settlers 
who were working, and at the same time keeping watch 
with their guns, could come to the rescue. At night, 
it was necessary to secure the stock so the wild animals 
could not obtain access to them. Samuel Morris, 
Sr., died in 1848, and his wife Rebecca, in 1849, 
thus laying aside the armor of life almost simultane- 
ouslv. 









HOX. GEOROE N'EWTON. 
Prominent among those who settled in Volinia in 
a very early day and endured the hardships of pio- 
neer life is Hon. George Newton, who is of English 
extraction, his father. Col. James Newton, who'^was 
born in England in 1777, coming to this country 
while a youth. Col. Ja^es Newton resided succes- 
sively in New Jersey, Penn.sylvania and Ohio, to which 
latter State he removed in 1801, and settled on Seven 
Mile Creek, about forty' miles north of Cincinnati. 
Mr. Newton, who died in Volinia September 20, 
1844, acquired the title of Colonel from commanding 
a regiment of militia in Ohio. During the war ol" 
1812, he served as Orderly Sergeant under Gen. 
Harrison. He commanded at Fort Black, north of 
Greenville, for a time, and afterward at Fort Meigs, 
his term of service expiring a few days before the 
battle of Mackinac. After coming to Cass County, 
he became prominently engaged in political affairs, 
and was a member of the convention that framed the 
State Constitution, and was also a member of the 
House of Representatives for this and Van Burcn 
Counties in the winters of 1887-38 and 1838-39. 
He was commissioned as a Judge by Gov. Mason, 
but never accepted. 

One-half century has passed away, as will be seen 
by the history of Volinia, since Hon. George Newton 
who was born in Preble County. Ohio. Au-ust lo' 



/vll^S.GEOf^GE ^fEV/TOjsf. 

1810, became a resident of this township, and he has 
made an impress on its physical aspect which does 
credit to his more than ordinary measure of energy 
and industry. He is numbered among the prominent 
and successful agriculturists of the county, and one 
who has honored the people with whom he has spent 
the major portion of his life. He has been promi- 
nently connected with all the matters of public inter- 
est in his township, and the people, recognizing his 
integrity and ability, have honored him with the 
highest oflBces in their gift, including Supervisor, etc., 
and in addition, he was selected to represent his dis- 
trict in the State Legislature in the legislative session 
of 1858-59, being elected by the Republican party, 
with which he affiliates, and of whose principles he is 
a stanch supporter. 

Although not a member of any Christian church, 
he has always contributed liberally to the support of 
the Gospel, and to assist along all commendable en- 
terprises. 

He was married, December 14, 1837, to Esther 
Green, daughter of the pioneer, Jesse Green, who 
was born March 25, 1819, and they have been blessed 
with two children— John M. and Mary J., both of 
whom reside at home. Mr. Newton and his estimable 
wife are now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, 
honored and respected by all their acquaintances. 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Jacob Morelan, of whom mention has been made, 
came to the county in 1828, and stayed in Pokagon 
the first winter. He die'! in 1854. His wife Sarah, 
born in 1805, deceased December 24, 1881. They 
were the parents of thirteen children, only two of 
whom died in childhood. 

Jacob Charles was one of the first settlers, coraintr 
to the township in 1829, and built his house in some 
hazel ^ shes. It was constructed in the most primitive 
manii of rails and logs, and it was so small that some 
of h' neighbors, who went to visit him one Sunday, 
S( irci.ed for it in vain. He entered land in Sec- 
tion 3. 

In 1830, Jacob Morelan, D. Morris and Jacob 
Charles went to Niles for their winter supplies, and 
r,n their way back stopped with Col. Joseph Gardner, 
of Pokagon, and in the morning found the ground 
covered with snow and the snow still descending. It 
continued to snow for several days, interspersed with 
rain, which formed a thick crust, and when it ceased 
the snow was three feet deep and it was found impos- 
sible to get along with their loads, and, so fastening to 
their oxen as much meal as they could, the long, labo- 
rious undertaking of breaking the crust was under- 
gone and home at last reached, but not until spring did 
they obtain their supplies, the winter was so severe, [ 
owing to the fall of snow. The family of Mr. Gard 
were provided thirty pounds of wheat flour, which 
was carefully saved for sickness, while they pounded 
corn in a kettle and sifted it by hand for the family 
use, as did the others who fared no better. 

John Curry came from Indiana in 1830, and located 
land in Section 11, now owned by B. Hathaway. 
Six years later, he disposed of the same and went to 
Iowa. This same season, William Tietsort came from i 
Butler County, Ohio, and in 1832 located forty acres 
in Section IS. He died in 1840, in his eighty-sixth 
year, and none of the family now remain here. 

Josephus Gard was born in Morris County, N. J., 
August 24, 1774. They then moved to Ohio and 
from there he removed to Union County, Ind., and in - 
1831 to Volinia, and located on the farm now owned 
by Loorais H. Warner, and in a few years sold out 
and removed to Berrien County, where he did in 1840. 
He was the father of Jonathan Gard, and therefore 
the progenitor of this family, wno have ever borne '. 
an important part in the history of this township. 

In these early days, friction matches were unknown, 
and if one got out of fire, which was seldom, for the 
huge fireplaces were the receptacles of immense logs 
of wood, they usually sent their children to the neigh- 
bors for some as the most expeditious method of ob- 
taining it. Reuben F. Gard was sent on such an 
errand one frosty morning to the house of George 



Newton, and when there remarked that he saw an im- 
mense cat, crouched on a tree that leaned over the 
path he passed along. A panther at once suggested 
itself, and a search showed where the monster had 
killed a colt belonging to D. C. Squires, and sucked 
its blood. It was a narrow escape. 

Reuben Hinshaw can be counted among the old 
pioneers who endured the privations incident to the 
settling of a new country, as he moved with his 
parents from Preble County, Ohio, to Young's Prairie 
in 1829-30, and in 1841 the land in Section 36 he 
had purchased of Government five years previous, 
and where his death occurred in 1877. 

In 1836, George Newton was out of health, and in 
conformity to instructions from his physicians for 
j horseback exercise, made detours over the country, 
following Indian trails and water-courses wherever his 
fancy might dictate, and it was on one of these excur- 
sions that he found the land Mr. Hinshaw located, on 
which was a clearing of four or five acres made by the 
Indians. Mr. Hinshaw had by his first wife, Mary 

(Newton), four children, only two of whom survive 

Mrs. Phiiebe Crego and Emily Hinshaw. After his 
first wife's death, he married Mrs. Hannah White, who 
now lives at Wakely. 

In September, 1830, Col. James Newton came from 
Preble County, Ohio, accompanied by his son-in-law, 
Jacob H. Zimmerman, on a prospecting tour, and 
were so favorably impressed with the country that the 
spring following, his son, Hon. George Newton, his 
sister Ann and J. H. Zimmerman started April 6. 
1831, for the Western Elysium, and the difBculties on 
their journey here are but what nearly all encountered 
who came in the spring or fall when the water was 
high. Arriving at the Stillwater River, all perishable 
goods were placed on top of the load, lashed down, and the 
three yoke of oxen started across with Mr. Newton as 
driver, and when beyond his depth, he caught hold of 
the ox yoke, mounted the nigh steer, and rode across 
with all the dignity the novel situation would admit 
of The third night, they encamped on the battle- 
ground of Fort Recovery, and inspected the graves 
of the fallen brave, which were marked by posts that 
the Indians had severely hacked with their tomahawks. 
The Wabash River was crossed in a pirogue, while the 
wagon was taken to pieces, and it and the household 
goods, etc., taken across in parcels as the size of the 
pirogue would admit of; other streams were crossed 
in the same manner, or forded, as the nature of the 
case admitted. A sucking colt was taken into the 
pirouge and held down by force while crossing; the 
dam swimming beside it. Elkhart, Ind., as seen at 
this time, consisted of one log cabin just completed. 
Having overcome all obstacles, they reached the 



HISTORY OF -CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Christiana Creek, which was followed up until the 
school section was reache 1. and here they halted near 
what is now Jamestown or Penn, when they raised a crop 
of corn and oats. The first person Mr. Newton met 
in his new home was J. Rinehart, Sr., who informed 
him that he would be called upon in a few days to 
work on the road from J. E. Bonine's to Vandalia. 
In August, they returned to Ohio to get the remainder 
of their effects, and came back accompanied by Col. 
James Newton and wife, and the family of Zimmer- 
man. They spent the winter in Penn, and in the 
spring moved on to the farm now owned by Mr. 
Newton in this township, and to which they cut the 
first road through the thick wood ; once their wagon 
became so jainmed in between two trees that it could 
not be extricated, which necessitated cutting one tree 
down. They occupied the temporarily deserted wig- 
wam of Chief Weesaw until their house was com- 
pleted, which was constructed of hewn logs in the 
shape of the letter L, contained three rooms, and was 
undoubtedly the best house of the kind erected in the 
county, and it would doubtless have endured until- this 
time but for its accidental destruction by fire. Newton 
and Zimmerman started early one morning for La 
Grange after boards to be used as flooring in the 
house, leaving Ann Newton the sole occupant of the 
partially constructed building, which had neither doors, 
floor or roof. They had not been gone long before a 
large drove of ferocious wolves, attracted by the savory 
smell of the morning meal, put in an appearance, howl- 
ing in a frightful manner. Miss Newton climbed upon 
the logs, where the ravenous animals endeavored to 
reach her by jumping up, at the same time showing 
their teeth and growling most savagely ; none can tell 
what her fate might have been had it not have been 
for the faithful watch dog left behind, who seemed 
possessed with the knowledge that he was the sole 
protector of the defenseless, for he attacked them with 
all the ferocity of the canine breed, and fought so val- 
iantly that they were after a time driven from the 
house, and slunk away into the woods. Although he 
was punished severely, one side being literally torn 
open, exposing his vitals, by most judicious nurs- 
ing he recovered. This section, now so attractive, was 
at this time an unbroken wilderness, there being no 
roads, mills, markets, and but few neighbors ; but in- 
dustry has accomplished wonders, for this section, in 
common with those surrounding, has been brought 
by patient labor to present almost irresistible attrac- 
tions, for fine farms, buildings and cultivated fields are 
seen on every side. 

When John Echenberger came through from Ross 
County, Ohio, in 1881, his earthly possessions, aside 
from his wife and two children, consisted of an ancient 



mare on which was strapped a feather bed, and on 
which his wife and children rode; two harnesses and 
an old shot-gun. He prevailed upon Elijah Goble to 
give him ^65 and his note for $15, for his horse and 
harnesses, and with this he was enabled to start in the 
world by taking up some Government land. 

Samuel Morris, Jr., on his arrival, made a pre-emp- 
tion claim in Section 11, but being unable to make 
the necessary payments, disposed of the same to John 
Shaw in 1831, for §300, and located some land in 
Section 1 , now owned by W. B. Rosewarne. He was 
an ingenious man, and. being unable to buy boots, went 
to Niles, purchased some leather, ijnd, having whittled 
out a last with his jack-knife, set himself up as a gen- 
uine Crispin, and with remarkably good success — util- 
ity and durability, rather than beauty, being the chief 
merits of his handiwork. 

Among those who played an important part in the 
early history of the county was John Shaw, who came 
from Pickaway County, Ohio, and purchased the land 
as given above. He was a man of more than ordinary 
ability, and served in the capacity of Justice of the 
Peace for many years, taking an active interest in the 
public affairs of his township and county. His decis- 
ions, as Justice, were sometimes at variance with the 
law, his motto being — equity first and law technicali- 
ties afterward ; and many were the neighborhood dis- 
putes he amicably settled, thereby curtailing his own 
fees. His methods were sometimes more effective than 
logical. As an illustration, he once consented to try 
a case for Capt. Harper in Cassopolis, who had issued 
warrants for the arrest of five or six parties who lived 
near Whitmanville, who had engaged in a fistic con- 
troversy over some chickens. When the case came on 
for trial, the Captain quietly withdrew to the court 
house, where he made business with the Board of Su- 
pervisors, of whom he was a member, that body being 
in session, and when he thought matters had reached 
an interesting status repaired there just in time to see 
'Squire Shaw kicking the last contestant from the ofiice 
with the remark, more forcible than elegant or relig- 
ious, "Go to with your chicken case," and' 

this was the end of the affair. Two attorneys, who 
were trying a case before him, became very abu- 
sive in their language toward each other, and one ap- 
plied to the court for protection, but was quietly in- 
formed that court adjourned when they commenced 
maligning each other. His generosity and kindness 
was proverbial, and was frequently exercised against 
his own pecuniary interest, and this, coupled with his 
intemperance in later years, so impoverished him that 
he was obliged to part with his farm, and eventually 
his entire worldly possessions, so that he passed his 
later years in the county infirmary, where he died a sad 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



287 



commentary on what intoxicating liquors will do for 
men who indulge in their free use. 

Daniel C. Squire was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, 
and moved to Butler County, Ohio, with his parents, 
where he married Elizabeth Case, and in 1831 they 
removed with their two children, John and William, 
to Cassopolis, and the spring following to this township, 
where he had purchased a farm in Sections 18 and 19. 
Their log cabin was constructed when the snow .was 
on the ground, and when it disappeared were sur- 
prised to find they had erected it on a huge log which 
projected into the solitary room. Mr. Squire drove 
the stakes for John Woolman when he surveyd Cass- 
opolis. He, in common with many others, participated 
in the Sauk war. He lived to see the county changed 
from a wilderness to fine farms, his death not occur- 
ring until 1873, and he was interred in the cemetery 
he donated to public use and in which his father, 
William, was buried in, in 1832, his being the first 
death in the township. His son, John, above referred 
to, now lives on Section 10, and his wife is a daughter 
of Jacob Morelan, who, as has been recorded, came 
into the township in 1829. Joel C. and his brother, 
Elijah Wright, came through with Mr. Squire, but did 
not remain long in this township, eventually going West. 
Richard Shaw, a native Virginian, removed to Picka- 
way County, Ohio, where J. S. Shaw, the eldest of 
six children, was born. In 1831, he moved to Penn 
Township, but while en route was taken sick at Fort 
Wayne, Ind., and before his recovery had spent the 
money with which he intended starting in his new 
home. In 1837, he removed to Volinia ; although a shoe- 
maker by trade, he engaged in agriculture, and used 
to manufacture his own plows and drags, the latter 
having wooden teeth, and found it necessary to prac 
tise the most rigid economy and industry to commence 
life again in a new country. His death occurred in 
1874, and that of his wife, Julia A. (Saunders), in 
1856. Their son, above referred to, now lives in Sec- 
tion 21, which farm he purchased when but thirteen 
acres were cleared. 

David Huff was born in 1811, and raised 
in Butler County, Ohio. His father, Lewis, was 
killed in the Indian war at Fort Wayne, when 
he, David, was a babe. In 1828, he came to this 
State, and cleared five acres of land where Niles now 
stands, but forfeited this claim, for he went home and 
did not return until 1832, when he located land in 
Wayne Township, which was exchanged for the farm 
he now owns in Volinia. He recalls the time when 
buttermilk and potatoes composed his entire menu, 
but these hard times have long since passed away. 
He participated in the Black Hawk war, but not until 
1881 did he receive his pensiort of $160 for services 



then rendered. His son. Squire Huff, now resides on 
the old homestead and with whom the old gentleman 
lives, his wife dying in 1845. 

Levi Lawrence was a man of genius and a nat- 
ural mechanic. Like most geniuses, he was a rov- 
ing star and never appeared quite so happy as 
when making or contemplating a change of business 
or location. Novelty was something for which he 
was ever seeking, and his readiness to adapt- him- 
self to existing circumstances was almost phenome- 
nal ; as a blacksmith he excelled, and made the cele- 
brated " Waters' Scythes, " once so famous with the 
farmers, which were used previous to the advent of 
mowing machines. While working in the United 
States armory at Springfield, Mass., he and his part- 
ner were the only men who could make swedges and 
dies with which to swedge out musket locks. On the 
4th of September, 1832, he reached Volinia with his 
family, where he contemplated farming and where, in 
reality, he did pursue this avocation for a time, but 
subsequently went to Missouri, and, returning, died in 
Charleston, his wife's death occurring in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. On their first arrival, they purchased wheat of 
Squire Shaw at 40 cents per bushel, which was then 
considered a remunerative price, and took it to Niles 
to get it ground, which shows the inconvenience to 
which early settlers were subject. The first grist-mill 
was erected by Harry George in 1851, and the mill- 
stones for the same were procured in Milwaukee, by 
Mr. Lawrence, who donated his time. This was such 
an important adjunct to the settlement that all the 
neighbors assisted in its erection and charged nothing 
for their services. L. B. Lawrence, the fifth child, 
Mr. Lawrence having seven children, is now one of 
the prominent, successful farmers of this township. 
His fine residence, surrounded by fertile fields, is very 
attractive, and indicative of the financial success which 
has crowned his efforts. 

In 1836, Joseph M. Goodspeed drove from Auburn, 
N. Y., with his family of seven children and house- 
hold effects stowed away in the huge canvas-covered 
wagon then so common, bringing with him some fruit 
trees to be planted in his Western home. After a 
stay of one month in Niles, he came to Volinia and 
was hospitably received by Alex. Copley until his log 
cabin was ready for occupancy. Being a frugal, in- 
dustrious man, he acquired a competency before his 
death, which occurred in 1850 ; his wife, Sarah B., 
surviving until 1877. E. C. Goodspeed, one of his 
sons, is a prosperous farmer in this township, while 
another, J. M., is engaged in merchandising in Nich- 
olsville. 

Richard J. Huyck came to Volinia in 1837, 
from Kalamazoo. His father, John, had preceded 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



him one year. He commenced merchandising in the 
village of Huycksville, then called, with a man named 
Daniels ; this business was abandoned after five years, 
and his attention has since been directed to farming. 
The village of Huycksville was laid out in 1836, and 
lots sold for $33, but it was not properly located for 
a metropolis, consequently its business declined in a 
few years ; the stores and shops disappeared, and 
where the embryo village once stood can be found 
finely cultivated fields. Richard J. served as Town- 
ship Clerk for many years. John Huyck disposed of 
his property and removed to Marcellus, where his son, 
Abijah, still resides, and to the Marcellus history 
the reader is referred. 

John Mulford moved on the farm he now occupies 
when in a state of nature, and by the assistance of his 
wife, who helped " roll many a log heap," cleared 
the farm on which he now resides. 

When Eli W. Dixon moved on his present farm, in 
1842, it presented the same appearance as when trav- 
ersed by the Iniiians. A log cabin erected by himself 
was first occupied, then commenced the laborious task 
of cutting down the monarchs of the forest and clear- 
ing the land ready for tilling; but this he has accom- 
plished, and on all sides can now be seen fine farms 
occupied by industrious farmers. 

He served his people as Justice of the Peace for 
sixteen years, with ability. 

Henry A. Crego, the youngest of ten children, was 
but two years of age when his father, R. D. Crego, 
moved into Newberg, in 1841. At that time, this 
township possessed but nineteen voters, and was, con- 
sequently, very new, and lie grew up with the country, 
becoming a man whom the people chose to hold vari- 
ous township offices, including that of Justice of the 
Peace for ten years. About three years since, he re- 
moved to the farm originally" possessed by R. Hinshaw 
in Volinia, and was immediately elected Justice, which 
office he now holds. 

Among those who came in at a later period, when 
roads had been to a certain extent laid out and neigh- 
bors become more plentiful, was Joseph Goodenough, 
who died in 1871, on the farm now occupied by his 
widow and conducted by his son, N. B. Goodenough; 
also P. W. Southworth, who, when he commenced on 
his farm in 1854, but twenty acres had been cleared, 
and he dependent upon his own exertions, but success 
has crowned his efforts. This same year, Mr. B. G. 
Buell and his brother, Emmons, purchased the John 
Shaw farm, which farm has ever been noted for its 
beauty and fertility, and contains the largest orchard 
in the township. 

A willow tree planted by Mr. Buell in 1863 has 
^rown over two inches in diameter every year, and its 



branches encircle a space of four rods in diameter, a 
growth that seems almost incredible. 

Traces of garden beds and mounds can still be seen 
on this farm, and it also contains the ancient burial 
places of the Pottowattomies, and for many years after 
Mr. Shaw commenced cultivating the soil would bands 
of Indians make annual excursions and perform their 
incantations, strange religious ceremonies, dances and 
wierd performances, over a certain spot of ground 
which contained the remains of a noted chief, all the 
time uttering deep guttural and still plaintive sounds, 
as if their grief was so great as to be unbearable. Mr. 
Buell, who purchased his brother's interest in the farm, 
has ever taken an active part in everything to further 
the best interests of his township. 

Dreams have, in all ages and countries, been be- 
lieved as indications of the future : and of all forms 
of superstition, this is perhaps the most excusable. 
Whatever is mysterious as to cause, and beyond the 
power of will, appears as supernatural, and what more 
so than dreams ? Grave philosophers have written 
treatises on the interpretation of dreams as they did 
on astrology. In modern times, and among European 
nations, dreams are seldom heeded; still their repeti- 
tion and ultimate fulfillment are sometimes remark- 
I able, as was the case with Oliver Hight, who, 
while a resident of Ohio, dreamed three times of com- 
ing West and finding a peice of land that exactly 
suited him. It made such a vivid impression on his 
mind that he disposed of his property and started 
West and had almost despaired of finding the coveted 
spot, after an extensive journey through Indiana and 
this State, but on seeing his present farm, in Section 
4, which corresponded exactly in description to the 
farm as seen in his visions, he immediately purchased 
it and has been prosperous ever since. 

Even as late as 1853, when W. J. Eaton purchased 

his present farm, it was a solid forest. Three years 

later, A. Brown came from Steuben County, N. Y., 

! and four years later purchased the farm where he 

now resides. 

Wm. V. Rosewarn, who was born in England, al- 
though coming to this township in 1853, did not clear 
up his farm as did many at this period, for he pur- 
chased in an old settled part of the same, and mar- 
ried Martha, daughter of Samuel Morris, the old 
pioneer. 

Thomas Stennett left England when twenty-seven 
years of age, and came to Constantine, St. Joseph 
County, and in 1863 to this township. When reach- 
ing this State, he was almost penniless, but has by in- 
dustry acquired a competency. Mr. Stennett is a 
uuiet man, and is deeply impressed with his religious 
duties, which he practices daily. Having no children. 




MILTON J. G-AP^D. 



MILTON J. (JAKD. 
The Gard family have been identified with Volinia 
ever since, and even before, it had an existence as a 
township of Cass County, as will be seen by reference 
to the history of Volinia. Jonathan Gard was among 
the first to decide upon it as a place of habitation ; 
the year being 1828, when no white man claimed it 
as his home. Jonathan Gard, the father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey, April 6, 
1799. He removed to Ohio in 1801, with his father,' 
Josephus Gard, and settled within eight miles of Cin- 
cinnati, and six years later removed to Union County, 
Ind., when he married Elizabeth Bishop, and where 
Milton J. Gard was born, March 11, 1824. 

Jonathan Gard was a fine type of the pioneers 
who settled up this Western country ; being generous, 
his home was sought by the settlers as they made 
their way into the country, and they were always 
given a hearty welcome, and the needy assisted. As 
no worthy applicant for assistance was ever turned 
from his door without aid, he became noted for his 
generosity and neighborly kindness. He died in 
1854, leaving a record of which his descendants 
may well be proud, for he was manifestly honorable, 
upright, prudent and kind. His widow still survives 
him, and is passing the eventide of her declining 
days in peaceful quiet with her daughter, Mrs. A. 
Welcher, in this township. 

When he came to this township in 1829, with his 
parents, Milton J. Gard was but six years of age, and ' 
as it has been his home ever since he is thoroughly | 



conversant with the sum total of pioneer life. Being 
reared in this new county, his opportunities for obtain- 
ing an education were very meager, but were fully 
improved, and a system of self education entered 
upon, which resulted in his becoming much interested 
in the cause of education, and aside from teaching 
district school he established a grammar school, which 
was taught for four years ; arithmetic and other 
branches were added, and this school was eventually 
merged into a debating society, which formed the 
germ for the justly celebrated farmers' club of 
this township, in the establishing and maintaining of 
which Mr. Gard has formed a very important factor. 
He has been prominently identified with every in- 
terest of Volinia since attaining his majority, particu- 
larly in contributing to its intellectual advancement 
and has filled every office in the gift of the people of 
his township, with one minor exception ; was one of 
the charter members of the Masonic Lodge, and has 
presided as W. M., and as a member of the Anti- 
Horse Thief Society has been its chief ofiicer. He 
has also officiated as President of the Cass County 
Agricultural Society, and served for six years as a 
member of the State Board of Agriculture, and is a 
successful and progressive farmer, residing on the old 
homestead. He is one of those men whose identifica- 
tion with any township or organization is always pro- 
ductive of good. He was married March 4, 1847 
to Olive Green, daughter of Jesse Green, who died 
January 4, 18.52, leaving one son, George. 

February 23, 1854, he was united in marriaore to 
Susan Forand, and they have been blessed with seven 
children, as follows : josephene, deceased ; Ezra C, 
Ida E., Lincoln P., Jemima L., Nellie and Bertha. 



he adopted John M. Roach, and did for him aU that a 
father could ; he graduated at Albion College, and is 
now engaged in teaching in Arkansas. Some nine 
years ago, Mr. Stennett cut down a black walnut tree 
in which was found imbedded a bullet, outside of 
which were rings showing that one hundred and sixty- 
five years had elapjeJ since it had been deposited 
there. The curious can speculate as regards this, but 
it was doubtless sped there from the musket of some 
adventurous Frenchman, hundreds of whom penetrated 
these woods cotemporaneous with and subsequent to 
the time La Salle coursed up and down the Lake 
Michigan, and crossed this section, if not this county, 
while en route to Detroit. The reader is referred to 
the general history for a record of this important 
epoch, and any other topic of interest pertaining to 
the history of this township, not treated of here. 

D. D. Judie, who came from St. Joseph County, 
Indiana, in 1867. has so changed the appearance of 
his farm that one could not recognize it as once cov- 
ered with girdled trees, and a log cabin with shanty 
barn. He is Treasurer of the Volinia Farmers' Club, 
and a progressive farmer. 

The present Township Clerk is W. R, Kirby, son of 
John Kirby, former pastor of Baptist Church. Al- 
though comparatively a young man, he interests him- 
self in public affairs, and it is such men who eventu- 
ally come to the front, and upon whom the people can 
depend to further local and more important interests. 
Myron Robinson, son of Nathan Robinson, one of the 
pioneers in Jefferson, is a resident of Volinia. 

Mr. H. S. Rogers, who perhaps is as well known in 
Cass County, because of his History of the same, 
which was issued in 1875, as any other person, has 
been a resident of this township since 1852. In 1866 
or 1867, he erected a store at Volinia, and followed 
merchandising for nearly twelve years, and it was 
while thus engaged that he first conceived the project 
of writing the history of the county. Mr. Rogers is 
thoroughly alive to agricultural interests, he being 
now engaged in that avocation, and has performed the 
laborious duties of Secretary of the Volinia Farmers' 
Club, with the exception of one or two years, since its 
organization, and has assisted very materially in its 
success. 

Abram Gary, who ofl^ciated as Town Clerk for sev- 
eral years, made a most efficient officer, and is num- 
bered among the rising young men of this town- 
ship. 

J. M. Gebhard, a native Bavarian, lives in the 
southern tier of sections; there is, however, but 
little foreign element in this township, but quite a 
settlement of negroes in the middle eastern portion 

of It. 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN 

We here append a list of 



ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIE.S, 



thus showing all of those who entered land in the 
history of the township: 



early 



Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich, Oct. 15, IH.SO .'TfiO 

Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 18.il fi.3 

.Samuel Morris, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 14, 1832 40 

Samuel Morris, Casa County, Mich., .Ian. 24, 1833 40 

Stephen Bunker. Cass County, Mich., June 27, 1833 80 

John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 23, 1833 40 

.Samuel Morris, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1885 .59 

.lames Morris, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 28, 183.5 80 

Chapman Howard, Winilham County, Vt., .\pril 24, 1837 40 

Sectio.n 2. 

John Morris, Cass County, .Mich., Oct. 15, 1830 80 

Samuel Morris, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Aug. 14. 1831 160 

.fohu S. Barry. St. Joseph County, Sept. 1, 1832 80 

Daniels & Bull, ,Kt. Joseph County, Mich., Sept. 1, 1832 226 

Albert E. Bull, St. Joseph County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832 65 

Sectio-n 3. 

Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 15, 1830 160 

Elijah Goble, Giss County, Mich, June 22, 1831 160 

John B. Goble, Cass County. Mich.. June 22, 1831 146 

Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 80 

Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 8, 1831 67 

Section 4. 

Christian Charles. Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1831 80 

Christian Grant, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1831 80 

Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., July, 5, 1834 40 

Jacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1836 68 

Jacob Gant, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1836 40 

Thomas A. Smith, Cas.* County, .Mich., Nov. 25, 1835 40 

Thomas T. Lewis. Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1836 120 

Benoni Young, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836 40 

Whitcomb k Howard, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec 15 

1*^36 ; ^s 

Samuel Rich, Kalamazoo County, Feb. 4, 1837 40 

Section 5. 

Benoni V'-ung, Kalamazoo County, Dec. 12, 1836 40 

Asa C. Briggs, Kalamazoo County, Dec. 12, 1836 40 

Walter V. Wheaton, Wayne County. Jan. 28, 1837 379 

Thomas Kearnes, Cass County, Mich., July 4. 1848 40 

Section 6. 

Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 183fi 136 

Mary Cuddy, Washington D. C, Deo. 10, 1836 280 

W. V. Wheaton, Wayne County, Jan. 28, 1837 160 

Section 7. 

William (iriflis, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 3, 1832 40 

William Griffis, Cass County, Mich., March 11, 18i4 40 

William Squier, Cass County, Mich., March 26. 1833 80 

Levi Hall, Cass (.;.)unly, Mich., Feb. 24, 1834 96 

Levi Hall, Cass County, .Mich., March 1, 1834 40 

Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 21. 1836 181; 

Epaphroditus Ransom, Kalamazoo County, May 26, 183t) 160 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Daniel Goodman, Madison County, N. Y., July 13, 1836. 

Samuel Blackwell.New York City, July 13, 1836 

Deforest Manice, New York City, July 13, 1836 



Section 9. 
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 10, 1830. 
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832... 
John B. Gard, Cass County, Mich., June 2, 1835.... 

Samuel Rich, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 16, 1830 

Enoch Buck, Cass County, Mich.. April 25, 1836... 
Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 1836 

Section 10. 
Jacob Morlan, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 14, 1830. 
Samuel Fulion, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 14, 1830. 

Abby Fulton, Cass County, Mich., .Sept. 3, 1832 

Josephus Gard, Cas3 County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1832.. 
Jacob Morlan, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 4, 1832.... 
Jacob Morlan, Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1836., 



Section 11. 

John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 15, 1830 

John Shaw, Cass County, Mich., .June 22, 1831 

John Cuny, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 

Alexander Copley, Cass County, Mich., July 11, 1831 

Aurelius C. Howard, Windham County, Vt., Dec. 31, 1835... 

Section 12. 

Lawrence Al Crane, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1831 

Levi Lawrence, Cass County, .Mich., Sept. 7, 1832 

Levi Lawrence, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 17, 1835 

Levi Lawrence, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 12,1836 

Alexander Copley, Montgomery County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832.. 

John Morris, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 27, 1832 

John Morris, Cass County. iVlich., Dec. 10, 1836 



Section 13. 
Jo«ephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1836... 

Everett Holly, Addison County, Vt., May 3, 1836 

John Ladd, Oneida County, N. Y., May 27, 1836 

John N. Copley, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836 

Aurelius Howard, Ionia County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1836. 
F.benezer Copley, Cass County Mich., Dec. 16, 1836... 
Dayton Thorp, Cass County, Mich., June 15, 1838 



Section 14. 
Honry Stevens, Kalamazoo County, Nov. 30, 1835..!. 

Aurelius Howard, Dec. 1, 1835 

Leicester Olds, Cayuga County, N. Y., March 2, 18! 
Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1836. 



Section 15. 

John Hu8, Cass County, Mich , Aug. 27, 1835 

A. &. D. Fulton, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1835 

Aurelius C. Howard, Wiudham County. Vt., Dec. 1, 1835.. 

William Law, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836 

Jesse Buck, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 13, 18.36 

Edward Legg. I'ass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1836 

Benjamin Sherman, St.' Jo.seph County, Feb. 1, 1837 



35 
104 
318 
160 



Section 16. 
School Lands 

Section 17. 
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., Dec. f,, 1832.. 
.lohn r Gard, Cos's (.'ounty, Mich., June 28, 183:1.. 



David Crtine, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1831 

Joel C. Wright, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1833.... 
Elijah W. Wright, Cass County, Mich., .\pril 6, 1833 

Amos Huff, Clark County, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1833 

William F. Huyck, Lenawee County, May, 3, 1836... 
Theo. P. Sheldon, Kalamazoo County, May 24, 1836. 
Catharine Myers, Cass County, Mich. Dec. 12, 1836. 



Section 18. 
Daniel C. Squier, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1831. 
William Griffis, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1831 



William Griffis, Cass County, Mich., March 14, 1834. 

Levi Hall, Butler County, Ohio., Nov. 7, 1831 

William Tietsort, Ciss County, Mich., Aug. 27, 1832. 
Daniel C. Squier,. Cass County, Mich., Feb. 18, 1833... 
Joseph Miller, Kalamazoo County, July, 5, 1836 



Section 19. 

Peter Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 1834 

John Tietsort, Cass County, Mich., March 15, 1834 

William Case, Cass County, Mich., .Ian. 12, 1836 

Charles Morris, Cass County, .Mich., March 18, 1836 

Jay R. Monroe, Van Buren County, May 24, 1830 

H. N. Monroe, Van Buren County. Jan. 12, 1837 

Epaphrii Ransom, Kalamazoo I'ounty, Mich., May 24, 1836.. 
Theo P. Sheldon. Kalamazoo County. Mich., May 24, 1836... 



Section 20. 
Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 14, i830.... 
.lonathan Gard, Cass County. Mich., June 22. 1831... 
James Newton, Cass County, Mich., March 23, 1832.. 

Henry Myers, Cass County, Mich.. Sept. 23, 1833 

David Crane, Cass County. Mich.. Jan. 7. 1836 

John Buck, Van Buren County, May 14, 1836 , 

Thomas J. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1836 

John Buck, Cass County. Mich., Jan. 28, 1837 

Thomas Statler, Niagara County, N. Y , Feb. 2, 1837.. 



Section 21. 

Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 

Jonathan Gard, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1836 

David Hopkins, Berrien County, May 14, 1836 

Thomas T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., .May 14, 1836 

Epaphro Ransom. Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 24, 183-5... 

Hubbard, Homer aud Patrick. Hampshire Couuty, Mass., 

July 5, 1836 

Section 22. 

Thomas T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., May 14. 1856 

Lawrence, Imlay and B., May 28. 1836 

Kelsey & Saunders, Genesee County, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1836... 

Jesse Buck, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837 

Josephus Gard, Jan. 28, 1837 

Isa:u; N. James, Kalamazoo County. Mich., Jan. 2X, 1837 

Section 23. 

Leicester Olds, t'ayuga County. N. Y;, March 2, 1836 

.loseph S. Wiseman, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1836. 

Joseph S.Wiseman, Dec. 14, 1836 

William Mulford, Wayne County, Dec. 14, 1836 

Edward Legg, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1836 



I 



Section 24. 
8(> Henry Newberry, Wayne Couuty, Dec. 
40 Thomas N. Copley. Cass County, Mich. 
40 William Mulford, Wayne County, .Ian. '< 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



.lolin 0. Ladd, Oneida County, May 27, 1836 80 

Edward Carroll, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1847 40 

SEcrioN 2o. 

Chapin Howard, Windham County, Vt., April 24, 1837 H'J 

William Mulford, Wayne County, Mich , Dec. 9, 1843 104 

.lohn F. Goff, Cass County, Mich., Sept 10, 1844 50 

Billingham & Co.. Dec. 13, 1S47 70. 

Calvin Goodrich, JcflFerson County, N. V.. April 22, 18-52 40 

.lohn F. Goff, Cass County, .Mich., May 11, 18-53 40 

Sect I O.N 26. 

Walter V. Wheaton, Wayne County, Jan. 28, 1887 160 

William M. McCutcheon, New York City, .Jan. 28, 1837 154 

Hugh McCutcheon, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 160 

Ormand S. Howard, Windham County, Vt., Jan. 28, 1837 160 

Section 27. 

George W. More'l Wayne County, Dec. 10, 1836 160 

Elias Whitcomb, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Dec. 15, 1836 160 

Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1839 80 

David T. Harris. New York City, Jan. 28, 18-39 80 

.Samuel W. Goodrich. .New York City, Jan. 28, 1839 160 

Section 28. 

David Hopkins, lierrien County, May 14, 1836 200 

Horace Butler, Oneida County, May 20, 1836 40 

George Uedfield, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Inilay & Co., Onondaga County, N. Y., May 28, 

1836 • 160 

William .\. Burtis, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 80 

Section 29. 

James Newton, (Jass' County, Mich., March 23, 1832 160 

Henry Myers, Cass County, Mich., June 6, 1833 80 

Philip Myers, Cass County, Mich., May 14, 1836 40 

Henry Myers, Cass County, Mich., May 14, 1836 80 

George Newton, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1836 160 

Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 1886 120 

Section 30 

James Newton, Cass County, Mich , March 23, 1832 80 

William Tietsort, Casi County, Mich., Aug. 15, 1832 217 

Isaac Huff, Butler County, Ohio, March 26, 1833 137 

Peter Huff, Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1833 40 

Cornelius Huff, Cass County, Mich., Jun% 6, 1834 40 

Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., .April 26, 

18;;6 ' 80 

Section 31. 

Henry 1". Voorhees, April 26, 1836 80 

Gideon H. Horton, Cayuga County, N. Y,, May 14, 1836 176 

Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 14, 1836 '. 298 

John Huff, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 25, 1830 40 

Section 32. 

Gideon H. Horton, May 14, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 28, 1886 400 

Robert H. Maclay, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 160 

Section 33. 

John M. Labatut, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837, entire 640 

Section 34. 

Levi Higgius, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836 40 

Kdward KicharJson, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 HO 



Henry Clossey, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 160 

Fidelia D. Cushing, Onondaga County, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1837... 80 

Henry H. Gale, Windham County, Vt., Jan. 28, 1H37 80 

Isaiah Goodrich, Windham County, Vt., Jan. 28, 1837 195 

Section 35. 

Thomas WiUiamj, Ojtario County, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1836 155 

Braddock Bailey, Kalamazoo ('ounty, Mich., Dec. 17, 1836... 198 

Isaac A. Briggs, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 28, 1837 7 

George C. Germond, New York City, Jan. 28, 1837 80 

William Meek, St. Joseph County, July 13, 1836 85 

Section 36. 

Robert Meek, St. Joseph County, July 13, 183ii 40 

Thomas Williams, Ontario County, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1836 129 

Reuben Hiushaw, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1836 160 

William Meek, St. Joseph County, July 13, 1836 80 

William Duncan, tiass County, Mich., May 27, 1848 80 

Levi Garwood, Cass County, Mich., June 2, 1849 40 

Josephus Gard, having a predilection for a province 
in Poland, named Volhynia, called this township by 
the same name, but the orthography was subsequently 
changed until it is now spelled Volinia, which conforms 
to the modern idea of things. This township was 
formed by an act of the Territorial Government, 
approved March 29, 1833, the text of which is as 
follows: "That all that part of the county of Cass 
known and distinguished as Township 5 south, in 
Range .13 and 14 west, of the principal meridian, 
compose a township by the name of Volinia and that 
the first township meeting be held at the house of 
Josephus Gard in said township." It was further 
enacted " that the county of Van Buren shall be 
attached to the township of Volinia, in the county of 
Cass, for all purposes whatsoever," and thus con- 
tinued until March 26, 1835, when it was detached. 
Town 5 south, 14 west, was detached March 9, 1843, 
and erected in a township called Marcellus. 

The boundaries to Volinia were surveyed by William 
Brookfield, who completed them March 20, 1827, 
and the subdivisions by John Mullett, D. S., who 
completed them April 24, 1830, as per contract with 
William Lytle, Surveyor General of the United 
States. 

Within its boundaries can be found six small lakes 
and the Christiana Creek, so that it is very well 
watered. 

Embraced within a strip of country extending 
northeast and southwest can be found the best portion 
of the township, as it includes Gard's Prairie and 
Little Prairie Ronde. The other portions can only 
be called fair agricultural land, and are in some 
instances quite rolling. We have only to take a 
retrospective view of a trifle over half a century to 
find this township in a state of nature, undisturbed 
by the woodman's ax or the farmer's plow, the Indians 
and wild animals contending with each other for the 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



rights of possession. What a wonderful transforma- 
tion does the country now exhibit ? On every 
hand are seen the civilizing hands of the 
white man, the Indians and the wild denizens of the 
forests have entirely disappeared from the land; fine 
houses grace the place where stood the wigwam, from 
whence arose to heaven's blue vault the curling smoke ; 
fertile fields and productive orchards vie with each 
other in contributing to the comfort and happiness 
of a teeming, industrious people, who may well feel 
proud of the noble heritage left them by their self- 
denying progenitors, nearly all of whom have passed 
away. 

All honor is due those brave people who left their 
homes in the far East and the comforts of civilization, 
and with their white-winged wagons, without even an 
Indian trail to guide them, started for the unbroken 
wilderness, preceding canals, steamboats, grist-mills, 
and all the necessary adjuncts of a civilized commu- 
nity, hardly waiting for an extinguishment of the 
Indian title, exchanging a life of comfort for one of 
weary privations, where indefatigable labor was nec- 
essary to secure even a bare existence. They are the 
ones who laid the basis for the present wealth and 
prosperity we now enjoy, and their memories should 
not only be revered, but inscribed on the ever endur- 
ing tablets of history. One can hardly realize the 
inconveniences to which early settlers were subject 
and the length of time consumed in marketing 
their crops at St. Joseph, which was then headquar- 
ters for the people of this township. The actual trip 
from Little Prairie Ronde, in the northern portion 
of the township, occupied seven days as late as 18B4, 
as follows : First day to Paw Paw, where Mr. D. 0. 
Dodge had just put up a small house for a tavern ; 
second to Emerson's or Freeman's, Christie's Lake ; 
third half way from there to St. .Joseph ; fourth 
reached river and crossed ; fifth sold load and back 
ten miles to John B. Rulo's, a Frenchman, at that 
time the only inhabitant between Paw Paw and 
St. Joseph ; sixth, back to Paw Paw and seventh 
home. 

Volinia has 19,637 acres in farms, 13,384 of which 
are improved, and in 187U produced from 4,325 acres 
82,388 bushels of wheat; 124,961 bushels of ears of 
corn from 2,619 acres ; 26,078 bushels of oats from 
804 acres ; 763 bushels of clover seed ; 11,939 
bushels of potatoes ; 1,625 tons of hay ; in 1880 
possessed 589 head of horses: 571 head of cattle; 
2,307 hogs ; 3,832 head of sheep, that produced 
20,394 pounds of wool ; 411 acres in orchards, from 
which was sold in 1879, 9,975 bu.shels of apples, 
while small fruits and vegetables were produced in 
great quantity and variety. 



SCHOOLS. 

The first schoolhouse was constructed of logs in 
18-32 or 1833, on the land owned by David Crane, in 
Section 17, ami was taught by Michael V. V. Crane. 
There being no public school money, each scholar paid 
a tuition varying in price. In 1833, Miss Charlotte 
Copley, daughter of Alexander Copley, taught school 
in her father's house, receiving as compensation $2 per 
scholar for a term of three months. In 1834, a log 
schoolhouse was erected, and the first school in it was 
taught by Edw. T. Jacobs. Since then the school 
interest has very materially increased, keeping pace 
with the increase in wealth and population, until now 
the township is divided into eight districts, each sup- 
plied with a comfortable schoolhouse, seven of which 
are frame and one brick, having a total valuation of 
$5,900. There are 390 school children, and there 
was paid for their instruction, in one year (1880), 
$1,288. The township library contains 993 volumes, 
the districts possessing no libraries. 

EARLY ROADS. 

It has been said that a nation's wealth and prosper- 
ity can be determined by the number and magnificence 
of her highways, and it certainly can be so ascertained 
with a certain degree of accuracy in an agricultural 
district. The first Highway Commissioners in 1833, 
were : David Crane, Josephus Gard and William 
Moreland ; and the first road was surveyed by Samuel 
Marrs and John Woolman, and commenced on the 
west line, of Section 19, and run northeast where the 
schoolhouse was ; and thence east one mile, and then 
north between Sections 16 and 17. In December, same 
year, a road was surveyed From Charleston to connect 
with the first one which led to Pokagon. In 1834, 
when Van Buren County was attached to Volinia for 
township purposes, the settlers were required to work 
out their road tax on the swamp where Lawton now 
stands. Although the distance some were obliged to 
travel was considerable, all were reijuired to put in 
eight hours' work for a day. 

In 1836, Charleston, on Little Prairie Ronde, was 
laid out by Jacob Morelan, Jacob Charles, Alexander 
and Samuel Fulton, comprising thirty-two lots. The 
first house was built by James Huff". At one time it 
promised to be a place of considerable importance. 
A daily line of stages passed from Kalamazoo toNiles, 
but, on the completion of the Michigan Central Rail- 
road, its business began to wane until now only a few 
houses remain to mark the spot. It was here that the 
veteran pioneer and landlord, Elijah Goble, first flung 
to the breeze, in 1837, the cheering sign of the " Brown 
Eagle," which greeted the weary traveler and which 
swung to and fro in the breeze for thirty years. 



4 





D/\jvIl ZL c. sqJi ER.. 



|V|RS.D/\)v/lEL CSQlilER. 







OLIV'EK MIGH. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



293 



Hardly had the house been completed before he 
agreed to furnish a dinner for the settlers to the num- 
ber of twenty or thirty, and he fortunately made im- 
mense preparations, for they came from far and near, 
and seventy-five people sat down to the well-filled 
board. A more jolly and happy set of people it would 
have been difficult to 6nd, for sociability was a marked 
characteristic of the early pioneer, and their sociabil 
ity was increased by frequent libations of whisky, which 
was set out free, where every one could help themselves, 
such a thing. as a temperance society being then un- 
known to them ; and thus was celebrated the first pio- 
neer picnic in Cass County, forty-five years ago. A 
wandering "fiddler," who had lost his way, strayed 
upon the happy company, and he was immediately 
engaged by the young people, who, to the number of 
twenty-two couples, tripped the light fantastic toe, 
the young men in coarse boots, and the rosy-cheeked 
lasses in bright calico dresses, and one and all were as 
happy as if clad in the finest raiment. Elijah Goble 
and his wife — who now live in Decatur, Van Buren 
County — are the only surviving couple of the older 
pioneers. Mrs. Goble's maiden name was Eliza Tittle, 
and they had journeyed together in a matrimonial 
state forty-eight years, the 28th of last September. 

Nicholasville, which contains a population of about 
one hundred, possessed two stores, a drug and general 
store, the latter being owned by Mr. J. M. Goodspeed, 
a blacksmith, wagon-shop and a grist-mill. The first 
store was conducted by Mr. Goodspeed, and the hotel 
by Jonathan Nichols, who came from New York State, 
and the place took its name from the Nichols Bros. 
Volinia contains one grist-mill, general store, black- 
smith-shop, etc., and has a population of about fifty. 

REMINISCENCES. 

In an early day, two trees growing close together 
were utilized by Mr. George Newton as a cheese press, 
by boring a hole through one into the other, into 
which was inserted a kingbolt, which also passed 
through the lever between the trees. The trees now 
measure six and one-half feet in circumference. Mr. 
George Newton made his wife's first clothes-line of a 
long slim pole, by supporting one end in a crotched 
tree, while the other end was supported by twisting 
together two saplings, growing side by side, and the 
remarkable part of it is that they grew together and 
now appear to be but one tree, branching out about 
seven feet up into two, as they frequently do, while 
the body of the two trees thus formed, although two feet 
in circumference, plainly indicates, by its spiral, auger- 
like appearance, where they were twisted together. 

In the Spring of 1832, the first marriages in the 
township took place, the contracting parties being 



David Curry and Alexander Fulton, to Sarah and 
Elizabeth, daughters of Josephus Gard, both couples 
being married by the same ceremony. 

In 1832, the Sauk war frightened people terribly, 
as rumors of terrible atrocities perpetrated by the 
wily savages reached their ears. Twenty-six men were 
drafted from this township and were commanded by 
John Curry as Captain and Elijah Goble as First 
Lieutenant. They were drilled by Hon. George New- 
ton, who possessed considerable knowledge of military 
tactics. They never went farther than Niles, and 
only four of the twenty-six are now alive. The 
women around Charleston, being alone, became ter- 
ribly frightened, and, in their vivid imagination, could 
almost feel their scalp-locks raising, and they con- 
cluded to fortify. They accordingly made a rail fort 
and covered it with straw and, as implements of war, 
took inside several axes, hoes, shovels, etc., and a 
churn, with which to blockade the entrance. They 
never occupied it, however, for Rev. Petty and Sam- 
uel Morris, Sr., appeared on the scene of imaginary 
active hostilities and allayed their fears. 

In 1835, Hon. George Newton was appointed by 
Sheriff Henry H. Fowler as census taker, and his 
duties took him over the whole of Van Buren County, 
which was then attached to Volinia, and for which 
labor he never received any compensation. 

The following copy of a tax receipt shows that taxes 
were not very high at that date: "Volinia, Cass Co., 
Mich. T.,— Rec'd of Samuel Morris, $1.75 in full 
for state, co., and town tax, for 1832. — E. J. Jacobs, 
Collector M. T." 

VOLINIA farmers' CLUB. 

It is a lamentable fact that there has been, and still 
is, a great lack of uniformity of action on the part of 
farmers and the general difi"usion of practical knowl- 
edge which can be obtained in no other way than 
meeting together and discussing every subject relating 
to their business interests ; for many are possessed of 
valuable information which would be imparted in no 
other manner. The Grange has, in a measure, met 
this desideratum ; still farmers' clubs, if properly con- 
ducted, are much more desirable. Great credit has 
been accorded Volinia, because of her Farmers' Club, 
which has been one of the means of placing her among 
the foremost townships in the county and State, and 
the great good accomplished by this organization can 
never be fully determined. The history of this town- 
ship would be incomplete without an extended notice 
of this organization. 

The " Volinia Farmers' Club " was organized in 
1865, its object being, as stated in the constitution, 
" to increase the knowledge in agriculture and horti- 



294 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



culture " of its members. It was officered as follows: 
B. G. Buell, President ; A. B. Copley and John Stru- 
ble, Vice Presidents ; F. E. Warner, Treasurer ; and 
H. S. Rogers, Secretary. Several meetings were held 
this year, and in January of the succeeding year a 
system of laying out the year's business, and announc- 
ing the topics to be discussed, and promulgating them 
by means of programs, was adopted, which has been 
adhered to ever since. 

In 1867, the Club held its first fair, which has been 
held annually ever since, except two years, the rain ef- 
fectively preventing an exhibition last year. Although 
charging no admission fee and awarding no money 
premiums, the fair has been a grand success, at times 
rivaling the county fair, there being immense crowds 
in attendance and fine exhibits in agricultural prod- 
ucts, stock and machinery. The only award secured 
by the successful competitor was a ribbon, which he 
seemed to prize more highly than money ; the names 
of those receiving premiums being published in the 
county papers was another incentive that drew exhib- 
itors together. The expenses which were kept down 
to tiie minimum, were met by the annual dues of mem- 
bers — fifty cents per annum — and the rental of booths. 
No restrictions as to locality was placed upon exhibit- 
ors, consequently the fame of this Farmers' Club Fair 
has extended farther than the borders of this State. 
The conducting of a fair in this manner is without 
precedent, and its success demonstrates the wisdom of 
its bold projectors. Members of the club have, under 
its direction, made many experiments, which have ac- 
crued to its advantage, being a practical demonstra- 
tion of the truth or falsity of theories advanced. 
Impliment trials have been participated in by large 
Eastern manufacturers, and th-e value of their inven- 
tions determined. The sheep-shearing festivals have 
been productive of much good, while the annual wheat 
meeting, where this important cereal is discussed in 
all its bearings, draws people from many surrounding 
counties to derive the benefit of its deliberations. The 
club has been instrumental in exposing and disgrac- 
ing grain purchasers, who were swindling its mem- 
bers by a system of short weights, and thus at least 
checking this evil. Commencing without experience, 
not a member having belonged to a similar organiza- 
tion, the club has steadily improved and increased in 
importance until now it has a State reputation, and 
the great good that it has accomplished by the 
diffusion of practical knowledge, the expansion of 
ideas and the benefits socially and financially, can 
never be even approximated, and the members of this 
club, the township, county, and even State, are deep- 
ly indebted to those who have been the prime movers 
and supporters of it since its organization. 



In 1874, the $25 premium offered by the Michi- 
gan State Agricultural Society for the most success- 
ful township farmers' club in the State was awarded 
this club, the history of the same being prepared by 
H. S. Rogers, its Secretary, and it now antedates any 
similar organization in the State. The present offi- 
cers are : N. B. Goodenough, President ; G. G. Wood- 
mansee, M. B. Welsher, John Kirby, Vice Presidents ; 
H. S. Rogers, Secretary. 

ANTI-HORSE-THIEF SOCIETY. , 

Protection of person and property is one of nature's 
first laws, and the necessity of protecting their equine 
property called into being the above-named society 
which was organized in 1852 with eleven members, the 
officers being as follows : Isaac Waldron, Chairman ; 
George Newton, Secretary ; Jonathan Gard, Treas- 
urer. Each member presented his horses to a fore- 
I man, George Newton being the first, who records a 
description of them, so that when stolen they can 
readily be described, and also to estimate their worth 
which will be paid to the owner unless recovered. 
There are in the organization what are termed "in- 
riders" and "out-riders," twelve of each, the latter 
being provided with pistols, who can be called out at 
a moment's notice to pursue a horse-thief, and they 
are so thoroughly organized, having grips, tokens and 
pass-words, that no thief has yet escaped detection, 
and they have even procured horses for parties outside 
their organization, charging therefor. The horses of 
widows, whose husbands died in full membership, are 
protected. The organization became so popular that 
its jurisdiction was extended as to include Wayne 
Township. The present officers are: M. J. Gard, 
Chairman; G. W. Gard, Treasurer; John Huff, Sec- 
retary; L. H. Warner, Foreman. 

MASONIC. 

Volinia Lodge, No. 227, Free and Accepted 
Masons, was chartered January 9, 1868. The first 
officers were John Struble, W. M.; Milton J. Gard, 
S. W.; B. F. Gard, J. W.; Amos Green, Treasurer 
pro tern. ; L. H. Warner, Secretary ^^ro tern. ; William 
R. Kirby, S. D., pro fern.; C. G. Harford, J. D. pro 
tern., and, including George Newton, the charter mem- 
bers. The lodge owns the room in which they con- 
vene, and for which they paid $600. Friendship, 
brotherly love and zeal in the good cause must be 
prominent traits in the members of this lotlge, who, 
with a membership of only twenty-eight, have not 
only purchased their room, but have it well fur- 
nished, possess a fine regalia, and have money in 
their treasury. Regular communications are held on 
the first Thursday on or before the full of the moon. 



1 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



295 



Its officers uow are: William F. Kirby, W. M.; M. 
B. Welcher, S. W.; F. M. Thompson, J. W.; G. 
W. Gard, Secretary; James M. Wright, Treasurer; 
Abram Gary, S. D.; M. D. Wethrell, J. D.; Jasper 
Coleman, Tiler. 

VOLINIA CORNET BAND. 

Volinia Cornet Band was organized November 13, 
1877, and the following officers elected on the 24th : 
William W. Patrick, President ; Edward Goodenough, 
Vice President; Edgar C. Everett, Secretary ; Milton 
J. Gard, Treasurer. They commenced practicing 
very faithfully, and were soon able to produce music 
in which they and their friends took a justifiable 
pride. They possess a good set of instruments. The 
present officers are M. B. Welcher, President ; Charles 
Warner, Vice President ; E. C. Everett, Secre- 
tary; E. J. Gard, Treasurer; the other members of 
the band being G. W. Gard, E. Thompson, A. C. 
Kirby, A. Hathaway, William Wright, William 
Hart, L. P. Gard, Clark Finch and Abram Cary, 
who is the leader. 

The Volinia Neat Stock Improvement Company 
was organized some four years since for purposes pat- 
ent in its name. It has not a large membership, and 
its operations are small, still they are directed in the 
right direction and will inure to the benefit of its 
members, who have as officers : M. J. Gard, Purchas- 
ing Agent and Herdsman; M. B. Welcher, Presi- 
dent; D. D. Judie, Treasurer; William R. Kirby, 
Secretary. 

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 

The first Regular Baptist Church of Wayne and 
Volinia was constituted January 9, 1858, as a branch 
of the Dowagiac Baptist Church, consisting of eight 
members, viz.: James Churchill and his wife Lorisa, 
Levi and Margaret Churchill, Isaac and Harriet. 
Cross, Josiah and Emily Bond ; the same day six 
more members were received. Under the ministra- 
tions of Rev. S. H. D. Vaughn, their numbers were 
increased to forty-six in the space of three weeks, and 
on the '22d of April, 1858, they were organized into 
an independent body, and recognized by a council 
convened at the Methodist Chapel in the township of 
Wayne from the churches of Edwardsburg, Liberty, 
Dowagiac, Niles and Paw Paw. Rev. S. H. D. 
Vaughn continued as pastor for three years, succeeded 
by Rev. G. W. Miner one year. Rev. John Kirby 
was its pastor for twelve years, with intervals, and 
during those intervals Rev. R. S. Dean presided as 
pastor one year; William Reed, one year, and C. D. 
Gregory eight months. The church, which has a 
membership of forty -six, is now without a pastor, and 
has, as Deacons, J. W. Churchill and G. Hammond. 
Preparations are being made to erect a fifteen hun- 



dred dollar church edifice on the northwest corner of 
Section 28, in the spring of 1882, school and private 
houses having been used until this date. According 
to a resolution unanimously passed April 16, 1881, the 
church will hereafter be designated as the Baptist 
Church of Christ of Volinia. 

Volinia Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church (Col- 
ored) was erected in Section 36 in 1872, at an expense 
of about $500. It was organized in 1871, with R. 
Jcflfers, William Walden and Henry Lucas as trust- 
ees. It has about thirty-two members. 

Newton Grove Church which was so named by the 
Dunkards, because the ground on which the neat church 
building was erected in 1877 was leased them, free, by 
Hon. George Newton, as long as used for church pur- 
poses, was only formally set aside, as at present in 
1881. They employ no salaried pastor, and have a 
membership of about sixty. The Deacons are A. 
Clark, James E. Gould and Andrew and Jacob She- 
line. 

SUPERVISORS. 

1833-36, James Newton ; 1837, David Hopkins ; 
1838, Hubbell Warner; 1839, Amos Huff; 1842-44, 
Hubbell Warner; 1845, Joseph Warner; 1846-48, 
David Hopkins ; 1849-50, James Fulton; 1851-52, 
George Newton ; 1853-54, Hubbell Warner ; 1855, 
Emmos Buell ; 1856-58, Alexander B. Copley ; 
1859-60, Milton J. Gard ; 1861-63, W. L. Dixon ; 
1864, A. B. Copley; 1865-66, Milton J. Gard; 
1867, A. B. Copley; 1868-70, John Huff; 1871, 
John Struble ; 1872, A. B. Copley ; 1873, John 
Struble; 1874-77, John Kirby; 1878-81, John 
Huff 

TREASURERS. 

1837-38, James Huff; 1839, Hubbell Warner; 
1842, Joseph Goodspeed; 1843, Hubbell Warner; 
1844-50, Joseph Goodspeed ; 1851-55, Peter Sturr ; 
1856-60, W. L. Dixon ; 1861-63, W. L. Goodspeed ; 
1864-67, John Huff; 1868-73, L. H. Warner: 
1874-77, E. C. Good.speed ; 1878-79, William R. 
Kirby ; 1880-81, Manly B. Welcher. 

CLERKS. 

1833-34, David Crane; 1835-43, Daniel C. 
Squire; 1844-53, R. J. Huyck ; 1854-56, M.J. 
Gard; 1857, Joseph Warner; 1858, R. J. Huyck; 
1859, P. W. Southworth; 1860, H. T. Wing; 
1861-62, P. W. Southworth ; 1863, E. S. Parker ; 
1864-65, P. W. Southworth ; 1866, R. J. Huyck ; 
1867-68, J. M. Goodspeed; 1869, C. E. Good- 
enough ; 1870, I. N. Gard ; 1871, J. N. Root ; 1872, 
G. W. Gard; 1873, J. N. Root; 1874-76, S. L. 
George; 1877-80, Abram Cary ; 1881, William R. 
Kirby. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BIOGEAPHIOAI. SKETCHES. 

AMOS HUFF. 

Prominent among the pioneers of Volinia was 
Amos Huff, the eldest son of James and Sarah Huff, 
who was born in the State of New Jersey January 
30,1799. His death occurred July 4, 1881, on the farm 
on which he settled forty-seven years previous, and 
which he had redeemed from a state of nature. He 
moved with his father to Northumberland County, 
Penn., while quite young, and from there to Clark 
County, Ohio. His father's family consisted of seven 
children — one daughter and six sons — two of whom 
survive, James, of Maroa, 111., and Wesley, of Wayne 
Township, Cass County, Mich. 

He came to this county in 1833, on a prospecting 
tour, and located land in "Volinia, to which he re- 
moved his family the year following, at which time 
Michigan was a Territory, and Cass County in a com- 
paratively undeveloped state, and, during his residence 
here of forty-seven years, he did his full share in fit- 
ting the county for the habitation of man. He was 
an industrious, hard-working man, and as a mechanic 
stood at the head of his profession, in his day and 
time, and many evidences of his handiwork can now 
be found in this and adjoining townships. He was 
an honest, straightforward man, and bore the respect 
and esteem of the people with whom he had lived so 
many years, for he was kind-hearted, honest and gen- 
erous. He was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church, of which he became a member many years 
before his death. In politics, he was a Republican. 
He was the father of nine children, as follows : Will- 
iam, deceased; James, in California; John, a prom- 
inent farmer in Volinia ; Newton, also in Volinia ; 
Sarah, now Mrs. Dine; Margaret, Jay and Clark, all 
residents of Volinia, and Nancy, deceased. 

April 13, 1829, Mr. Huff was married to Mar- 
garet, daughter of John and Nancy Case, who was 
born in Northumberland County, Penn., March 1, 
1804. Her death occurred April 19, 1881, but a 
few months previous to her husband's. Mrs. Huff is 
numbered among the noble band of pioneer mothers 
who did well their part in the settlement of this 
Western country. She was an affectionate wife and 
mother, kind and charitable to all, and is now reap- 
ing the reward of the just. 

.JOHN HUFF. 
John Huff, son of Amos and Margaret Huff, was 
born in Clark County, Ohio, August 3, 1833, and 
when but one year old, removed, with his parents, to 
Volinia, Cass County, Mich., which place has since 
been his home. 



Mr. Huff grew to youth and manhood in this new 
country, and has not only witnessed its transition from 
a wild state to one fitted for intelligent cultivation, 
but has also assisted in performing his share of the 
hard labor, for pioneer farmers' sons were required to 
perform manual labor as soon as their strength would 
permit ; and many a log heap and brush pile have 
vanished into thin smoke through his industry. His 
opportunities for scholastic attainments were confined 
to the primary schools of his district, but were so 
well improved and supplemented with study and close 
application out of school, that he soon assumed the role 
of school-teacher, and in the district where he re- 
ceived instruction as a scholar. 

Having been reared to agricultural pursuits, Mr. 
Huff is well versed in his chosen occupation, farming, 
and ranks among the most intelligent and enterpris- 
ing farmers of the county, he now having a farm of 
180 acres. 

Recognizing in him one eminently well qualified for 
the position, he has been elected, by his people, to the 
office of School Inspector for ten years, and in 1864 
was elected to the office of Township Treasurer, which 
office he held for four successive years, until elected to 
the office of Supervisor in 1868 ; the following year 
he was chosen Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, 
for he held this office for three years in succession, when 
he declined a renomination. Although not an aspir- 
ant for the office, preferring to attend to his private 
business, he was, in 1878, again chosen as Supervisor, 
which office he has held for the past four years, and 
again, the last year, was elected as Chairman of the 
Board, an honor most worthily conferred. 

The chief characteristics of Mr. Huff are hon- 
esty and integrity, which, coupled with much na- 
tive ability, have won hira an enviable reputation 
among those who know him best. In politics, he is a 
Republican, and takes an active interest in all town- 
ship affairs that will accrue to the general weal, al- 
ways giving his influence on the side of right. 

May 12, 1872, he married Miss Eliza Wright, of 
Volinia, oldest daughter of James and Sarah Wright, 
who was born January 24, 1847, and Mr. Huff has 
found in her a most worthy companion. They are the 
parents of two children — Amy, born May 18, 1873, 
and Otis, born August 1, 1875. 

We present the readers of this work the portraits 
of Mr. and Mrs. John Huff; also the portraits of his 
father and mother, which he inserts as a tribute of love 
and respect to his deceased parents. 

ALEXANDEU COPLEY. 

Alexander Copley was born November 22, 1790, at 

Granby, Hartford County, Conn., being the youngest 



I 





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JV1F(S.^AM0S I-! Jff. 




joh,'nI' hl/ff. 




HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MIOHKJAN. 



297 



of seven children ; he was of English descent, his 
grandfather emigrated from England in the early part 
of the eighteenth century, and settled in Suffield, 
Conn. His mother was left a widow with five sons 
and two daughters, the eldest eighteen, the youngest 
six years of age, but bravely managed to keep the 
family together till able to care for themselves, with 
the meager assistance afforded I)y thirty acres of rocky, 
sterile soil, one-fourth of a small grist-mill and one- 
half of a saw-mill, where there was but little to saw 
and less to grind. The writer of this has heard the 
brothers speak of saving the tolls of wheat till 
Thanksgiving Day, so that they could have a short-cake 
of wheat flour, rye and corn being the principal bread- 
stuff. In April, 1805, the older brothers sold the 
property in Connecticut and removed the family to 
Worcester, Otsego County, N. Y., a newly settled 
country at that time, with but limited school privileges. 
Whatever of education young Copley acquired was in 
the primary schools of Connecticut, attending only 
the winter terms, his school days ending with his fif- 
teenth year; not so with his education, as he studied at 
home when not at work, as a well-worn copy of '"Love's 
Art of Surveying," mastered in his sixteenth winter, 
attests. In 1809, he was apprenticed to his brother 
William to learn the carpenter's trade in Jefferson 
County, N. Y., and from 1811 to 1814 worked with 
his brother as a journeyman. In 1814, September 
25, he was married to Esther Nott, at the village of 
Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y., where he resided, 
working at his trade until June, 1822, with varied 
success, as during the depression existing after the 
close of the war of 1812 there were hard times for 
him as well as many others, so much so that in the 
summer of 1817 he made a trip through Western New 
York, and as far as Cleveland, Ohio, looking for work, 
spending part of the summer at Fredonia, N. Y., at 
work, but without materially bettering his condition. 
Leaving Champion in 1822, he removed to New 
Hartford, Oneida County, where his brother William 
had preceded him, and in the manufacturing villages 
near Utica ; the next two years were spent in the man- 
ufacture of cotton machinery for the various compa- 
nies therein located. Leaving New York Mills in 1824, 
he removed with his brother to Walden, twelve miles 
west of Newburgh, on the Hudson, where the next two 
years were spent in the manufacture of spinning and 
weaving machinery on their own account. In 1826, he 
went to Matteawan, a village opposite Newburgh, tak- 
ing a position as Superintendent of the machine shops 
of the company at that place, wliich he held for three 
years, leaving September 12, 1829, for the West, 
going up the Hudson in a sloop to Albany, thence to 
Buffalo by the Erie Canal and steamboat on Lake 



Erie, designing to settle in the Wabash County, Ind.; 

I a cross steamboat Captain changed his mind, and in- 
stead of Sandusky, he landed at Cleveland, going by 
canal to Massillon, its terminus, thence coming by 
wagons to Wellsville on the Ohio River, and down by 
steamboat to Cincinnati, and to Dayton by canal, 
where he arrived November 18, 1829. 

Here he prospected the country some, worked in the 
machine-shop, putting in operation the machinery for 
the first cotton-mill of that place — previously made at 
the Matteawan Company's works — experimenting on 
the culture of silk, buying a small place of fifteen 

i acres of timbered land near the village, now in 

; the city, being engaged in these various occupations 
till the autumn of 1832, when he came to Mich- 
igan, locating the land on the present site of Nichols- 
ville, Volinia Township. Returning, he spent the 
winter making preparations for removal, which, being 
completed, he left Dayton June 9, 1833, with two 
wagons, three yoke of oxen, one span of horses, four 
cows, and several other head of neat cattle, poultry, 
etc. The horses were soon disabled in the swamps of 
the St. Mary's, and were replaced by the purchase of 
an additional yoke of oxen, arriving at Little Prairie 
Ronde July 1, 1833, after a tedious trip of twenty-one 
days, a distance of 234 miles, averaging eleven miles 
a day — some days only three, however. He had three 
young men to help him on the trip besides his oldest 
son of sixteen. In many places, all the teams would 
be attached to one wagon, which would be taken 
through bad places, and then return for the other. 
Part of the goods were unloaded and taken up the 

, Maumee to Fort Wayne, then reloaded. The family 
camped out during the trip, except one night spent in 
a deserted cabin on Sugar Hill, in the Elkhart bot- 

; toms. Mr. Copley built the saw-mill at Nicholsville, 
being the first in the township, starting December 20, 
1835, at a cost of $449.07. He subsequently had a 
turning shop attached, where materials for chairs, bed- 
steads, tables, etc., were prepared and sent off for fin- 
ishing elsewhere. He was always enthusiastic in 
regard to new enterprises and improvements. When 
leaving New York, he contemplated silk manufacturing 
and grape culture ; for two seasons, at Dayton, he 
raised silk-worms, made ingenious machinery for reel- 
ing the silk — experimented with morm multicallis. 
From Ohio, he brought to Michigan two choice Dur- 
hams, the castings for three sizes, of Wood's plow (the 
first introduced in Western Michigan, if not in the 
Territory), Isabella grape vines, pie plant (one root of 
which was brought from New York); experimented 
with new varieties of crops and modes of culture. 

j Among other things, he built a revolving hay rake from 

\ a description furnished by a land looker, long before they 



2»8 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



were generally introduced. In political matters, Mr. 
C. had neither taste nor ambition, yet served his town- 
ship as Road Commissioner and Asssessor, and his 
school district occasionally, building the first school- 
house in his district at his own expense, which was 
subsequently burned while so occupied, and the school 
transferred to the log cabin he first built for his 
family. In connection with Dr. Thomas and A. E. 
Bull, he acted as Commissioner in laying out a State 
road from Schoolcraft to St. Joseph Village, in May, 
1837. At the age of twenty-two, he joined the Free- 
masons, and, during his early manhood, was zealously 
attached to their principles ; later, he became an en- 
thusiastic believer in the doctrines of the New Church 
as tiiught by Emanuel Swedenborg, and endeavored to 
conform his life in accordance therewith. For the last 
three years of his life he was in ill health, consumption 
having developed itself beyond the control of medical, 
aid, terminating in his death January 6, 1842, leav- 
ing nine children, six daughters and three sons (four 
children having previously died) and his widow, who 
joined him May 1'2, 1852. 




This gentleman, for many years prominently identi- 
fied with the history of Volinia Township, is of En- 
glish descent and was born in Champion, Jefferson 
County, N. Y., March 11, 1822. After various 
changes of location, the family emigrated from Day- 
ton, Ohio, to Volinia in 1833, where tiie elder Copley 
purchased a farm and where he resided until his de 
cease, which occurred in 1842. Alexander B. was at 



this time twenty years of age, with a widowed mother 
and one brother and five sisters younger than himself 
to care for. The responsibilities thus thrust upon him 
were such as to discourage most young men, but he 
proved himself equal to the task, and for many years 
was the head of the family and the director of its af- 
fairs. He received such advantages as were afforded 
by the ordinary district school of that day, but com- 
pleted his education in that other school in which the 
teachers are observation and experience. Mr. Copley 
has always been a practical farmer and has taken a 
deep interest in all agricultural experiments and im- 
provements, and his Volinia farm is one of the finest 
in Cass County. 

In 1874, he moved to the village of Decatur. He 
was one of the original stockholders of the First Na- 
tional Bank of Decatur, of which he is President. 

Although not a politician in the ordinary acceptation 
of the term, he has always taken a deep interest in 
political affairs and has occupied many positions of 
trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has 
discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfac- 
tion of his constituency. 

For six years he represented Volinia upon the 
Board of Supervisors. In 1865, he was elected to 
the representative branch of Legislature from the 
northern district of Cass County, and re-elected for 
the session of 1871-72. In 1875, he represented the 
eastern district of Van Buren County, and was re-elected 
in 1881. 

Mr. Copley's attention has not been wholly engrossed 
by business and political matters ; he has devoted 
much time to public improvements, prominent among 
which is the magnificent road across the swamp 
southeast of Decatur, which was constructed and 
brought into successful operation largely through his 
individual efforts ; he is now actively interested in the 
furtherance of a project for draining the Dowagiac 
swamp. 

In 1850, Mr. Copley was married to Miss Jane H., 
sister of B. Hathaway, of Volinia ; his family con- 
sists of his wife and two sons; the elder is married and 
manages the old farm. 

SAMUEL MORRIS. 
The Morris family trace their ancestry back to 
Scotland, from which country the progenitor of the 
American branch emigrated many years ago. Samuel, 
the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, 
participated in the Revolutionary war. His son, 
Samuel, was a resident of Loudoun County, Va., and 
it was here, August 16, 1798, that his son, Dolphin 
Morris, was born. As noted in the township history. 
Dolphin and his wife, Nancy (Beaver) Morris, came to 



i 



History of cass c!0Ux\t\\ .Michigan. 



2!1!» 



Cass County in 1828. They came from Ross County, 
Ohio, when their son Samuel was born, August 17, 
1824, and who accompanied his parents to this coun- 
try at the time indicated. 

The following biography of Samuel is from the 
Berrien and Van Buren County history : " His 
education was obtained at the district school in the 
vicinity of his father's, on the north side of Little 
Prairie Ronde, with the exception of four months at 
a select school at Paw Paw, taught by Prof. Jesse 
Vose, now deceased. He being the oldest child of 
his father's family, was, at an early age, taught to 
assist in all the different departments on the farm as 
occasion seemed to demand. One of his duties was to 
watch his father's sheep during the day-time to 
prevent the wolves from killing and devouring the 
young lambs ; but despite his efforts, sometimes the 




hungry beasts would ignore his presence, seize upon 
a lamb and run off with it. On one occasion, seven 
wolves made their appearance at the same time, but, 
owing to his courage and skill, were prevented from 
doing serious damage. 

Indians were frequently his play-fellows, with whom 
he often joined in their sports. So familiar did he 
become with them that he learned to speak their lan- 
guage, and often joined them in target-shooting with 
bow and arrow, with which he became an expert, many 
times vanquishing his opponents, to their great cha- 
grin. Indeed, so great was his skill that he could 
shoot a bird at a distance of fifteen rods with great 
precision. He also became skilled in the use of the 
rifle, with which he took delight in hunting deer and 
other game. In fact he furnished the family with 
meat a greater portion of the time. He married. 



October 3, 1852, Harriet C, daughter of Thomas 
Simpson, of Cass County, Mich., and immediately 
commenced housekeeping on his farm on Little 
Prairie Ronde, Cass County. He has always been 
engaged in farming, in which he has been very suc- 
cessful. He has also been a stockholder and director 
in the First National Bank of Decatur since its 
organization, and for a period of ten years a director 
of the same. He is a living witness of the growth 
and prosperity of Western Michigan, having shared 
in many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. In 
politics, he is a National Greenbacker. He bore one- 
half the expense of inserting the portraits of his 
father and mother, his deceased brother, Charles H., 
and his wife, with a view of their residence, in the 
Berrien and Van Buren County history, in which 
volume the whole credit is erroneously given another 
brother. 

OLIVER HICxH. 
The subject of this sketch was born in Carlisle, 
Penn., May 28, 1810, and is the son of Abraham and 
Hettie Ann (Whistler). When an infant, he moved 
with his parents to Cumberland County of that 
State, and when ten years of age removed to Wayne 
County, Ohio. When about twenty-one years of age, 
he moved to Medina County, the same State, and 
there worked at the blacksmith trade four years, and 
here married Electa Parmeter, by whom he had seven 
children, only two of whom, David and Henry, sur- 
vive. Mrs. High's death occurred in February, 1843, 
and May 4 of this year he married Maria M. 
Little, they have been blessed with eight children, 
seven of whom survive, as follows: Hettie A., James 
A., Daniel W., Nelson A., Martha 0., Phoebe M., 
Ezekiel M. Mr. High moved to Ashland County, 
where he purchased thirty acres of land, which he 
disposed of, and in 1854 moved on to his present 
farm, when in a state of nature, in conformity 
to a dream, as will be seen elsewhere in the his- 
tory of Volinia. Mr. High has not only cleared up his 
first purchase, 80 acres, but added to it until he now 
possesses 120 acres of valuable land, all of which is 
the result of hard labor and economy, he having to 
depend upon his own exertions to further his financial 
interests. Mr. High is a good citizen and neighbor, 
and has lived a quiet, uneventful life, and is now 
enjoying the fruits of his industry. 

DANIEL CONKLIN SQUIEK. 

Daniel C. Squier, one of the early pioneers 

of Volinia, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., 

March 23, 1800. He was the son of William and 

Sarah Squier, who were natives of New Jersey. When 



300 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Daniel was three years of age, the family moved to 
Ohio, where Mrs. Squier died in April of 1823. The 
elder Squier was a farmer, and Daniel C. was reared 
to the same avocation. He received a good common 
school education, .which he made practically useful to 
himself and others by teaching. In the autumn of 1831, 
he started with his family for Michigan with an ox 
team, the journey occupying twenty-three days, and 
without anything occurring out of the usual experi- 
ences of those who came at that time. The winter was 
passed at Cassopolis, during which time he assisted in 
the survey and platting of the town. In March, 1832, 
he moved to the farm which he had located on Section 
18, in the township of Volinia, which was in a state 
of nature ; this farm he improved and it was his home 
until his decease, which occurred July 28, 1873, in 
the seventy-fourth year of his age. March 30, 1828, 
he was married in Butler County, Ohio, to Miss Eliz- 
abeth Case, who was born in Pennsylvania, from 
whence her father removed when she was a child to 
Butler County, Ohio. From Butler County they emi- 
grated to Cass County, settling in Volina, where they 
passed the remainder of their lives ; they were exem- 
plary people and died in Volinia at an advanced age, 
" full of days and honor." Mr. and Mrs. Squier had 
nine children born to them — John, the eldest, was a 
native of Ohio, and is now one of the valued citizens 
of the township of Volinia ; William resides on the 
old homestead ; Charlotte, Elizabeth, Sarah and Dan- 
iel F., died in childhood of that terrible disease, scarlet 
fever ; David A. lives in Decatur ; Susannah (Mrs. 
Jacob J. Morlan), resides in Volinia ; Mary (Mrs. W. 
D. Rich), died May 6, 1863. 

Mr. Squier was a man of strict integrity, and 
highly thought of by those who knew him best ; he 
filled several political positions in township matters, 
notably among the number that of Township Treas- 
urer, which office he filled with credit for nine con- 
secutive years. During the Black Hawk war, he held 
a Lieutenant's commission, and for his services received 
a land warrant of 160 acres of land. He was a man 
possessed of a generous sympathetic nature ; he had 
a heart full of kindness, and while he was not a mem- 
ber of any church, he believed in a God of love and 
justice, who, having " made man in his own image and 
in his own likeness," would not consign him to eternal 
perdition. His hospitality was only equaled by his 
generosity, and he was in every way worthy of the posi- 
tion he held in the community in which he resided. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

PORTER. 

Evidences of a Pre-Historic Race— Early Settlements, Including the 
Indians' Assault upon John Baldwin— A Wolf and Wild Cat Story 
—Panther Scare— Pioneer Samaritanism— Land Entries— Reminis- 
cences — Organization of Township — Early Taverns — Coal Oil 
Speculation— Reli gions Organizations— Schools — Products — Civil 
List— Biographical . 

FROM the ancient days in the dim and shadowy 
past, when the human race first arrived at a 
state of intelligence sufficient to enable them to 
transmit a traditionary or written account of them- 
selves, all along down the turning ages, our progeni- 
tors have left in various ways and by different means, 
information more or less mythical of the age and 
generation in which they played their ephemeral part 
on the world's ever-changing theater of action. 

By some, the world is accounted a drama in which 
individuals, communities, tribes and nations play 
their part, and then disappear from the scene of 
action, soon to be lost entirely from view, and the 
history of this State, and even this township, would 
seem to prove this true, for there are ample evidences 
of its having been inhabited by a race of people whose 
very name has long since been forgotten, and whose only 
remembrance is insignificant heaps of earth to be 
found scattered promiscuously around. 

Superior intelligence enables us, however, to trans- 
mit to posterity written evidences of our existence, 
and in the history of Cass County, Porter Township 
bears no unimportant part. Geographically, it is 
larger in extent than any township in the county, and 
in point of progress, dating from its settlement, com- 
pares in no unfavorable light with its sister townships. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

In the settlement of every township there are cer- 
tain ones who act as the avant-couriers to those who 
follow. They are quick to discern favorable localities 
and do not hesitate to avail themselves of their choice 
of locations, and then to dilate upon the fertility of 
the land and its peculiar adaptability for farming, as 
regards location, productiveness, etc., to all desirable 
emigrants, so that they seldom long remain in an en- 
tirely isolated condition, for neighbors become quite 
plentiful in a few years. This was the case re- 
garding John Baldwin, a Southerner, who came into 
the township from Indiana, in 1828, and settled on 
land now owned by George Meacham. Mr. Baldwin 
was a characteristic pioneer of the frontier type, natu 
rally averse to hard labor ; he never made many im- 
provements, relying, in a great measure, on the income 
from his tavern and his genius for traffic and dicker 
for a livelihood. A series of misfortunes seemed to 
await his arrival, for hardly had he made a settlement 



I 




--Uh-- 



HON. GEORGE MEACHAM. 

The history of Cass County would be incomplete without a 
sketch of the life of Hon. George Meacham, who has been inti- 
mately identified with it ever since and even before it had its 
present political existence Simeon, father of George, was born 
August 28, 177G, and died August 2«, 1836. 

George Meacham was born in Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 
18, 1709, from which place he removed with his parents to Jeffer- 
son County, of that State. At the age of nearly four years, he 
met with that irreparable loss, the death of his mother, by which 
event he was obliged to face the stern realities of life and to per- 
form labor far in advance of his years. In his tenth year, he 
went to live with a man by the name of Merrill, with whom he 
remained four years. His advantages for education were meager 
indeed, and when seventeen, at which time his school days ended, 
he had received but twelve months' schooling. But despite the 
obstacles which beset his path, he has risen superior to adverse 
circumstances and has conquered success in every department of 
life. At the age of nineteen, his father gave him " his time," and 
he commenced life for himself, working as a farm-hand and in 
lumber camps. In 1826, he disposed of his property and started 
for .Michigan, arriving in Detroit on the 26th of September of 
that year; the winter was spent in Ann Arbor, where he found 
employment in a grist-mill. Early in the spring of 1827, in 
company with his brother Sylvester, George Crawford and Ches- 
ter Sage, he started West with an outfit which consisted of three 
yoke of cattle, attached to a heavy lumber-wagon, camp equipage, 
a stock of provisions and ammunition, and a plow. On the 11th 
of April they reached Beardsley's Prairie, where they erected a 
log cabin, which soon became known as " Bachelor's Hall," and 
to which hunters, trappers, land-lookers, any one and every one, 
were always welcome. It was the original intention of the com- 
pany to select a location where they could raise grain sufficient 
for their own consumption and traffic with the Indians. As soon 
as the location had been decided upon, George Crawford started 
for Ohio for goods, but learning that "Bachelor's Hall " had been 
broken up, returned without them, and, as there was every rea- 
son to believe that the country would soon be occupied with 
actual settlers, the original project was abandoned, and the 
Meachams turned their attention to agricultural pursuits. George 
commencing on land now owned by George Howard, in Ontwa 
Township, which he purchased when offered for sale by the Gov- 
ernment. Mr. .Meacham remained here until 1836, when he 
removed to Porter, having purchased the John Baldwin farm, 
and to which he has added from time to time until he now 



wU-^ 



nr^ 



possesses 420 acres of fine fertile land, and has always been ac- 
counted among the foremost, most successful and progressive 
farmers in the township. 

He had constructed for his use the first threshing machine 
used in this section of the country, which was known as an open 
cylinder, it being destitue of a straw-carrier. He devoted much 
attention to the propagation of superior stock, and the value of 
his example and influence in this direction, on the township, it 
would be dilBcult to estimate. 

In 1830, he was appointed the first Sheriff in the county, by 
Gov. Cass, which office he filled for six consecutive years. The 
judicial circuit at this time embraced all the territory north and 
west of St. Joseph County, and in summoning a jury of twenty- 
four he took all but five of the legally qualified jurors in this 
scope of territory, the payment of a tax of 50 cents being one 
of the qualifications, which excluded a large number. 

Mr. Meacham, although not a politician, has always given 
t. :inl although 



proper consideration to matters of public 

not an aspirant for office has occupied tin- ., : -i ) -inons in 
the gift of the citizens of the county. In I ', n i .k'cted to 
the Representative branch of th<> I.b.jwI i d ml iu is.j'j and 
1860, occupied a seat in the Stni- -^. - f i lir .luties of both 
positions were discharged with cir i ,. r and to the satis- 
faction of his constituents, lu'lu-iii 111 I |M I -iverance are per- 
haps the most prominent points iu .\lr. MeiiDham's composition, 
the possession of which despite the unfavorable surroundings of his 
former days, have given him an enviable position among the lead- 
ing agriculturists of the county. 

He has not only been successful in the accummulation of a 
valuable property but in the building-up of an unspotted reputa- 
tion. October 6, 1829, he was united iu marriage to .Mi.ss Cathe- 
rine Rinehart, who has shared his joys and sorrows auJ the trials 
and adversities of a long and eventful life. They have been 
blessed with eight children — Elizabeth E., wife of 3. Richardson, 
of Porter; Cyrus ; Hiram, one of the proiiinent farmers of the 
township, and for many years its representative on the Board of 
Supervisors ; -Mary, now Mrs. T. A. Hitchcox ; Harriet E. and 
Julia A., wives of T. T. Sheldon and 13. Rinehart, respectively; 
MariUa A. and Oliver G. 

Mr. Meacham is in his eighty-third year, and for forty-seven 
years has been a resident of the county. And while the length- 
ened shadows proclaim an advancing old age, he lives in quiet 
and serenity, surrounded by the comforts of life, the products of 
his untiring industry and enjoying the respect and esteem of the 
people with whom he has been associated for one-half a century. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



before he lost, by death, his wife, who was interred on 
his farm, and was the first white person who died in 
the township, it being in 1828. The following year, 
he had a very narrow escape from death, caused by 
incurring the displeasure of the Indians, who were 
quite numerous in this section at this time. It ap- 
pears that Mr. Baldwin had been trafficking with the 
Indians, and, in payment, had given them a fjuantity 
of fire-water, and they being unable to get drunk 
enough on it to suit their savage nature, for it had 
been treated to several water baths, or. as the Indians 
expressed it, it contained "heap too much bish " 
(water). It was doubtless while under the exhilerat- 
ing influence of this same whisky that they one night 
repaired to his cabin, and, arming themselves with 
shakes pulled from the door, forced an entrance, and, 
pulling him out of bed, proceeded to beat him about 
the head and shoulders in a most merciless manner, 
for they were bound to be revenged. Joel, son of 
Mr. Baldwin, then a young man, was powerless to re- 
sist them, being unarmed, and jumping out of the 
window, went to the wood-pile for the ax, but was un- 
able to find it, for the Indians had evidently taken the 
precaution to hide it. Nothing daunted, however, he 
armed himself with a billet of wood, and proceeded 
to make an onslaught on the enemy, when they sud- 
denly left, and, doubtless, under the impression that 
the life of their victim was extinct, for he lay on the 
floor weltering in his blood in an insensible condition, 
with a portion of his scalp beaten loose and hanging 
to his head, while the rude furniture and walls were 
spattered with his blood, and presented a ghastly sight 
— their revenge was terrible. 

Joel placed his father on the bed, and started for 
White Pigeon, twelve miles distant, to procure Dr. 
Loomis, the nearest physician, not knowing but what 
the Indians might return and complete their work of 
destruction by burning the cabin. It was a long time 
before Mr. Baldwin was enabled to proceed with his 
business ; and this event was the subject of much 
comment among the settlers for many years. No ar- 
rests were made, but the Pottowatomie tride paid 
dearly for this assault, for Mr. Baldwin filed a bill 
with the Territorial government, claiming and receiv- 
ing over $1,000 damages, which was retained from 
their annuities. 

Mr. Baldwin purchased and sold quite a number of 
farms, but finally disposed of his property, and removed 
to Indiana about 1836 to 1838. 

In 1829, quite a number of settlers found their 
way into this immediate neighborhood, including 
William Tibbetts, who settled in Section 8, also 
Daniel Shellhammer. 

In 1828, Caleb Calkins came from Monroe County, 



N. Y., on a prospecting tour, and, being pleased with 
the country, returned after his family, reaching Bald- 
win's Prairie with them in January, 1829. He pur- 

j chased land now owned by Mr. J. Richardson, in 

, Section 5. Being a carpenter and joiner by trade, 
he went to Pigeon Prairie and built the first frame 
house and barn in that section in order to fill his 

I depleted exchecjuer. The family, in common with 
others, suffered much from sickness, and, in the spring 

! of 1829 buried a two-year old daughter named 
Florilla, and this was probably the second death in 

j the township. Their daughter, Catharine, is now the 
wife of 0. P. Bronson, who resides in Section 32. 
Mr. Bronson is a pioneer of St. Joseph County, com- 
ing in there with his parents in 1830, and has been 
a resident of this township since 1852, when he 
returned from a trip to California. 

The heaviest real estate owner in Porter is Samuel 
King, who, in the fall of 1829, when a boy fourteen 
years of age, accompanied his mother and step-father, 
George P. Schultz, from Crawford County, Ohio, to 
this then wild portion of Michigan. Mr. Schultz 
had been out the spring previous and put in some 
spring crops above Mottville, in St. Joseph County, 
but in coming through sold out to Mr. Rickert and 
selected land on heavily timbered land in this township, 
which was then considered vastly superior in point of 
fertility to openings or prairie. Thirty dollars per 
annum appears like small compensation for one year's 
labor, but this was what Mr. King received: it however 
formed the nucleus for his present large farm of 784 
acres. His first wife, Sarah, having deceased, by 
whom he had two children, he married Barbara 
Hartman, and they have been blessed with eight chil- 
dren. 

Nathan G. O'Dell and his wife Sarah (Drake) 
came to Porter Township in 1829 and settled in Sec- 
tion 1, Town 8, on the farni now owned by Mrs. 
Rickert. In common with other pioneers, they com- 
menced life in the typical log cabin, but death claim- 
ing Mrs. O'Dell the family .soon scattered. Their 
son, James S. O'Dell, who was born January 10, 
1830, was probably the first white child born in the 
township. Thbmas, another son, now a prominent 
farmer in Town 7 (who married Lovina Traverse, 
daughter of the pioneers Robert and Lovica Traverse, 
who settled on the farm now owned by Mr. HoUoway, 
in 1834 or 1835.) commenced on his farm when in a 
state of nature, and is therefore conversant with 
almost everything pertaining to pioneer life. Another 
son, John, whose farm lies opposite his brother's, is also 
a prosperous farmer, and his wife, Jane, is daughter 
of Philo Smith, who came in at an early day. 
Another son, David, is deceased, while their daughter, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Margaret, is the wife of H. J. Brown, also a resident 
of Porter. 

Jacob Charles was one of the pioneers who came in 
the county in 1829 or 1830, and settled on land now 
owned by Mrs. Fidelia Nutting. He deceased about 
1835. and his son Rufu? conducted the farm until 
about fifteen years since, and then moved away. 

The products of the country at this time were not 
sufficient to meet the demands of emigrants, and those 
residing at Constantine and other places asked and 
received from §2 to S3 per bushel for oats and wheat, 
they making no distinction regarding the kind of 
grain. In 1832. just before emigrants began to pour 
through the country in such immense numbers, the 
settlers reversed the order of things, and raised more 
grain than was consumed, and prices fell so low that 
farmers obtained almost nothing for their labor. 
George Meacham, as Sheriff of the county, called a 
meeting of the farmers at Cassopolis to take into con- 
sideration the devising of some means for disposing of 
their grain, either by building a warehouse at the mouth 
of St. Joseph River, or otherwise. At a second meet- 
ing held. Abiel Silver addressed the farmers, and 
stated that it was their province to raise grain, and 
not to act in the capacity of shippers, and, as he agreed 
to purchase their surplus, the matter was dropped, 
and soon emigrants came into the country in such 
numbers that remunerative prices were obtained. 

In the early settlement of this country, the Rine- 
harts played quite an important part ; John Rinehart, 
the progenitor of the family, was born in the Shenan- 
-loah Valley. Va., in 1779, and, in 1823. emigrated 
to Ohio, when his wife. "Christina (Hashbaurgher). 
deceased, and having married again February 8, 1829, 
he. with his worldly goods and wife and ten children 
stowed away in two wagons, drawn by four yoke of 
oxen and two span of horses, started, in company with 
a Mr. Donalds and his family, for Cass County. They 
passed but one house between Elkhart and Edwards 
burg, there then being but two between these inter- 
mediate points. They reached Young's Prairie, their 
destination, the 27th of this month, and purchased, 
for #25. the betterments of a Mr. Hinkley, the farm 
now owned by J. E. Bonine, and moved ihto a log-house 
sixteen feet square, which boasted of a puncheon floor, 
while the room was lighted by six diminutive panes of 
glass. But eight families resided on the prairie at 
this time. 

Not long after their arrival, a premium having been 
offered for wolf pelts, they constructed a pen, and 
captured une, which was bound, and then carried alive 
on horseback to their home by Samuel Rinehart. He 
was chained to a tree, and when attacked by two pow- 
erful dogs belonging to Charles Jones, fouglit them so 



valiantly that they were completely routed, and only 
when re-enforced bv two others did they vanquish this 
animal, which is usually considered cowardly and in- 
offensive. After thia episode, Mr. Rinehart was 
taken very sick, and in compliance with the sage 
prescription given by David Shaffer, who denominated 
it ■• wolf-sickness." took a copious dose of spider- 
web tea, which marvelously {''.) effected a cure. Mr. 
Samuel Rinehart is the hero of another encounter. 
After becoming a resident of Porter, he saw what at 
first appeared like a dog, but closer inspection re- 
vealed that it was an immense wild-cat, and, picking 
up a hand-spike, he attacked and killed this most 
treacherous and active of wild animals, from which 
most men would flee with all possible celerity. In a 
few years, Mr. Rinehart disposed of his farm of five 
lots, which he had entered June 27, 1829, and fol- 
lowed his sons into Porter Township, where he re- 
mained until his death, in 1856. His family consisted 
of Jacob, who is a farmer in Porter ; Catharine, now 
Mrs. George Meacham : Lewis, now deceased ; Samuel ; 
John ; Christina, now Mrs. W. Stevens, in Mason ; 
Abraham: Ann (Mrs. M. Hall, and afterward Mrs. D. 
Sullivan) ; Susan, deceased ; and Simon, a farmer in 
this township. 

While residents of Penn, Jacob and Lewis be- 
came dissatisfied with the prospects in this new 
country, and being mechanics, sought and obtained 
work in the construction of a steamboat in Cincinnati, 
but receiving information concerning the immense 
emigration to this section, which, coupled with the 
fact that their father had been offered S'-2,000 for five 
lots of land, they concluded to come back, and reached 
their old place in Ohio in time to return with their 
father, and Samuel, who had returned after supplies 
and to obtain an "outfit " for his daughter, just mar- 
ried to Geoige Meacham, which "outfit" would 
hardly be accepted by the young people of to-day as 
worthy any consideration. The roads at this time 
were in an execrable condition, and seven yoke of 
cattle were found necessary to pull their load through 
some of the soft, yielding and almost liquid mud, 
which was at times rendered doubly treacherous by 
reason of a frozen surface. 

In 1831, Lewis, Samuel and Jacob Rinehart pur- 
chased of Othni Beardsley the site and his interest 
in a saw-mill he had commenced in Section 32, and 
completed it the year following. This was the first 
mill in Porter, and was an important factor in the set- 
tlement of this portion of the township. Samuel has 
been a resident of Porter since 1831, and during all 
this time has not missed a township election. He is 
one of the prosperous fartners, having resided on his 
present farm since 1847, and he and his wife Eliza- 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



303 



beth (Hunt) are the parents of ten daughters, and all 
but one, who is too young, having taught school. Of 
four sons born to them, only one is living. Lewis 
Rinehart, when a resident of Penn, raised 100 acres 
of wheat, and there being no machine extant in that 
section for thrashing wheat, horses and cattle were 
used to tramp it out on an earthen floor, after the 
manner of the ancient Egyptians. 

Abraham Rinehart has been a farmer in Section 17, 
Town 8, since 1840. Mrs. Rinehart nee Ann E. 
Denton, is the daughter of Cornelius W. Denton, who 
emigrated to Ontwa from Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
and in 1856 to Porter, where he deceased in 1878. He 
had a local prominence as an anti-slavery man, and, 
in the homely but appropriate aphorism, was "honest 
to a penny." 

The pluck and true heroism of many of the pioneer 
women was worthy of admiration, and among this 
number must be included Parthena (Lawson), wife of 
John Rinehart, who, when but sixteen years of age, 
settled in the woods, in Section 19, with no neighbors 
nearer than two miles. As her husband was head 
sawyer in his brother's saw-mill, he was away from 
early morn until late at night, and the care of the farm 
principally devolved on her, and as she, in common 
with others, manufactured cloth for ordinary use, her 
life was no idle, holiday affair. The cows were 
brought by her from the fenceless woods, when wolves 
were plenty, with an Indian pony. Mr. Rinehart 
manufactured considerable maple sugar near where 
Williamsville now stands, and. not returning home one 
night, Mrs. Rinehart became very much frightened 
regarding his safety, as a lynx was heard crying 
through the wood. His brother Abraham, and Joshua 
Kerk, who were present, would not consent to go in 
search of him until she expressed her determination 
of going if they did not. They found him busily 
engaged in boiling down sap which had run profusely 
during the day. One of them climbed on the shanty 
he was in, and imitated the cry of the lynx so nearly 
that had it not have been for the word of warning 
from the other, he would have been shot by Mr. Rine- 
hart. 

While returning home from religious services 
in Newberg, Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart were followed for 
several miles by a panther, who encircled them while 
emitting hisblood-curdlingcries, which frightened their 
horse so that he was almost uncontrollable, and they 
were momentarily in fear of an attack, but he left them 
when near Birch Lake. These episodes, although termi- 
nating harmlessly, show, in a measure, the opposite side 
of the pleasures of pioneering. Mr. Rinehart deceased 
in 1881, and his widow still resides on the old farm. 
They were the parents of six children, of whom 



Wellington C, the eldest, is a blacksmith at Will- 
iamsville. 

Among the prominent settlers of South Porter was 
James Hitchcock, who, in 1830, came here, selected 
and entered eighty acres of land, and moved in his 
family the year following, arriving May 10, 1831, the 
journey from their home in Erie County. N. ¥., being 
by schooner to Detroit, and from there by team. 
Their family at this time consisted of Harriet, Eliza 
(both now deceased); James H., who resides on the 
old homestead ; Caroline, now Mrs. Charles, in Iowa ; 
and Thomas A., a farmer in Porter. After their ar- 
rival, five more children were born, as follows : Ann 
M. and Henry W., now deceased ; William, now a res- 
ident of Kansas ; and Loana, now Mrs. French, in 
Illinois ; and Lucius Q., a farmer in Section 16, and 
who, during the late war, as will be seen by the mili- 
tary record, served in the union army. Soon after 
erecting his log cabin, being a stone and brick mason 
by trade, he went to White Pigeon to obtain employ- 
ment, and subsequently built many of the brick 
houses in this vicinity, building the John Miller 
house, the first brick one erected in Mason Township. 
At the time of their settlement, wolves were very nu- 
merous and destructive of sheep, and the settlers were 
obliged to exercise great care in protecting their small 
flocks to prevent their annihilation. 

Mr. Hitchcock, who deceased April 14, 1850, was 
prominent in township affairs, and served as Justice of 
the Peace for many years. His wife, Loana (Blake- 
ley), deceased July 4, 1870. James H. Hitchcock, 
ever since attaining his majority, has been the recipi- 
ent of various township offices, which attest his popu- 
larity where best known, and in addition, represented 
his district in the State Legislature in 1881, and is 
always ready to advocate and sustain measures promot- 
ing the interests of his people. His first wife, Louisa 
(Baldwin), by whom he had one child, having deceased 
in January, 1862, he united in marriage with Emorett 
(Thompson). 

Porter was principally settled by people from Ohio 
and the Eastern States, yet among the pioneers can be 
found some who emigrated from the thickly-settled 
countries of Europe, plunged into the wilderness, and 
adapted themselves to an entirely new order of exist- 
ence. Among this number was William Hebron, who 
emigrated from Westerdale, Yorkshire Co., England, 
and landed in Buffalo. In the spring of 1832, lie 
emigrated to Porter, and successfully coped with his 
neighbors in clearing the land and bringing it under a 
state of cultivation. He added at various times to 
his original purchase acre after acre, until he at one 
time possessed between seven and eight hundred acres 
of land. He resided here until his death, October '27, 



304 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



li^.57, in his sixty-ninth year. Mr. Hebron was mar- 
ried three times, and was the father of a large family, 
one of whom, Gideon, resides in Section 22, on land 
formerly owned by his father, but on which he and his 
wife Elizabeth (Trattles) moved when in a state of nat- 
ure, and where once stood the raonarchs of the forest 
can now be found fertile fields that respond nobly to 
the skilled husbandman. Mr. Hebron is present Mas- 
ter of the Grange of his township. 

Like many other enterprising young men, William 
Nutting, who was a native of Vermont, started West, 
and in 1834 reached this county and commenced 
working for Mr. Sage at Adamsville. After a time, 
he purchased the land in Section 17, on which he 
moved in 1852, and where his son, Moses J., now 
resides. 

In 1834, John King located in the now defunct vil- 
lage of Geneva, on the banks of Diamond Lake, and 
there plied the tailor's trade, while this busy little 
mart was flourishing. Whitraanville was his next lo- 
cation, and from there he went to Iowa, from which 
State he returned about one year since, and now re- 
sides in Section 15, near his brother Samuel. 

In 1836, George Meacham, who came to Ontwa in 
1827, purchased the original John Baldwin farm. 

As Mr. Meacham's settlement extends over two 
townships a more extended sketch appears elsewhere. 

Although coming to Cass County in 1837, Ga- 
briel Eby did not permanently locate on his present 
farm until 1848, and, simultaneous with the labor of 
clearing and improving it, conducted a distillery which 
he ran for eighteen years. This was the only distil- 
lery erected in the township. Mr. Eby now possesses 
a good farm which contrasts strongly with his finan- 
cial condition when first coming in the township, he 
th'-n having but 50 cents. Peter Eby, brother of Ga- 
briel, purchased his present farm, in 1847, when but 
fifteen acres were but partially improved, and since 
that time has applied himself strictly to farming, and 
the results of his industry are visible to all passers by. 

Fron) 1835 to 1845, this township was principally 
settled, there then being an immense emigration to 
and through it. During this period, the Chicago road, 
which was practically the only thoroughfare, was lined 
with white-covered wagons, so that,wereonestandingon 
an elevated position, at no time during the day would 
there be less than from one to three in sight, while it 
was nothing uncommon to count from ten to twenty. 
These pioneers well knew what they had to encounter. 
They foresaw hard work and hard times, backache 
and heart-ache, blue days and weary nights ; but 
they saw, too, in the dim future, the town, the vil- 
lage, the county, the State an empire of itself; they 
saw thousands of happy homes and as many happy 



owners ; they saw schools; churches, fertile fields, in- 
stitutions of science and learning ; they saw capital 
and labor, brain and body, mind and muscle, all 
employed in the advancement of civilization and 
the permanent improvement of mankind. They 
realized that what had been accomplished in the 
East could be reproduced in the West, and it is no 
wonder that they were buoyed up to be brave, cheer- 
ful, faithful and industrious. Others never expected 
to see these almost magical transformations in their 
lifetime, but were seeking out new homes for their 
families to whom they were devotedly attached, and 
who are now deeply indebted to their fathers for what 
they enjoy. It is doubtful, however, if very many 
expected to witness such wonderful alterations in the 
face of nature as have been accomplished in the last 
fifty years just passed. It is true, they expected 
homes, and comfortable ones, but not the elegant resi- 
dences that dot this township from one end to the 
other, with all their appurtenances and appointments so 
perfect. All of this is the handiwork of the pioneer, 
the ripened crop of the white-covered wagon, and no 
mead of praise is too great for these people who have 
created in this county alone a kingdom larger than 
many European potentates have spent millions of 
treasure and rivers of blood to conquer. This country 
could never have been settled so rapidly but for the 
marshes and numerous prairies, where sustenance could 
be procured for stock on the one, and both hay and 
cereals raised on the other, with but little more incon- 
venience than is found in old settled countries. 

When 0. N. Long came into Porter Township in 
1835, and purchased land, on part of which he now 
resides. It was emphatically a new country, for the tim- 
bered land in the northern portion had been shunned 
by emigrants as long as prairie and openings remained 
unclaimed. Franklin County, Mass., was the place 
of his nativity, and from which State he removed to 
New York State, when seventeen years of age, and 
seven years later moved on the farm he had selected, 
arriving in June, 1837. He performed the journey 
to Detroit by boat, and there met two of his brothers 
Benjamin N. and F. A., who had driven through 
Canada, and they made the balance of the journey to- 
gether. The log house erected on arrival was used 
for thirty years, and then gave place to a modern farm- 
house. In 1840, he built a frame barn, the first in 
this section, and it was constructed without the use of 
money. His farm supplied the lumber, and the carpen- 
ter work was paid for by breaking up land, he doing 
much of the work on the building. The nails used 
were to be paid for after harvest. Dicker and trade 
and exchange of one product for another was in a 
great measure the way business was then conducted. 





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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



The ague at times prostrated whole families, and were 
it not for the kindly assistance of neighbors their suf- 
ferings would have been intense. 

Mr. Long, not seeing Albert Kennicutt for several 
days, went to his house with true pioneer solicitude to 
learn of his welfare, and found the family all sick in 
bed, the house destitute of provisions, and they with- 
out money. Mr. Kennicutt started to hunt up his cow 
while still ill, so as to have some milk for family use, 
and was taken so much worse that he with difficulty 
reached home. His immediate wants were provided 
for and a liberal supply of groceries furnished by Mr. 
Long, who had no money himself but obtained credit for 
them, expecting that, should his neighbor recover, he 
would repay him, and this he did, for, being a cooper 
by trade. Mr. Long helped him to get out staves, and 
he was thus enabled to manufacture barrels which com- 
manded a remunerative price. This is but one case 
of hundreds that might be related of acts of kindness 
such as are almost unknown now, and, in fact, in a 
measure unnecessary, because of the better condition 
of the people. 

Educated in the grand old State of Massachusetts, 
Mr. Long imbibed a love for education which ripened 
and bore fruit in his Western home, for he has been 
first and foremost in establishing and promoting 
schools. Mr. Long and his wife Phebe A. (Monroe) 
are the parents of six children, of whom Henry D., the 
eldest, is a merchant in Jones, of Newberg Township. 

Moses Robbins, who deceased January, 1849, came 
into the county when a young man and purchased 
land, on a portion of which his son George W. now 
resides. At the time of his death, his wife Elizabeth 
(Davidson) was left with five children, the eldest being 
fourteen years of age, but, being possessed of a true 
pioneer instinct, she kept the family all together 
until they reached manhood's estate, and she now lives 
on a portion of the old farm. 

Jonas Hartman came from Union County, Penn., 
in 18-31, and located in St. Joseph County, near 
Mottville, and there ran a brewery very successfully 
until 1838, when he came to Porter and purchased 
the farm now owned by his sons, Clerkner and 
Charles, the former of whom is quite a horse 
fancier and drover. He has always taken much 
interest in the introduction of improved stock in his 
neighborhood. The elder Hartman, who deceased in 
1845, purchased largely of real estate and owned 
1.300 acres at one time. He kept tavern on the 
Chicago road on the farm now owned by Mr. Talbott, 
for many years, and in 1838 built a saw-mill on the 
farm now owned by his son, J. H. Hartman, who ran 
it for many years, supplying mucJi lumber for '• arks" 
that were used by farmers to convey their wheat down 



I the St. Joseph River. Although but fifteen years of 
age when coming to Michigan, J. H. was the hunter 
of the family and supplied them liberally with game, 
then so abundant in the woods. He recalls the first 
winter they were in the country very vividly, for the 
Constantine Mill, being frozen up, he and his father 
went to the Carpenter Mill, in Penn Township, and 
experienced considerable trouble in fording some of 
the streams. During their absence, the family sub- 
sisted on pancakes made of flour sifted from bran. 

E. C. Doane, who resides in Section 5, North 
Porter, is son of the pioneer, William H., who settled 
in Howard in 1836. 

R. Beardsley came from New York State and 
settled in St. Joseph County in 1836. His son, H. 

i Beardsley, who formerly carried on the harness busi- 

i ness in Cassopolis, and his wife Ann (Beebe) now 
reside on Section 26, and take an active interest in 
the Baptist Church of their neighborhood. 

! When Joseph Bowen reached Constantine from 
New York State in 1835, he had a family of three 
children and an exhibit of his finances revealed the 
fact that he had just $\ for each child, and this sun\ 
was reduced to $1.50 when reaching Porter. He first 
made it his home with a man named Jones until pur- 
chasing forty acres of Daniel Harvey, which was 
duly cleared up. Having procured an ox team, th'e 
first in the neighborhood, one of them was accidentally 
killed by a falling tree, which loss was then felt very 
sensibly by this pioneer family. Having succeeded 
admirably in securing a competency. Mr. Bowen 
removed to Bristol, Ind., where he now resides, 
while J. Frank and Henry H., two of his sons, reside 
on their father's old farm in this township, and are 
enterprising young farmers. 

Milo Powell, now a resident of Constantine, was 
among the most successful agriculturists of this town- 
ship, and was the first one to introduce superior breeds 
of stock, including Merino sheep and Durham cattle, 
and thus helped educate the farmers in what was for 
their mutual interest. 

He was a native of Massachusetts, where he was 
born in 1808, and moved to New York State, with his 
parents, and, in 1836, moved to the farm now occu- 
pied by his sons, Hiram and Curtis, which he had 
selected and purchased the year previous. Being a 
man of liberal education, he was accorded important 
positions in township affairs, and filled the offices of 
Justice of the Peace, School Inspector, etc., and in 
addition represented his district in the Legislature. 
Milo Powell, Jr., occupies one of his father's old 
farms in this township, while Gardner Powell, another 
son, is a thriving, energetic and intelligent farmer in 
Section 20, Town 7. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



William R. Merritt can be accounted among those 
farmers who have done much for this township. A 
native of New York, he removed to Toledo in 1828, 
and engage* in keeping tavern until 1834, when the 
malaria drove him to Bertrand, where he engaged in 
land speculation until the crash in this species of prop- 
erty in 1837, when he removed to this township, on 
the farm now owned by Joshua Brown, and, in 1854, 
to the farm now occupied by his son Samuel K., 
which at that time was thickly covered with timber, 
and remained there until it was brought under a good 
state of cultivation, and crowned with fine buildings. 
Ready to lend his assistance to public enterprises, he 
gave the Methodist denomination not only a site for 
their church building, but, a very liberal donation of 
$500, which was afterward largely increased. In 
1869, he removed to Bristol, Ind., and is now actively 
engaged in mercantile affairs. He and his wife, A. J. 
(Keeler), who deceased June 10, 1881, are the parents 
of one daughter, Charlotte A., who is deceased, and 
nine boys, all living, as follows : William R., Jr., a 
a merchant in Williamsville ; Samuel K., farmer, on 
the old homestead; Robert D., also a farmer; Charles 
C, in Minneapolis; James S., in Kansas: J. Fred, a 
miller in Williamsville; Albert C, also a resident of 
Kansas ; Byron E., with his father in Bristol, while 
the youngest, George D., lives in Minneapolis. 

Abel Beebe, when coming to this country from De- 
Kalb County, Ind., in 1840, in the month of Novem- 
ber, passed through the famous Black Swamp of Ohio, 
and there being a frozen crust, their horses' legs 
became terribly lacerated, and, owing to a broken 
wagon tongue, Mrs. Beebe walked eighteen miles of 
the way. This swamp, before it was causewayed, was 
the slough of despend in the way of the emigrant, for 
it became cut up by the loaded trains passing over it 
into an immense quagmire of black muck of almost 
limitless depth. The progress was sometimes so slow 
that one camping-ground was used for three nights. 
Horses would sometimes mire in it, and instances are 
related where tliey were compelled to roll them over 
and pry them out with long poles while this process 
with a load of goods was a daily, and, sometimes, 
an hourly occurrence. Mr. Beebe, who died in May, 
1881, settled on the farm where his widow, Mary, and 
son, Lafayette, now live. After their removal, prod- 
uce became very much depressed in price, and 
Mrs. Beebe remembers when they received 10 cents 
per bushel for potatoes, 3 shillings for wheat, 5 
cents per dozen for eggs, $1.50 per hundred for pork ; 
and she, in order to help along in the household 
economy, would go to the whortleberry marsh, now the 
property of Levi J. Reynolds, in Calvin, and pick one 
bushel of berries, pack in a pillow case and carry to 



Constantine, many miles distant, at times earning 
more money than her husband who was engaged in 
harvesting. At this time, they were paying 15 
cents per yard for factory and 25 cents per yard 
for calico. The first year of their residence in 
Ohio, she spun and wove seventy pounds of wool into 
cloth, and it was customary for them to raise flax 
which she wove into cloth. Surely the pioneer 
mothers did their full share in the struggle for life. 

Ralph C. Morton was one of the early settlers in 
the northern portion of Porter. He came from Cat- 
taraugus County, N. Y., and stopped for six months 
on the farm now owned by Nathan Skinner, and then 
moved on to the one where his son, F. C. Morton, now 
resides. They rolled up the logs for their house on 
Thursday, and moved in the following day, before it 
was " chinked," and when the roof consisted of a 
single course of boards, through which the snow could 
easily penetrate. Although this was in November, 
the snow was eight inches, and as the chilling blasts 
blew into their new home, their pioneer experiences 
were anything but pleasurabfe. For a time, they 
pounded corn on a stump for family use. Mr. Mor- 
ton deceased in September, 1866, and he and his wife, 
Jane (Ralston), were the parents of seven children, as 
follows : Caroline, Samantha, Mary, Harriet, Charles, 
Julia and Fernando C, who is one of the leading 
agriculturists of this section, and who is united in 
marriage with Miss M. J. Easton, daughter of Will- 
iam J. Easton, one of the pioneers of Newberg. 

In 1830, James Motley emigrated from England, 
and one year later settled in Rochester, N. Y., but 
becoming desirous of trying his fortunes in the still 
farther West, moved to Sylvan, Washtenaw Co., in 
1836, and two years later engaged in his trade, shoe- 
making, in Constantine, where he remained until 
April, 1840, when he moved on his present farm, 
to which they cut their way through the heavy tim- 
ber, there being at this time no roads, and no clearing 
from Milo Powell's to the Shavehead Schoolhouse. It 
was here Mrs. Bethseda (McNeil) Motley utilized a 
large maple tree for a fire-place, which was nearly 
consumed while preparing the family meals, which 
were cooked in a bake-oven. They manufactured 
large quantities of maple sugar, which helped along 
in the household economy. Logging bees were com- 
mon, and it was not an unfrequent occurrence for 
thirty or forty men to assist at these gatherings, and, 
in addition to hard work, they passed many jokes and 
enjoyed themselves very much. Much valuable tim- 
ber, including walnut, was destroyed on these occa- 
sions, which would now be more valuable than the- 
land on which it sSood. They are the parents of 
eight children, six of whom survive, and one of whom, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Edward J., now a resident of Washington Territory, 
has held the oflBce of Township Supervisor and various 
other elective offices. 

When S. R. Rockwell came to Michigan from Ohio 
in 1842, and settled on the farm on which his son, 
John D., now resides, it was in a wild state and while 
improving it he worked at his trade — carpenter and 
joiner — and made many of the " arks," so called, that 
conveyed wheat down the river. He held the office of 
Justice of the Peace for sixteen years. Mrs. John D. 
Rockwell, formerly Adelaide Miller, and her husband 
are the parents of two children. 

Among the women of the township who performed 
manual labor, Elizabeth, wife of Charles Carter, 
probably takes the lead. Being accustomed to out- 
door work in England, her native country, she entered 
upon the labors of pioneer life with a zest, and mauled 
rails, dug grubs, etc., and boasts of having bound four 
acres of rye in one day, a feat which few experts 
could possibly accomplish. They settled in 1848, and 
were successful farmers. 

When Braddock Carter and his wife, Caroline 
(Fuller), came to Cass County from Jefferson County, 
N. ¥., they performed their journey over the then 
unaccustomed route by water, round the lakes, the 
journey occupying four weeks. They settled on land 
he had purchased in 18-36, and have never seen cause 
to regret their change. Their son. Stiles, who is mar- 
ried, resides on the old farm. 

D. Sullivan, before referred to, is a native of Ire- 
land, although raised in the land of wooden nutmegs 
by a man named Gregory ; with him he moved to Elk- 
hart, Ind., and there lived until coming to this town- 
ship in 185.5, where he now successfully farms it on 
Section 19, South Porter. 

In 1847, Nathan Skinner settled in North Porter, 
and virtually in the woods, and drew fine whitewood 
lumber to White Pigeon, and sold at $6 per thousand, 
with which to purchase household necessities. He 
took an active part in establishing a Methodist Church 
in his neighborhood, but is now a resident of Jones. 

Geo. K. Kirk, anativeof Northumberland Co., Penn., 
settled in Porter Township in 1850, where he deceased 
Dec. 24, 1880, and where their son David S. now re- 
sides. In Pennsylvania, he was a member of a rifle 
company for seven years, and served as Captain in a 
similar organization in New York State for seventeen 
years, and was never absent from duty. When George 
B. and Harriet N. (Smith) Orr moved on their pres- 
ent farm, theirlittle log house, which contained neither 
doors, floor or windows, was located in the woods, the 
present roud not being laid out. But things since 
then have undergone a wounderful transformation, for 
the woods have disappeared under patient labor, and 



it now appears like an old-settled country. They are 
the parents of eight sons, two of whom are deceased. 

Moses Joy came from Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
in 1835, and purchased some land of John Baldwin, 
and continued to make purchases until he at one time 
owned 720 acres. He was a most thoroughgoing 
farmer, and was the first one to introduce and advo- 
cate summer fallowing for wheat culture. He was 
prominent in township affairs until his death in March, 
1854. 

Among other farmers who came in about this period 
and have not only witnessed but helped develop the 
county, is Daniel Stannard, who came in with his 
father in 1845, and settled in Section 4 ; T. P. Ayers, 
who came in twenty-seven years ago from Cleveland, 
Ohio ; John Loupee, whose date of settlement was 
1842 ; J. C. Bellows, who settled as late as 1865 ; 
Horace Thompson, in 1864 ; H. S. Riiie, in 1867 ; 
Egbert Wagner, in 1857 ; George Whited, in 1870 ; 
Jacob P. Latshaw, some fifteen years since ; Amos 
Wayne, who came in as late as 1870, and found the 
the country in its present advanced condition ; and 
Sherwood Thomas, who came in at an earlier date, as 
will appear elsewhere. 

Levi D. Stamp was born in Reading, N. Y., March 
5, 1827. In 1851, he purchased eighty acres, Sec. 
33, North Porter, and in the spring of 1856 moved 
his family on the farm on which he now resides, into 
an old log house, which was prepared for their recep- 
tion. 

He and his wife, Nancy M. (Damouth), are the 
parents of five children, as follows: Alice L., Frances 
M., Albert, Perry, Rosa A. Mr. Stamp has always 
engaged in agriculture and has been enabled to erect 
fine substantial looking buildings in lieu of those on 
the place when he moved on the farm. He is a man of 
magnificent physique and great personal strength, and 
has lifted 1650 pounds, a feat few could accomplish. 

Horace Thompson, who was born in Uxbridge, 
Mass., May 18, 1809, came to Cass County in 1831, 
and followed the carpenter's trade for a time. He 
worked on the first flouring mill built at Adamsville, 
also the first one built in Brownsville. He built the 
first threshing machine in the county for Hon. George 
Meachaiu, who then resided on Beardsley's Prairie. 
In 1836, he married Eliza E., daughter of Jacob S. 
Reese, near Adamsville, and removeil to Elkhart 
County, Ind., where he remained until 1850, when he 
returned to Ontwa Township, this county, and, in 
1863, purchased the Coy farm on Baldwin's Prairie, 
to which he removed his family the following spring, 
and wiiere he still resides. 

Lucius Keeler came to (Jass County from Ohio 
about 1838, and for a time engaged in the fur trade, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



but eventually turned his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits, and is now a prominent farmer of this township. 
He has filled several township offices, including Jus- 
tice of the Peace, and has also represented his district 
in the State Legislature. 

Thomas J. Pratt, who died on his farm in this 
township in 1847 or 1848, came from Erie County, 
N. Y., in 1831, and settled on Section 7, but subse- 
quently exchanged farms with Othni Beardsley. 

Armstrong Davison located at an early date in the 
eastern portion of the township, where he died. He 
reared a large family of children, and, of his daugh- 
ters, Mrs. Robbins and Mrs. John Hartman now re- 
side in this township. 

Anson Dibble, a brick-maker by occupation, who 
died here in 1835, held the office of Justice of the 
Peace for several years. 

Among other early settlers was Seth Weed, John 
A. Jones, Phoenix Driskell and Elihu Davis, who oc- 
cupied positions more or less prominence. 

The following comprise the 

ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES 

of the township. 

NORTH PORTER. 
Section 1. 

Felix Driskel. St. .Joseph County, Oct. 17, 183^ 129 

.lohn Baum, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 18-33 160 

.John Draper, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 171 

.Stephen Dodson, St. .Joseph County, July 22, 1836 160 

Edwin Ferris, Dec. IB, 1836 40 

Sectiun 2. 

John Bair, St. Joseph County, Dec. 11, 1833 7'.t 

Felix Driskel, St. Joseph County, Oct. 17, 1833 129 

Enoch Baum, St. Joseph County, Jan. 27, 1834, and July 5.. 199 

John Orr, Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1835 80 

William Baum, Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1835 40 

.John N. Jones, Loraine County, Ohio, July 21, 1836 120 

Section 3. 

John Bair, St. Joseph County, Feb. 21, 1833 80 

Enoch Baum, St. Joseph County, July 4, 1834 80 

Joseph Ramho, Beaver County. Penn., May 16, 1835 40 

Silas Baum, St. Joseph County, Nov. 14, 1835 120 

Benjamin Eager, Allegan County, Feb. 10, 1836 1 

Enoch Baum, Cass County, Mich., March 2S, 1836 40 

M irvin Hannahs, Oneida County, N. Y., July 25, 1836....:... 100 

Section 4. 
Silas Baum, St. Joseph County, Feb. 10, 1836 80 



Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. V., March 26, 1836 80 

M. Hannahs, Oneida County, N. Y.. .July 25. 1836 250 

William Robinson, Otsego County, N. Y., July 25, 1836 93 

William Hannahs, Otsego County, N. Y., July 25, 1836 160 

Section •'). 

Isaac W. VVillard, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1834 .. 66 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. Y., iftarch 26, 1836 80 

John Diigwell, Oneida County, July 26, 1836 80 

William Robinson, Olsego County, July 26, 1836 337 

M. & W. Hammonds. Oneida County, Dec. 16, 1836 6i; 



Section 6. 

John East Wayne County, Ind., April 18, 1833 

Jacob T. East, Cass County, Mich., April 18, 1833... 

Elijah White. St. Joseph County, Feb. 18, 1834 

Felix (lerton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 23, 1835 

John Dagwell. Oneida County, N. Y., July 25, 1836. 



79 

92 

229 



Section 7. 
Jacob Rinehart, Lewis Rinehart, Samuel Rinehart, Cass 

County, Mich., May 1, 1832 80 

Thomas Butta, Wayne County, Nov. 8, 1832 202 

Nathan Williams, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 7, 1833 09 

George Meacham, Cass County, Mich., April 21, 1836 80 

George Meacham, Cass County, Mich., May 0, 1836 78 



Henry H. Fowler, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 22, 1833 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. Y., March 26, 1836 

Thomas E. Fletcher, Cass County, Mich , Dec. 14, 1836 

Elias B. Sherman, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1837 



Section 9. 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. Y., March 26, 1836 80 

William Jones, Ashtabula County, Ohio. July 21, 1836 194 

AVilliam Hannahs, Otsego County, N. Y., July 25,. 1836 150 

Ephraim Pine, Wayne County, Jan. 9, 1837 92 



Section 10. 

Enoch Bauiu, St. Joseph County, Jan. 21, 1834 

William Eddy, St. Joseph County, Feb. 10, 1836 

Jasper Eddy, St. Joseph County, Feb. 10, 1836 

Clark Parker, Geauga County, Ohio, May 18, 1836., 
James Bradford, Wayne County, Jan. U, 1837 



40 
40 
80 
201 
237 



Section 11. 

John Baum, St. Joseph County, March 19, 18."4 80 

William Baum, Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1836 120 

William Eddy, St. Joseph County, Feb. 10, 1836 40 

Barnabas Eddy, Washtenaw County. Feb. 10, 1836 40 

Marcus Shemill, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 160 

Eliakim Weller, Livingston County, N. Y., July 22, 1836 80 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9, 1837 40 

John S. Barry, St. Joseph County, April 22, 1836 80 

Section 12. 

William B. Winchell, La Porte County, Ind., March 28, 1836. 80 

John S. Barry, St. Joseph County. April 22, 1836 80 

Henry Frederick, Crawford County, Ohio, July 21, 1836 120 

John R. Everhart, Crawford Couuty, Ohio, July 21, 1836 120 

Marcus Sherrill, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 80 

Baley Bodwell, Cass County, Mich., July 22, 1836 80 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9, 1837 80 

Section 13. 

James Ray, St. Joseph County, Nov. 14 and Dec. 22, 1835... HO 

A. & P Murray. Cass County, Mich., March 28, 18.36 126 

(Charles Blood, Washtenaw County. April 28, 1836 146 

Baley Bodwell, Cass County, Mich., July 22. 18.36 160 

Hiram Holabird, St. Joseph County, May 5, 1837 80 

Section 14. 

Johns. Barry, St. Joseph County, April 22, 1836 160 

Eliakim Weller, Living.ston County, N. Y., July 22, 1836 80 

M. & William Hannahs, Oneida County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1836 160 

Charles T. Parker, Cass County, Mich., March 27, 1837 72 

Hiram Holabird, St. Joseph County. May 5, 1837 80 






OZI/,L STOF^EV. 



JVII^S. OZI/.L stokeV. 



OZIAL STOREY. 
Ozial Storey, one of the pioneers of Porter, was 
born in Onondaga County, N. Y., July 24, 1809. 
From Onondaga he removed to Pennsylvania, and 
from there to Oswego, N. Y., where he married Miss 
Sophia Boots. She was a native of Sussex, England, 
and was born September 21, 1811. After their mar- 
riage, they removed to Syracuse, N. Y., where he was 
engaged on the Erie Canal and in the manufacture of 
salt. In October of 1836, he came to Cass County 
with his family, which consisted of his wife and three 
children, and settled in North Porter, where he utilized 
a rude cabin that had been used as a sugar camp, as a 
place of abode for his fiimily. In this place they lived 
one year, undergoing many privations and hardships. } 
They were obliged to carry drinking water nearly two 
miles. In 1837, he located forty acres of land in the 
north part of the town, which became the nucleus of 
a competency, which was the result of the industry 
and energy of himself and family which overcame all 
obstacles, and he became one of the substantial and 
prosperous farmers of the township, and at the time 
of his death (July 27, 1876), he owned 280 acres of 
land. ' 



Mr. Storey was an indefatigable worker, as was 
each member of his family. His worthy wife (who 
used to manufacture cloth for home use) and children 
each performing their full share in out-door employ- 
ments, and assisted him in the manufacture of char- 
coal, of which he produced large quantities. 

He was at one time identified with the Baptist 
Church, from which he withdrew, as he became what 
might be termed liberal in his religious convictions. 

In his political convictions, he was originally a 
Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party 
he joined its ranks. He held the office of Township 
Treasurer, and was regarded by all as a worthy citi- 
zen and a good neighbor. He reared a family of nine 
children — Sarah A., now Mrs. Levi Reynolds, of Cal- 
vin ; Amanda (Mrs. William Robbins); William A. 
and Milton, both of whom are prominent farmers in 
Porter ; Ilulda 0. (deceased); Susan, now Mrs. Charles 
H. Williams, of Iowa ; Julia M., wife of M. V. B. 
Williams ; Frank A. and Charles B., both deceased. 
Mrs. Storey, whose death occurred November 21, 
1880, was a kind mother and a devoted wife, and an 
exemplary Ciiristian lady. She was a member of tlie 
Baptist Church for many years, in which faith she died. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Sbction 15. 

A0BZ8. 

William Hebron, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 18, 1835 80 

Nancy Temple, St. .Joseph County. Nov. 25, 1835 80 

John S. Barry, St. Joseph County, Jan. 20 and April 22, 1836 297 

M. & W. Hannahs, Dec. 15, 183fi IGO 

Section 1(5. 
School Lands 

SErnoN 17. 

John White, Cass County, Mich,, Oct. 17, 1831 80 

Sarah .lones, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 14, 1832 80 

Henry H. Fowler, Cass County, Mich., Aug.. 27, 1833 KiO 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. V., March 20, 183(i 160 

Oliver Edwards, New York City, Jan. 11, 1837 80 

Elias B. Sherman, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1837 80 

Section 18. 

S. J. & L. Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., April 5, 1832 80 



Nathan Williams, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 7, 1833 71 

Joel White, Ca.ss County, Mich., June 9, 1835 80 

Nathan Williams, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 29, 1836 40 

Marcus Sherrill, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 80 

Thomas Costello, Onondaga County, N. Y., March 29, 1837... 73 

William Hebron, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1837 40 

William Uempsey, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 7, 1837 160 

Section 19. 

Josiah Osborn, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1837 36 



L. & S. Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1837 63 

Section 20. 

Jesse Williams, Cass County, Mich., June 9, 1835 80 

A. & J. Wright, Cass County, Mich., .Tune 11, 1835 80 

James Horner. Albany County, N. Y., April 21, 1830 80 

John Rinehart, Jr., Cass County, Mich., May 6, 1836 100 

James Horner, Albany County, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1837 80 

James Bradford, Wayne County, Jan. 11, 1837 80 

Oliver Edwards, New York City, .Jan. 11, 1837 80 

Section 21. 

Nancy Temple, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 25, 1835 80 

Warren Patchen, Steuhen County, N. Y., March 26, 1«3<'. 240 

A. McHuron, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 160 

John King, Cass County, .Mich., .)une2, 1835 40 

George .Shafter, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1837 80 

William Hebron, Cass County, Mich., March 14, 1837 40 

Section 22. 

Valentine Shultz,St. Joseph County, June 14, 1831 80 



George .Shatter Cass County, Mich., Jan. 18, 1834 40 

William Hebron, (Jass ("ounty, Mich., July 4, and Nov. 18, 

1836 100 

Stephen Gilbert, Onondaga County, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1835 120 

John S. Barry, St. Joseph County, April 22, 1836 200 

A. McHuron, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1830 40 



Samuel Davidson, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 23 and March 6, 

1833 120 

Milo Powell, Livingston County, N. Y., May 21, 25, 1836 80 

Joseph Travers, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 20, 1835 40 

Samuel Davidson, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1836 40 

John Miller, St, Joseph t!ounty, Jan. 21, 1830 160 

John S. Barry, St. Joseph County, April 22, 1836 80 

Henry E. Root, Medina County, Ohio, April 30, 1836 80 

Jeremiah H. Gardner, Genesee County, N. V., Jao. 10, 1887 40 



Mary Travers, Lorain County, Ohio, June 21, 1884 240 

Milo Powell, Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 22, 1835 400 

Scotion 25. 

Robert Travers, Lorain County, Ohio, June 21, 1834 SO 

Thomas Greenaway, St. Joseph County, Dec. 16, 1834 40 

William Hebron, Cass County, July 16 and Nov. 18, 1835.... 120 

Milo Powell, Sept. 22, 1836 40 

Leander J. Loekwood, St. Joseph County, Dec. 16, 1835 40 

Charles Smith. Huron Ounty, Ohio, April 22, 1836 160 

Clark Parker, Geauga (bounty, Ohio, May 9, 1836 80 

Aaron Brody, St Joseph County, Feb. 18, 1836 40 

Charles T. Parker, St, Joseph County, May 11, 1830 40 



Section 26. 

William Hebron, Cass County, Mich., May 21, 1832 100 

William Hebron. Cass County, Mich., July 24, 1833 40 

William Hebron, Jr., Cass County, Mich., April 2, 1833 80 

George Hebron, Cass County, Mich., June 8, 1835 40 

Milo Powell, May 25, 1835 80 

Clark Parker, May 18. 1836 80 

Samuel Buckman, Jackson County, May 24, 1830 80 

Edmund Davis, Genesee County, June 6, 1830 40 

Edmund Davis, Genesee County, July 6. 1830 40 

Section 27. 

Barnhard & Smith, New Hampshire, June 14, 1831 100 



John P. Finney, Allegheny County, Penn., May 10, 1832 100 

Peter Cook, St. Joseph County, May 18, 1832 80 

Thomas Granaway, St. Joseph County, Dec. 20, 1834 40 

Edmund Davis, Genesee County, N. Y., June ti and July 4, 

1836 120 

Benjamin Wright, Genesee County, N. Y., June 6, 1830. 80 



Section 28. 
Peter Cook, St. Joseph County, Aug. 0, 1832., 



40 



Joseph Moore, St. Joseph County, Sept. 19, 1833 40 

Solomon Elmore, Genesee County, N. Y., July U, 1836 80 

A. McHuron, Onondaga County, N. Y,, July 21, 1836 71 

John D, Goldsmith, St, Joseph County, July 22, 1830 100 

Martin L, Daniels, St. Joseph County,June 20, "1837 40 

William Langdon, Jr., St. Joseph County, July 14, 1838 114 

M. L. Daniels, St. Joseph County, Feb. 0, 1844 39 

Section 29. 

Seth Weed, Cass (bounty, Mich., .June 11, 1833 80 

Ransom Beardsley, Steuben County, N. Y., June 22, 1835 8(1 

Ransom I'.eardsley, Cass County, Mich,, Feb. 5, 1836 40 

Ransom Beardsley, Cass County, Alich,, Feb. 27, 1837 40 

Orrin Thompson, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9, 1837 40 

J. Rinehart, Jr., (ass County, Mich,, Jan. 10, 1837 40 

John Hutson, Cass Clounty, Mich., Aug 2, 1838 100 

Section 30. 

L. & S. Rinehart, Cslss County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1837 80 

L. & S. Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., March 28, 1«48 73 

John Rinehart, Cass County, .Mich., May 10, 1837 40 

Jeremiah H. Gardner, Genesee County, N. Y., Jan. 16, 1837.. 104 

John Barnard. Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1837 40 

Joseph M. Jenkins, St. Joseph County, May 12, 1837 40 

Thomas Costello, Cass (.bounty, Mich., Nov. 7, 1837 40 

Israel H. (Jastle, St. Joseph County, June 21, 1888 40 

William Allen, Cass County. Mich., Sept. 8, 1868 40 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 31. 

ArRES. 

James Montgomery, Indiana County, Penn., Nov. 1, 1823 80 

Lewis Rinehart, Casa County, Mich.. April 21, 1836 80 

Lewis Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., May 6, 1836 80 

Lewis Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1837 80 

Samuel Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., May 6, 1836 160 

William H. Imlay, Onondaga County, N. Y., May 17, 18.36... 86 

Grove Lawrence, Onondaga County, N. Y. 

George Beach. Onondaga County, N. Y., May 17, 1836 87 

Section 32. 

.lacob Charles, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1831 80 

John Wickersham, Henry County, Ind., Nov. 14, 1834 40 

Lewis Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 22, 1835 40 

Jacob Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., May 6, 1836 40 

John Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., May 12, 1836 40 

L. & S. Rinehart, Cass County. Mich., Jan. 10, 1837 40 

James Horner, Albany County, N. Y., .Jan. 9, 1837 80 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9, 1837 80 

Hiram Case, St. Joseph County, Feb. 1, 1837 80 

Abijah Wright, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1847 40 

Luciau Metcalf, Casa County, Mich., Feb. 14, 1837 80 

Section 33. 

Moses Robbing, St. Joseph County, March 22. 1833 4 

John Wickersham, Henry County, Ind., Nov. 14, 1834 40 

James Horner, Albany County, N. Y., April 21, 1836 320 

Thompson & Swan, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9, 1837 40 

Albert Kennicott, Cass County, Mich.. Jan. 22, 1837 7-5 

James Horner, Jan. 9, 1837 80 

Section 34. 

Jacob Montgomery, Cass County, Mich., June 23, 1834 80 

Benjamin Montgomery, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 13, iS'S[)... 40 | 

Oscar N. Long, Livingston County, N. Y., July 9, 1835 80 

Edmund Davis, Genesee County, N. Y., June 6, 1836 40 

Benjamin Wright, Genesee County, N. Y., June 6, 1836 80 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9, 1837 160 

Jonas Hartman, St. Joseph l.'ounty, Jan. 26, 1837 76 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Feb. 1, 1837 80 

Section 35. 

Oscar N. Long, Livingston County, July 9, 1835 40 

Oscar N. Long, Livingston County July 22, 1836 40 

Clark Parker, Geauga County, Ohio, May 18, 1836 40 

Samuel Buckman, Jackson County, May 23, 1835 40 

Edmund Davis, Genesee County, N. Y., June (i, 1836 280 

David Stamp, St. Joseph County, Feb. 27, 1837 40 

Thomas Lobbins, St. Joaeph County, March 21, 1837 40 

Samuel G. Parker, Cass Couuty, Mich., March 27, 1837 40 

Horace A. Ferry, Cass bounty, Mich., May 27, 1837 40 

Horace A. Ferry, Cass County, .Mich., May 30, 1837 40 

Section 36. 

Azariah Ferry, Cass County, Mich., July 2, 1830 80 

Valentine Shultz, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 2, 1833 40 

40 
40 



Samuel Shivel, Richland County, Ohio, May 4, 1833 

Milo Powell, Livingston County, N. Y., May 21, 1836 

John Campbell, Livingston County, N. Y., May 21, 1835., 

Leonard Richerl, St. Joseph County, June, -i, 1835 

Charles T. Parker, St. Joseph County, April 30, 1886 

Charles T. Parker, May 9, 1836 

(JharlesT. Parker, May 11, 1836 

Claries T. Parker, May 18, 1836 

Edmund Davis, June 6, 1836 



SOUTH PORTER. 
Section 1. 

Armstrong Davidson, Wayne County, Ohio, June 16, 1829.... 240 

Armstrong Davidson, Lenawee County, Nov. 16, 1829 80 

Abram Richert, Wayne County, Ohio, June 16, 1829 76 

Nathan G. O'Dell, Wayne County, Ohio, June 29, 1829 80 

Clark & Stewarts, Michigan and Pennsylvania, July 2, 1829 16 

George P. Schultz, St. Joseph County, July 9, 1830 49 

Henry Amidon, Casa County, Mich., March 14, 1837 80 

Section 2. 

Jacob Montgomery, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 11, 1834 40 

Lewis Stevenson, St. Joseph (Jounty, June 10, 1835 40 

Christopher V. Kellogg, St. Joseph County, June 18, 1835.... 40 

Lewis Stevenson, St. Joseph County, Sept. 18, 1835 80 

Lorenzo P. .Sanger. St. Joseph County, Dec. 2, 1835 120 

William A. Sanger, St. Joseph County, Jan. 6, 183li 40 

Windsor Paine, St. Joseph County, Jan. 6, 18.36 40 

Chester Comings, Worcester (Jouniy, Mass., Feb. 14, 1837 80 

Armstrong Davidson, Cass ('ounty, Mich., March 6, 1837 40 

Azariah Ferry, Cass County, Mich., March 18, 1837 40 

Henry Amidon, Cass County, Mich., March 18, 1837 40 

Allen Johnson, Cass County, Mich., May 31, 1837 40 

Section 3. 
John Hartman and Benjamin Montgomery, Si. Joseph County, 

March 20, 1832 80 

Thomas Burget, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 19, 1832 120 

Jacob Montgomery, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 11, 1834 40 

Henry H. Marsh, Onondaga County, N. Y., Jaly 21. 1834 40 

Henry Beyhl. Cass County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1837 40 

Joseph Hartman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 26, 1837 40 

Daniel Pease, St. Joseph County, Feb. 21, 1837 80 

Levi S. Humphrey, Monroe County, Feb. 1, 1837 80 

Isaiah Goodrich, Windham, Vt., .March 18, 1837 40 

Francis Nixon, St. Joseph County, .■\pril 19, 1837 80 

Section 4. 

Lewis Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., May 12, 1836 80 

Henry H. Marsh, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 SO 

Lewis Boyer, (^ass (bounty, Mich., Feb. 28, 1837 80 

George Meacham, Cass County, Mich., March 24, 1837 80 

(Jeorge Meacham, Cass County, Mich., April 1. 1837 80 

E. Potter, by Trustee, St. Joseph County, April 11, 1844 40 

Elisha Avery, St. Joseph County, April 11, 1844 40 

Charles Weed, Cass County, Mich., May 15, 1848 40 

Orson C. Virgil, Cass County, Mich.. Nov. 17, 1861 40 

Section 5. 

George Jones, Cass County, .Vlich., Feb. 19, 1830 80 

Caleb Calkins, Monroe County, N. V., March 1, 1830 80 

Jacob Charles, Preble (bounty, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1830 80 

John Baldwin, Cass County, Mich., June 6, 1831 160 

John Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., April 21, 1836 80 

George Meacham, ("ass County, Mich., .Ian. 11, 1837 40 

Rachel A. Taylor, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 17, 1851 40 

Section 6. 

John Baldwin, Cass ("ounty, Mich., June 6, 1831 80 

Elihu Davis, Henry County, Ind., Nov. 3, 1832 40 

Elihu Davis, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1833 80 

Jehu Wickersham, Henry County, Ind., Nov. 14. 1834 80 

Sereign Cleveland, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1835 91 

Luke Graham, Cass County, Mich.. Jan. 19, 1836 169 

Samuel Rinehart, Class County, Mich., April 21, 1836 80 

Samuel Rinehart, Cass County, Mich., May 6, 1836 40 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MTCHTGAN. 



SErTKix 7. 
Elam Beardsley, Lenawee County, June 18, 1829.... 
James Hitclico.x, Erie County, N. Y., Sept. 10, 183(1 
Othni Beardsley, Cass County, Mich.. June 6, 1831. 
Thomas J. Pratt. Cass County, Mich , June ti, 1831. 

John Lough, Preble County, Ohio, June 6, 1831 

John Baldwin, Cass County, Mich., June <i, 1831.... 
John Baldwin, Cass County. Mich.. June 10. 1831... 



Section 8. 
Nathan C. Tibbits, Monroe County, N. Y., June 16, 1829. 

Chester Sage. Lenawee County, June 16, 1829 

John Baldwin, Lenawee County, Sept. 18, 1829 

John Baldwin, Lenawee County, June 6, 1831 

Jacob Charles, I'reble County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1830 

William Tibbits, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 17, 1830 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. Y., March 26, 1836 



Section 9. 

Warren Palchen, Steuben County, .March 26, 1836 

Albert Kennecott, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1837 

School .\ct, May 20, 1826 

Anson -\very. Cass County, Mich., April 2, 1852 



Section 10. 

William King, Cass County, Mich., April 9, 1835 

William King. Cass County, Mich., Feb. 22, 1836 

Samuel King, Cass County, Mich., May 26, 1837 

Nathan G. O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1837. 

And. Gordinier, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 6, 1848 

,lohn Langdon, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 4, 1848 

Ruth Strickland, Cass County, Mich., May 30, 1850... 
Orrin Stevens, St. Joseph County, July 2, 1850 



18, 



And. Gordinier, SI. Joseph County, Ju 

Leroy P. Sanger, Dec. 2, 1835 

Hart L. Stewart, Dec. 2, 1835 

William King, Cass County, Mich., April 22, 1836 

.Sand & Goodman, Wayne County, April 19, 1837 

Robert Ray, Cass County, Mich., March 16, 1844 

Daniel .Schellhammer, Cass County, Mich., May 21. 1852 

Section 12. 

George P. Shultz, Crawford County, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1829 

John Baum, St. Joseph County, Jan. 14, 1830 

Jacob Mclnterfer, St. Joseph County, July I, 1830 

Nathan G. O'Dell, Jr., St. Joseph County, Aug. 12, 1829 

Frederick Toby, Berkshire County, Mass., July 20, 1830 

Frederick Toby, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 23, 1832 

Thomas Burnes, St. Joseph (lounty, March 21, 1833 

.loseph M Jenkins, St. Joseph County, Nov. 6, 1833 

Hart L. Stewart, St. Joseph County, Dec. 2. 1835 

.Alex. Buell, Kalamazoo County, island in the St. Joseph 
River, Aug. 26, 1851 

Section 13. 
J. O'Dell and A. Brooks. Richland County, Ohio, June 29, 

1829 

James 0' Dell, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 21, 1830 

James O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 22, 1830 

Benjamin Carr, Richland County, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1830 

Th.imas Burnes. St. Joseph County, July 20, 1831 

Jonas Hartman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 10, 1832 

Thomas Burnes, St. Joseph County, March 21, 1833 

Thomas Burnes, St. Joseph County, April 1, 1883 

William Barker, St. Joseph County, Dec. 25, 1833 



Section 14. 

O'Dell & Brooks, Aug 6, 1829 

James O'Dell, St. Joseph County, Mich., March 
Jacob Virgil, Rush County, Ind., Aug. 6, 1830... 
Jonas Hartman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 24. 183 



Section 14. 

Peter Beisel, Feb. 24, 1833 

William King, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 4, 1834 

Andrew Gordinier, St. Joseph County, June 18, 1835. 
Lydia Adam.s, June 7, 1836 



Section 15. 

Edward B. Low, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 22, 1836 40 

Samuel King, Feb. 22, 1836 40 

Aaron Brooks, St. Joseph County, Mich., March 28, 1836 40 

Elcazer Abbott, Steuben County, N. Y., May 11, 1836 40 

Austin Abbott, May 11, 1836 145 

Amer Jeffers, May 11, 1836 gO 

Isaiah Goodrich, Windham County, Vt., March 18, 1837 133 

Lucian T. Metcalf, Otsego County, N. Y., March 27, 1837 64 

Section 16. 
School Lands. 

Section 17. 
Jacob Charles, I'reble County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1830.... 

Jacob Charles, Preble County, Ohio, June 6, 1831 

John Baldwin, Cass County, Mich., June 6, 1831 

Elihu Davis, Henry County, Ind., Nov. 3, 1832 

Tristram Davis, Kalamazoo County, May 28, 1833.... 
John M. Davis, Cass County, Mich., May 31, 1834.... 
Benjamin Harris, Jan. 26, 1836 



. 80 

. 80 

. 160 

. 40 

. 40 

. 40 

. 40 

George Evans, Henry County, Ind., March 21, 1836 80 

Isaac Root. Henry County, Ind., March 23, 1836 40 

Ompbell t.'aldwell, April 21, 1836 40 



Section 18. 

Othni Beardsley, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1832 SO 

Elihu Davis, Henry County, Ind., May 28, 1833 40 

John M. Davis, Kalamazoo County, July 15, 1833 40 

William R. Merritt, Berrien County, Jan. 11, 1836 160 

David Vanderhoof, Berrien County, Feb. 18, 1836 40 

William R. Merritt, Berrien County, March 30, 1836 171 

Thomas J. Pratt, Cass County, Mich., May 18, 1836 91 

Section 19 (entire). 
Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, Onondaga County, N. Y., May 



Section 20. 
Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, Onondaga County, N. Y , May 



HO I Jonathan Jessup, Cass County, Jan. 26, 



Section 21. 

Jonathan Jessup, (Jass County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1836 41 

Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, May 28, 1836 119 



Section 22. 

Peter Fees, Elkhart (^ounty. Ind., Oct. 22, 1835 

David Fees, Elkhart County, Ind., March 21, 1837 

Daniel Douglas, Elkhart County, Ind., March 26, 1837 

Lucien T. Douglas, Otsego County, N. Y., March 27, 1837.. 

Section 23. 

O'Dell & Brooks, Richland County, Ohio, June 29, 1829 

Jacob Virgil, Rush County, Ind., Aug. 6, 1880 



312 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 

Section 24. ^^^^ i jg considerably diversified. In the southwestern por- 
Aaron Brooks, Not. 19, 188P 2 | tion it is of the nature of a plain, which includes 

Aaron Brooks, Feb. 16 1831 66 , 3^1^^;^-^ p,^;,; ^^ ^^^^-^^ g ^hich originally COn- 

Aaron Brooks, July 8, 1833 69 1 _ _ ' , ., 01 , ■, ^ 

James 0' Dell, April 14, 1834 40 tamed about ninety acres, while Shavehead Prairie 

Austen Abbott, Allegany County, N. Y., Nov. 13, 1835 40 and vicinity, in Central western portion, partakes of the 

Austen Abbott, St. Joseph County, April 26, 1816 59 ' same nature. Along the streams the land becomes 

quite rolling and precipitous, especially in some parts 
REMINISCENCES. ! ^f Sections 28 and 29, but it is all susceptible of cul- 

When the first settlers came into the county, grist- ' tivation. North of the tier of sections, including 
mills were few and far between, and when one was Sections 19 and 24, North Porter, most of the land 
broken or frozen up, as was the Niles mill, they were was originally quite heavily timbered and required 
put to great inconvenience, as, on this occasion, George much labor to bring it under a state of cultivation. 
Meacham went to the house of a man named Heald, The soil, which is of the drift formation, ranges from 
who lived near Pigeon Prairie, who had a navy coffee a sandy loam to a clayey soil, the former predomi- 
mill that held three pounds, in which he ground grain nating. 
for food. The land is well watered by streams and numerous 

Among the pioneers was one named Alexander lakes which dot the surface, eight of which are digai- 
Bolter, who was noted chiefly for his indolence, drol- fied with names, as follows : Bair Lake, in the north 
lery, and a love for something stimulating. He was tier of sections, named in honor of John Bair, an old 
a chronic borrower, and always had the most plausable , settler ; Birch Lake, northeast of Williamsville ; 
excuse for repeating, time after time, his borrowing Spatter Dock Lake, principally in Sections 9, 10 and 
pilgrimages, and was uniformly successful in getting 14, and which derives its name from numerous "spatter 
■what he wanted, although the lenders declared each docks" which grow in it; Shavehead Lake, in Section 
time should be the last ; he always had prospects of 19 ; Wood Lake, in Sections 13 and 14 ; Robbing' 
big crops and good times in the future, and none could Lake, in Sections 28 and 33, all in North Porter ; 
■withstand his logic and witticisms. Stopping over- Baldwin's and Long Lakes occupy a parallel position 
night at a tavern, he inquired the amount of his bill, 1 in Sections 9, 10, 15 and 16, while south of Bald- 
and was told " nothing." " But you cannot live keep- \ win's Lake, in Section 21, lies a portion of Indiana 
ing tavern in this way," exclaims Bolter, and the less Lake. Some of these lakes are well supplied with 
they wanted pay the more persistent he became in his fish, natives of Michigan inland lakes. One of the 
desire to pay, and at last 75 cents was mentioned as principal streams originates in Birch Lake, flows into 
the amount of his indebtedness, when Bolter told ' Shavehead and from there in a southeasterly direction 
them, with as much sang-froid as if a millionaire, to into Long Lake ; the next largest forming in Bobbins' 
"charge it," and it is needless to say he never met ' Lake flows southward and also empties into Long 
this bill. He moved to Iowa, where he deceased. Lake. On these streams have been located the prin- 

\ cipal mills of the township, the first one of which was 
ORGANIZATION. Commenced by Othni Beardsley and completed by 

As before noticed, this township possesses a larger , Lewis, Samuel and Jacob Rinehart, who bought him 
area than any in the county, of which it occupies the , out in 1831. They ran the mill for fifteen years, but 
southeastern portion. About two sections are cut off , it is now abandoned. They sold lumber in Mishawaka 
by the historic St. Joseph River, up which the cele- and South Bend, and quite a quantity was drawn to 
brated French explorer. La Salle, made his way so the St. Joseph River and rafted to its mouth, and 
many years ago, as will appear in the general history, they at first sold fine whitewood lumber at $7.75 per 

The township, as constituted at present, was formed thousand, 
by an act of the Territorial Government, approved The next saw-mill was built by Jonas Hartman, in 
March 29, 1833, the text of which reads as follows : 1838, on the farm now owned by his son, J. H., who 

" All that part of the township of Ontwa, in Cass ran it for many years. It was near this site in an 
County, situated in Ranges 13 and 14, west of the early day that N. Montgomery built a grist-mill. He 
principal meridian, comprise a township by the name constructed his dam so insecurely that the water broke 
of Porter ; and the first township meeting shall be forth and undermined the mill, and this so discouraged 
held at the house of Othni Beardsley." him that he abandoned the enterprise, and removed 

The boundaries of the township were surveyed the machinery. A custom grist-mill is now run near 
by William Brookfield. the old Brown saw-mill, with two run of stone and a 

The surface of this township, so large in extent, steam saw-mill, in Section 23, North Porter. The 





yvBEL beebe:. 

ABEL BEEBE. 

William Beebe emigrated from Long Island to De 
Ruyter, Madison County, N. Y., and engaged in 
farming, liavmg married Sarah Beebe. They had 
a family of two boys and two girls, one of whom, 
Abel Beebe, was born June 17, 1809. When nine 
years of age. he removed into the wilderness in Knox 
County, Ohio, and therefore practically commenced 
pioneering in his childhood. He had little oppor- 
tunity for self-culture, school advantages being very 
meager at that time in that new country. Like all 
pioneer sons, his education to hard labor was a matter 
of necessity, and he was thus fully prepared for his 
future experiences in this western country. 

He was married to Mary Fletcher, daughter of 
Daniel and Ann Fletcher, who was born in Bedford 
County, Penn., November 25, 1813. She moved to 
Crawford County, Ohio, and then to Knox County, 
Ohio, with her father. 

In 1838, Mr. and Mrs. Beebe removed to De Kalb 
County, Ind., when they moved into a log house 
before it had been chinked, and while still destitute of 
doors, windows and a floor, and this was in the cold 
month of December. Quilts were hung up as a sub- 
stitute for doors, and as the chimney was not con- 
structed until the following year, the house was 
warmed with a fire built of logs on the ground where 
the hole was cut through for the chimney. The logs 
of the house being green, were thus prevented from 
being consumed. They endured many hardships 
while residents of this place, but, after a stay of eight- 
een months, came to Cass County in 1840, passing 
through the famous Black Swamp, of Ohio, while en 
route from Ohio to Indiana, and owing to an accident 
Mrs. Beebe was obliged to walk eighteen miles of 
this distance. He purchased 160 acres of land in 
Porter Township, and commenced the laborious work 
of clearing it up, in which he was most ably assisted 
by his wife, who did not disdain to do outdoor 



|Vlf^S.y\BEL BEEBE. 

work. In order to assist in the household economy, 
Mrs. Beebe used to pick cranberries and whortle- 
berries and carry them home, sometimes in a pillow- 
case, many miles distant. She used to manufacture 
linen cloth, and one year manufactured seventy 
pounds of wool into cloth. 

In 1850, Mr. Beebe went to California, and until 
his return, in 1852, she conducted the fiirm so suc- 
cessfully as to liquidate their indebtedness. Kind 
and sympathetic in nature, she ever stood ready to 
assist those who were ill, and to many a one she has 
been as a ministering angel. She now resides on the 
old homestead with her son, Lafayette. She is a con- 
sistent member of the Methodist Church, having been 
converted when fourteen years of age. Her hus- 
band, who died May 6, 1881, was a very estimable 
man, much respected by those with whom he asso- 
ciated. His life was quiet and uneventful. Originally 
a Whig, he subsequently affiliated with the Democratic 
party. 

They became the parents of four children, viz. : 
Sarah, now Mrs. H. Beardsley, in Porter ; Lafayette, 
at home ; James, deceased, and Hameline, also at 
home. 

Lafayette Beebe, above mentioned, was born in 
Knox County, Ohio, April 13, 1837, and when a 
child of about two years climbed upon a large chest, 
as is supposed, and jumped off in imitation of older 
children, thereby injuring his spine, so that he has 
since been unable to walk. Notwithstanding his con- 
dition, his mind is active, and for the past twenty 
years has managed the business of the farm, and has 
thus been of valuable assistance to his father. In 
token of liis valuable services and business tact, his 
father presented him with a farm. He has been 
a worthy member of the Birch Lake Methodist 
Episcopal Church since 1875, and has held church 
offices of greater or less importance ever since. 



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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



lumber from the first saw-mills was not only used for 
building purposes, quite a large quantity being con- 
sumed in making "arks," as they were facetiously 
called, they being a kind of flat-boat, by means of 
which wheat was conveyed to the mouth of the St. 
Joseph River, and the "arks" then disposed of for 
what they would bring. They were a great improve- 
ment over the pirogues first used, as their capacity 
was so much greater. 

EARLY TAVERNS. 

There was a time during the great westward emi- 
gration over the Chicago road when every resident on 
the road was, per force, a tavern-keeper, and even 
then it was diflicult to accommodate the immense 
number of emigrants. John Baldwin kept the first of 
these primitive hostelries, and the horses of travelers 
were fed grain from holes cut into an old log that lay 
conveniently near. 

The first establishment that could be dignified with 
the name of tavern was kept by Othni Beardsley on 
.he farm now owned by D. Kelb, in a log house. In 
1833, he built a tavern near where is now the resi- 
dence of F. Jones, in Union, and it was one of the 
regular stations for the stage line. In 1836, when 
owned by Cyrene Cleveland, it was consumed by fire, 
and, as Mr. Cleveland then went to farming, the pro" 
prietors of the stage line induced Jarius Hitchcox to 
formally open up a tavern in his house for their 
accommodation. Their house was frequently so 
crowded with guests that chairs and tables were set out 
doors to make room for beds on the floor. The tavern 
project was not abandoned until 1852, when, owing to 
the advent of railroads, the emigration on the road 
practically ceased. 

During this period, George Meacham also kept tav- 
ern, and has had seventy-five guests in his house over- 
night, from which one can form some conception of 
the immense number of emigrants passing daily. 

COAL OIL SPECULATION. 

Porter Township has passed through several specu- 
lative manias, but never was one gotten up so suddenly, 
inflated so highly, and collapsed with such unexampled 
rapidity as the coal oil speculation of March, 1865, 
which did not have anything to sustain it but fraud 
and misrepresentation. 

People look with awe and veneration upon the 
Goulds and Vanderbilts, who make and unmake cor- 
porations at will, and water stocks to suit their pleas- 
ure, but these moneyed potentates have never yet placed 
on the market such highly watered stocks that water 
formed not only the basis but the component parts, as 
did the coal oil scheme which was set afloat by judicious 



salting, and which, for boldness of planning and skill 
in manipulating, rivals the celebrated salted gold 
claims of California, for gold was known to exist in 
those localities. It appears that William Brown pos- 
sessed a small saw-mill in Section 83, which was run 
by water-power, the water coming principally from 
springs near the mill, which had their origin in a rather 
abrupt hilly place for this section of the country. One 
day two men were observed carefully walking up and 
down the small stream examining the spring, evident- 
ly deeply interested in the place, as they were making 
careful observations. Presently they came to the mill, 
and were observed to be Coleman Keeler, a former 
resident of the county, and Mr. Bartlett. a Toledo coal 
oil refiner. They inquired the price of the property, 
claiming they desired to purchase it and establish a 
vineyard, for which the place was peculiarly adapted. 
A bargain was finally consummated, the price being 
$1,400, and $1 paid down, with the understanding that 
the balance was to be paid in a week. No sooner had 
they gone than Abbott Hawks, a sawyer in the mill, 
who had been in the Canadian oil country, suspected 
they had discovered oil, and going to the spring saw 
oil on the water, and they at once became inflated. 
The fact could not be disputed, there, in the very 
stream they had viewed a thousand times, could be 
seen, floating on the surface for the first time, an oily 
substance the color and odor of which showed it un- 
mistakably to be coal oil. All became bereft of their 
good judgment, they were so exalted over the mine of 
prospective wealth — the bonanza with "millions in it." 
Not being legally bound, Mr. Brown refused to com- 
plete the bargain when the parties came again. The 
great oil discovery became noised abroad, and thou- 
sands visited the place, including oil men from New 
York, Pennsylvania and Canada, and excitement was 
up to a fever heat, with several parties bidding for the 
property. 

Finally, Benjamin Davenport, Daniel Heaton 
and Mr. Mather, all of Elkhart, Ind., purchased 
the property for $10,000, paying $8,000 down, and 
giving three notes (equal amounts) for the balance. 
Hardly had the sale been completed before the fact 
that the springs had been skillfully salted by saturat- 
ing pellets or balls of clay with crude oil and pushing 
them down into the soft yielding mud, and when one 
punched around them, according to instructions re- 
ceived, they emitted globules of oil which spread on 
the surface of the water in a most deceptive manner. 
Payment of the notes was refused, but they were held 
valid by the court and judgment entered accordingly. 
A settlement was eff'ected four years from the time the 
sale was made. Brown taking back the mill property 
at $1,700, and paying expenses of suit. 



314 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAiX. 



BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Baldwin's Prairie Baptist Church was organized 
February 14, 1857, by Rev. Jacob Price, in a private 
house, with a membership of six. Agreeably to a call 
for a council of recognition, an ecclesiastical council 
convened May 27, 1857, in the schoolhouse, and find- 
ing an organization of twenty-two members, who com- 
plied with the required obligations, the council recog- 
nized them as a Regular Baptist Church. During the 
past twenty-four years, this church has had three 
pastors, thus dividing its history into three periods. 
The pastorate of Rev. Price extended from the organ- 
ization of the church until his death in 1871, during 
which time the records show an accession to the mem- 
bership of fifty-eight persons. 

The labors of the second pastor, Rev. J. Kerby, 
extended from 1871 to 1876, during which period 
twenty-two persons united with the church, and a 
substantial house of worship, costing $5,500, was built 
and dedicated to the worship of God. The third per- 
iod comes under the pastorate of Rev. D. C. Herrell, 
who took charge in May, 1876, and is the first resi- 
dent pastor, the other two living on farms not far dis- 
tant while preaching for the church. Up to 1881, 
there had been forty-one accessions to membership of 
the church. About four years since, an auxiliary to 
the " American Baptist Missionary Union " was or- 
ganized and now has a membership of twenty. A 
Young Girls' Mission Band was organized in 1878. 
Both of these societies have contributed freely toward 
the objects for which they were organized. Also, 
during this period, the church has built a parsonage 
at a cost of about |600. The present church ofiicers 
are : A. Shellhammerand D. Sullivan, Deacons, while 
J. Richardson, Horace Thompson and D. Sullivan are 
Trustees. 

FREE-WILL BAPTLST CHURCH. 

The Free-Will Baptist Church of Union was or- 
ganized by Elders Rolf and Ketchuin in the summer 
of 1866, with sixteen members, and they now have a 
membership of thirty. John Shellhammer was the 
first Deacon, and John Kidder the Clerk. They wor- 
ship in the Methodist or Union Church, at Union. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

In 1858, Rev. A. W. Torry held a series of revival 
meetings, and made large accessions to the Methodist 
class then organized, and they, with outside assistance, 
built a church costing $1,000, which, although dedi- 
cated as a Methodist Church, can be used by other 
denominations, a clause in the deed reading that, 
when not used by the Methodists, it shall be free to 
other Christian denominations. In 1877, it was re- 
built at an expense of $1,300, and is now principally 



used by the Free-Will Baptists, the Methodists hav- 
ing no active organization. 

NORTH PORTER METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The North Porter Methodist Episcopal Church was 
organized in 1846, with fourteen members, and serv- 
ices held in schoolhouses until 1858, when they 
erected, in Section 12, a church building at a cost of 
$800. Hugh Ferguson, G. W. Black and Nathan 
Skinner were the first Trustees. Present membership, 
from fifteen to twenty. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The first Baptist Church of North Porter was organ- 
ized at Mottville, August 27, 1837, with the following 
members: Alanson McHuron and wife, Henry Marsh 
and wife, Mila Sherrill, Almira Gilbert, Catharine 
Hebron, James Hadow and wife, Rebecca Davison, 
Orson Virgil, Ozial Storey, Mr. Godfrey and Mr. 
Hubbard. The first election of officers was held at 
the house of Stephen Gilbert, on the farm now owned 
by H. Beardsley, who is the present Church Clerk, 
and Philo Smith and Orson Virgil chosen Deacons. 
Elder J. Haddon officiated as first pastor, and has been 
succeeded by others, as follows : James Price, George 
Miner, J. Kerby, William Pack, D. Herall. In 1857, 
they erected a brick house of worship, costing $1,335.- 
46, and chose William Hebron, Sr., 0. N. Long, 
George W. Miner, James Motley, Aaron Shellhammer 
as Trustees. The church is in a most flourishing con- 
dition, having eighty-three members. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

As the result of a series of revival meetings, held 
by Rev. William Ball, in 1870, a project for building 
a church was started and placed on a sound financial 
basis, by William R. Merritt, who gave the land and 
donated $500. The building was commenced in this 
year and completed and dedicated in December, 1873, 
at which time $2,400 was provided for, which freed 
the church from debt. The church is 34x60 feet, and 
cost $5,000. The first Trustees were L. L. Austin, 
Albert C. Merritt, Albert Smith, Daniel Stannard 
and Abel Beebe. 

The principal township officers up to 1881 are as 
follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1833, Othni Beardsley ; 1834-35, Caleb Calkins ; 
1836, George Meacham ; 1837, Caleb Calkins ; 1838, 
George Meacham; 1839, Oscar N. Long; 1840, 
George Meacham ; 1841, Jonas Hartman ; 1842, Milo 
Powell ; 1843, William R. Merritt ; 1844-45, Oscar 
N. Long; 1846-47, Rufus K. Charles; 1848, John 
N.Jones; 1849, Jarius Hitchcox; 1850-51, O.N. 









r,esideHce: of SCO. b. orr,, porter, )V1ICH 




RESIDENCE OF SHEF^WOOD TH0/v1/>S, POf\T ER. f/1 ICH- 



History of cass couxXty, Michigan. 



Long ; 1852-56, Rufus K; Charles ; 1856, Milo Pow- 
ell ; 1857-59, A. H. Long ; 1860-63, Lucius Keel- 
er; 1864, J. H. Hitchcox ; 1865-66, Thomas 
O'Dell; 1867, Lucius Keeler ; 1868-69, Thomas 
O'Dell; 1870-74, Hiram Meacham ; 1875, Nathan 
Skinner; 1876-78, Nathan Skinner; 1879-81, Ed- 
ward T. Motley, succeeded by Thomas O'Dell, vice 
E. T. Motley, resigned. 

TREASURERS. 

1883, E. Beardsley : 1834, A. B. Davis ; 1835, 
Joel Baldwin; 1836, E. Davis; 1837, L. Keeler; 
1838, R. K. Charles ; 1839, 0. Story ; 1840, Moses 
Joy; 1841, R. K. Charles; 1842,0. Story; 1843, 
Lewis Rinehart ; 1844, J. Hartman ; 1845, L. Rine- 
hart ; 1846-47, J. Hartman ; 1848, George Hebron ; 
1849-50, J. Hartman ; 1851-52, A. H. Long ; 1853- 
54, J. H. Hartman ; 1855-56, J. Motley ; 1857, H. 
J. Dauchy ; 1858, J. Hartman ; 1859, G. W. Miner ; 
1860, J. Hartman ; 1861, A. H. Long ; 1862-64, 
0. Briggs ; 1865, William Rinehart ; 1866, J. Mot- 
ley ; 1867-68, M. McHuron; 1869, H. Meacham; 
1870, H. Beardsley ; 1871-72, H. D. Long; 1873, 
M. Nutting; 1874-75, II. Beardsley; 187o, William 
Rinehart; 1877-78, George Motley ; 1879-80, Hen- 
ry H. Bowen; 1881, H. Beardsley. 



1833, C. Calkins; 1834-35, A. B. Davis; 1836- 
87, A. Dibble; 1838-89, Seth Weed; 1840, 0. M. 
Long; 1841, A. Dibble; 1842, Seth Weed; 1843, 
H. Shelden ; 1844-45, A. Kennicott; 1846, S. Tay- 
lor ; 1847, A. Kennicott ; 1848. J. H. Hartman ; 1849- 
50, S. Taylor; 1851-52, Milo Powell; 1853-54, A. H. 
Long; 1855-56, F. Teesdale ; 1857, G. Hebron; 
1858, W. S. Stearns; 1859-60, L. Beebe ; 1861- 
64, W. S. Stearns ; 1865, G. Hebron ; 1866, C. C. 
Parker; 1867-68, H. H. Bowen; 1869, A. R. 
Thompson ; 1870-71, H. H. Bowen ;. 1872-73, E. T. 
Motley; 1174-76, M. McHuron; 1877-78, H. H. 
Bowen; 1879-80, J. Frank Bowen; 1881, George S. 
Symons. 

UNION. 

In 1831, a post office was established, with Jacob 
Charles as Postmaster, and he kept the office in his 
house. After' a few changes, it was removed to the 
present site of Union, where, in 1853, William B. 
Dibble opened up a small grocery store, and, later, 
Daniel Williams brought in a general stock of goods. 
It is now a thriving little mart of 100 inhabitants, 
and contains two general stores, one blacksmith and 
wagon shop, a shoe shop, two carpenter shops and 
two churches. 



WILLIAMSVILLE. 

Williamsville was laid out by Josiah Williams in 
1848, who was also interested in the first store. It 
now contains two stores ; two blacksmith shops, one 
run by W. C. Rinehart ; a grist-mill, with two run 
of stones, now run by J. Fred Merritt ; a saw-mill ; 
one physician, Dr. Otis Moore ; and has a population 
of eighty-eight. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school was taught, in 1832, by Jemima 
Wood, in a log schoolhouse covered with shakes. The 
capacious chimney extended across one end, with the 
exception of a place for a doorway. The chimney 
was destitute of jambs and was supported by brackets, 
while the back wall was built of stone by Jarius 
Hitchcox. Into holes in the logs, wooden pins were 
inserted, on which slabs were placed, which consti- 
tuted the desks, while wooden legs inserted into slabs 
constituted the backless seats. In 1840, this house 
was supplanted by a more modern frame structure. 
Mr. Way, Mr. Parent, Sarah Mead and Philetus P. 
Perry were among the early teachers. 

In 1838 or 1839, a school was organized in the 
Hartman neighborhood, and taught by Squire Weed 
in a cooper shop on his farm. 

In 1837, a frame schoolhouse was erected in the 
Bowen neighborhood, which was the first one built 
there. 

In 1850, the first schoolhouse in the David Stan- 
nard district was built of logs and taught by Caroline 
Donnell. And thus school after school was organized, 
and old log buildings gave place to frame ones, until 
now there are thirteen districts in the township, and 
all are supplied with frame schoolhouses except Dis- 
trict No. 2, which has a brick. The total value of 
the school property is $7,525 ; seating capacity of 
schools, 599 ; total number of school children be- 
tween the ages of five and twenty years, 554. The 
wages paid male teachers for the fiscal year ending 
October 1, 1881, was |1,421.75; female teachers, 
$1,076.50. 

The log houses of Porter, have, with few excep- 
tions, given way to fine and substantial farm building, 
and the woods to finely cultivated fields, for of the 
29,434 acres in farms, 19,891 are improved, the total 
number of farms being 248. In 1879, from 5,858 
acres sown to wheat, 115,610 bushels were threshed, 
being an average of 19.74 bushels per acre ; from 3,- 
225 acres planted to corn, 126,474 bushels were 
husked, while 971 acres sown to oats, produced 33,- 
595 bushels. There were also raised 645 bushels of 
clover seed, 11,956 bushels of potatoes, and 3,418 
tons of hay. There are also possessed in the to\Vnship 
S67 head of horses, l,47!t head of cattle, and 2,212 



316 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



sheep. There were also 6,Jr80 bushels of apples sold, 
while grapes and other small fruits are raised in 
abundance. Surely the pioneer fathers have created 
a township of which they may justly feel proud. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

OZIAL STOREY. 
Ozial Storey, one of the pioneers of Porter, was 
born in Onondaga County, N. Y., July 24, 1809. 
From Onondaga he removed to Pennsylvania, and 
from thence to Oswego, N. Y., where he married Miss 
Sophia Boots. She was a native of Sussex, England) 
and was born September 21, 1811. After their mar- 
riage, they removed to Syracuse, N. Y., where he was 
engaged on the Erie Canal and in the manufacture of 
salt. In October of 1836, he came to Cass County 
with his family, which consisted of his wife and three 
children, and settled in North Porter, where he utilized 
a rude cabin, that had been used as a suga^- camp, as a 
place of abode for his family. In this place they lived 
one year, undergoing many privations and hardships. 
They were obliged to carry drinking water nearly two 
miles. In 1837, he located forty acres of land in the 
north part of the town, which became the nucleus of 
a competency, which was the result of the industry and 
energy of himself and family which overcame all ob- 
stacles, and he became one of the substantial and pros- 
perous farmers of the township, and at the time of his 
death (July 27, 1876), he owned 280 acres of land. 

Mr. Storey was an indefatigable worker, as was 
each member of his family. His worthy wife (who 
used to manufacture cloth for home use) and children 
each performing their full share in out- door employ- 
ments, and assisted him in the manufacture of char- 
coal, of which he produced large quantities. 

He was at one time identified with the Baptist 
Church, from which he withdrew, as he became what 
might be termed liberal in his religious convictions. 

In his political convictions, he was originally a 
Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party, 
he joined its ranks. He held the office of Township 
Treasurer, and was regarded by all as a worthy citi- 
zen and a good neighbor. He reared a family of 
nine children — Sarah A., now Mrs. Levi Reynolds, of 
Calvin ; Amanda (Mrs. William Robbins) ; William A. 
and Milton, both of whom are prominent farmers in 
Porter ; Hulda 0. (deceased) ; Susan, now Mrs. Charles 
H. Williams, of Iowa; Julia M., wife of M. 
V. B. Williams ; Frank A. and Charles B., both de- 
ceased. Mrs. Story, whose death occurred Novem- 
ber 21, 1880, was a kind mother and a devoted wife, 



and an exemplary Christian lady. She was a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church for many years, in which 
faith she died. 

OLIVER P. BRONSON. 
j Oliver P. Bronson, of Porter Township, was born 
I in Wayne County, Ind., February 20, 1819, and was 
of Scotch-English descent. In 1830, when nearly 
twelve years of age, he moved with his father's fam- 
ily to Elkhart County, Ind., and in 1834, to South 
Bend, where his father, Reuben Bronson, died in 
1836. Oliver then became an apprentice to the car- 
penter's trade, and after three years' service became a 
very fine workman. Upon the 1st of May, 1842, he mar- 
ried Miss Catherine Calkins, of South Bend ; she was 
also of Scotch descent, and was born in Monroe 
County, N. Y.," on the 25th of September, 1825. 
Her father, Caleb Calkins, was born in Vermont. 
The subject of our sketch becoming tired of the life 
of £t mechanic, made a trip to California in 1850, 
and upon his return in 1852, resolving to follow farm- 
ing, removed to Porter Township and purchased the 
property of Joseph Roots, which is his present home. 
He has held, from time to time, various township 
offices of more or less importance, offices not sought 
by but rather forced upon him. He has been succes- 
sively a Whig and a Republican. Mr. Bronson en- 
joyed only the most limited advantages for obtaining 
an education, but has obtained large information from 
reading and observation. He is really a self-made 
man. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bronson, eight in 
number, are Mary J., Martha A., Alice M., Flora, 
James Oliver, Elnora, John Schuyler and William 
Sherman. 

(GEORGE B. ORR. 
Thomas Orr, a native of Ireland, came to America 
when eighteen years of age, with his mother, his father ' 
having previously died. He first located in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, and it was here that his son, George B., 
was born, September 23, 1821. When eight years of 
age, George B. removed with his parents to Lower 
Sandusky, now Fremont, in Sandusky County, Ohio, 
and it was here that he grew to manhood's estate in a 
new country, and assisted his father in clearing up 
two farms, and has, therefore, from his earliest child- 
hood, been conversant with pioneer life and the means 
and expedients adopted by pioneers while improving 
and developing a new country. Thomas Orr had 
nearly attained the ripe old age of ninety-three years 
at the time of liis death in 1876. He died in full 
faith of the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
of which denomination he had been a consistent mem- 
ber for many years. His wife Sarah (Low) Orr, who 



I 





QLlVEF^P.BROfJSOfJ, 



Mf^S.OLlVEF( P. BI^O^SOK. 






4# '^^- 







f^ESIDEJ^jCE or H. K. FIELD, POP^T E I\, Jvl ICH- 




HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



317 



was a native Virginian and also a member of the same 
Christian denomination as her husband, died at Fos- 
torio, Ohio, aged eighty-five years. Having disposed 
of his property in Sandusky County, Ohio. George B. 
Orr came to Cass County in April, ISi/4, and pur- 
chased his present farm in Section 17, North Porter 
Township, and commenced life in the woods, there 
being at this time no road past his farm. Neither 
was there a road south from the present site of the 
Methodist Church. The log house erected on the ■ 
farm at this time, a view of which, together with his ' 
present residence, can be found on another page, con- 
tained neither doors, windows or a floor, and Mr. and 
Mrs. Orr know full well the privations and hardships 
of pioneer life, but they have, by perseverance and 
toil, overcome all obstacles, and can now enjoy the 
ample fruits of their industry. 

In 1844, Mr. Orr married Miss Harriet N., daugh- 
ter of Phillip and Dolly Smith, who were both natives 
of Connecticut. 

Her grandfather, Phillip Smith, died on board a 
ship of war, being captured by the British during the 
Revolutionary war. INIrs. Orr was born in Oneida 
Couniy, N. Y., January 17, 1824. Her mother, who 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, passed her 
declining years under her daughter's roof, her death 
occurring in 1877, when she had reached the advanced 
age of 93 years. Mr. Phillip Smith died in Fre- 
mont, Ohio, January 6, 1862, aged seventy-nine years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Orr have been blessed with eight sons, 
two of whom died in infancy. Frank L. and Edgar 
E. reside in Porter ; Harry B. and Irving H. are in 
business in Chicago, while two sons, Thomas R. and 
Homer G., reside in Ponca, Neb., the former of whom 
is a druggist, and the latter an attorney. In politics, 
Mr. Orr is a stanch Democrat. 

HARVEY K. FIELD 

was born in Sodus, Wayne Co., N. Y., March 13, 1826. 
His parents, Darius and Saloraa (Clark) Field were 
natives of the State of Vermont, and reared a family of 
fourteen children, eight of whom are living. He was 
a farmer by occupation, and a son of George Field, 
who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Harvey 
K. received a common school education, and, in 1845, 
came to Michigan with the fiimily and settled in Con- 
stantine, where they remained until 1849, when they 
removed to Porter Township. Harvey remained but a 
short time, when he joined that throng of adventur- 
ous fortune-hunters and went to California by the 
overland route, driving an o.x team the entire distance. 
The journey occupied six months. After a sojourn of 
six months, during which time he was engaged in 
mining and trading with the Indians, he returned to 



Porter and purchased fifty acres of land, which was 
the nucleus of his present farm of 203 acres. In 
December of 1851, he was married to Miss Mary J. 
Stamp. She was born in Steuben County, N. Y., 
August 4, 1831, in the town of Reading, Steuben 
Co., N. Y. ; they have had four children, two of 
whom, Ella L. and Herbert, are living. 

In his religious and political affiliations he is a 
Methodist and a Republican. On another page will 
be seen a view of his home, which is the result of his 
own industry. He has acquired a competency, and 
is among the representative farmers of the county. 

■SHERWOOD THOMAS. 

Harley Thomas was born in Hartford, Conn., in 
1818, and from this place removed with his parents to 
Medina County, Ohio. In 1838, he came to Cass 
County, and purchased forty acres of the farm now 
owned by Mr. Gard, in Wayne Township, which he 
cleared up, improved, and added to as his means ad- 
mitted, and soon became noted as a successful farmer, 
which fact was duly acknowledged, as in one of the 
State Agricultural Reports he was mentioned as one of 
the "best farmers in Western Michigan." His stock 
was of the best, and he went to much pains and ex- 
pense to introduce and propagate the most valued. 
About 1854, he sold his farm, and purchased the one 
in La Grange Township now owned by Peter Hardy, 
which he disposed of in 1863, and removed to Do- 
wagiac, where he remained until his death in January, 
1876. Although economy, coupled with hard work, 
was necessary to his success in life, he never gave 
way to a spirit of smallness, but was charitable and 
public-spirited, which, coupled with a genial nature, 
made friends of all his acquaintances. 

He was twice married ; first to Eunice Hungerford, 
who died in 1856, and by whom he had seven chil- 
dren, five boys and two girls. One of his sons, Sher- 
wood Thomas, was born in Wayne Township in 1844, 
and reared on the farm, receiving such instruction as 
falls to the usual lot of farmers' sons. 

During the war of the rebellion, he nobly responded 
to the call of our country for soldiers to preserve her 
States intact, and enlisted October 5, 1861, as a pri- 
vate in Company A, Twelfth Michigan Infantry, and 
as a member of this regiment participated in the 
battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Davis' Bridge, luka, 
Alabama, Mechanicsburg, on the Yazoo River, and 
the seige of Vicksburg, and was honorably discharged 
at Duvall's Bluff, Ark., February 7, 1865, having 
passed through the various battles unscathed. After 
leaving the array, he purchased a farm in La Grange 
Township, which was disposed of, and in August, 
1878, he purchased his present farm of 160 acres in 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Porter Township, and is now numbered among its suc- 
cessful agriculturists; a portion of his time is, how- 
ever, devoted to droving. On another page will be 
found a fine view of his residence. October 8, 1865, 
he was married to Lorain, daughter of Norman Jarvis, 
and they are the parents of one child, a daughter, 
named Nellie. 



THE RINEHART BROTHERS. 
In the history of Cass County, an especial interest 
attaches to the history the five Rinehart brothers, Aot 
alone from the fact that they were the representatives 
of one of the prominent pioneer families of the county, 
and were closely identified with the early settlement 
of the townships of Penn and Porter, but from their 
high social standing, and the enviable records they 
have made as citizens. The old adage that every 
floct has its dusky member never applied to this fam- 
ily, for no one can point to a single, unmanly or dis- 
reputable act in the lives of any of them ; socially, 
morally, and in fact in every way they seem to have 
each vied with the other to preserve, unspotted the 
family escutcheon. The family are of German descent. 
John, the father of the immediate subjects of this 
memoir, was a Virginian, and was born in 1779. In 
1829, he came to Cass County, and first located in 
Penn Township. In the history of Porter will be 
found an interesting narrative of the early experiences 
of the family. They remained in Penn until their 
removal to Porter, where the elder Rinehart died in 
1856. 

.JACOB RINEH.VRT. 
Jacob, the elder of the five, was born in Virginia 
in June of 1804 ; he was reared to habits of indus- 
try and thrift, which coupled with good judgment and 
economy, has brought its sure reward — a competency 
in old age. He came to Cass County with his father, 
but shortly after went to Cincinnati, where he en- 
gaged in boat-building, but soon rejoined the family ; 
he connected himself prominently with many of the 
initial events in the early history of Porter, and in 
company with Lewis and Samuel, he built and oper- 
ated the first saw-mill in the township. Since 1831, 
his business operations have been largely confined to 
running the mill until it failed to be remunerative and 
farming. Mr. Rinehart has been three times married, 
first to Jane Emmons ; they reared a family of six 
children, viz.: William, Elijah, Eliza, Mary Jane 
(deceased), Lewis and Melinda. After his first wife's 
death, he married Mrs. W. Wright, and on her de- 
mise Jane Saunders. He has never been an aspirant 
for civic honors, but has led a quiet and comparatively 



uneventful life, and is now passing in peace and quiet 
the declining years of a well-spent life. 



LEWIS RINEHART. 

Lewis Rinehart was born in Virginia. December 
5, 1807. 

He was reared on a farm, but learned the carpen- 
ter and joiner's trade, which occupation he followed in 
Ohio. He accompanied his father to Cass County, 
where Nov. 28, 1830, he married Miss Anna Frakes, 
who was born in Logan County, Ohio, August 13, 
1812. She came to Michigan in 1830, with her 
parents. 

As noticed elsewhere, Lewis was one of the owners 
of the first saw-mill in Porter, and he did his full 
share in the development of this section of the county. 
In 1839, he removed to the farm where his widow 
now resides, and where his death occurred in Decem- 
ber of 1879. During the Sauk war, beheld a Lieuten- 
ant's commission. He served his township in the 
capacity of Collector, but devoted his time and atten- 
tion principally to agricultural pursuits, in which he 
was eminently successful. Mr. Rinehart was a con- 
sistent member of the Baptist Church, and a man who 
was universally respected for his many estimable 
qualities. He and his worthy wife were blessed 
with children as follows: Samuel M., John W., 
Margaret (deceased), Emeline (deceased), Henry, 
Nathan, Eliza J. (deceased), Sarah, Mary, Lucretia, 
and Lewis Clark. 

In December, 1831, as Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart 
were returning from a visit to her father in Kalama- 
zoo County, they were overtaken by a severe snow 
storm, and night coming on they could not descern 
their pathway, which was only marked by blazed 
trees, and realizing the extreme danger of continuing 
further, he cleared the snow from underneath a tree 
whose branches hung low, and covering his wife and 
her infant child with blankets, he remained there un- 
til daylight the next morning, and was only kept 
from freezing by vigorous walking. The child, Samuel 
M., that was thus sheltered that cold winter's night 
under a forest tree, is now living at Union. 

Did our space permit, many other incidents could 
be related, showing the pluck and determination of 
the man, and of the many trials and hardships he en- 
countered in his pioneer life. He died December 6, 
1879 ; his wife is still living on the old homestead, 
near the village of Union. 

SAMUEL RINEHART. 
Samuel Rinehart, the third son, was born in Rock- 
ingham County, Va., in September of 1809 ; 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



3176 



reared to the life of a farmer, he has followed his 
chosen avocation successfully through a long life with 
the exception of perhaps a few brief intervals. ' He has 
resided on his present farm since 1847. He is genial 
and social, and one who, without ostentation or dis- 
play, pursues the even tenor of his way, doing 
what his judgment dictates as right. His mind is a 
storehouse of pioneer incidents and experiences which 
he delights in relating. He has never taken an ac- 
tive part in politics, but first affiliated with the Whig 
and now with the Republican party. He is a promi- 
nent member of the Baptist Church, in whicli he is 
a Deacon. He was married August 12, 1838, to 
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Eleazer and Martha Hunt, 
old settlers of Kalamazoo County. Mrs. Rinehart 
was born in 1821. They have been blessed with a 
large family of children, all of whom are highly re- 
spected members of society and are members of the 
Baptist Church. Their names are as follows : Martha 
A., Christina E., Amos W. (deceased), Mary, Anna 
M., Martin (deceased), Elias W.. Ellen E., Alice A., 
Emma A., Amanda E., Minnie C, Charles (deceased) 
and Mabel. 

JOHN RINEHART. 

John Rinehart, or Uncle John, as he was familiarly 
known, was born in Rockingham County, Va., June 
15, 1814. At the age of nine he came with his 
father's family to Clark County, Ohio, and from there 
removed to Cass County in February of 1829, and 
settled on Young's Prairie, on or near the farm now 
occupied by Isaac Bonine, Jr. He entered the land 
lately occupied by him in the year 1886. October 
1, 1837, he was married to Miss Parthenia Lawson, 
and during this year moved on his farm, where he 
lived forty-four years. He was an honest man, a 
kind and indulgent father, and an unselfish neighbor ; 
and no one ever nearcd his happy home but what 
they where sure of a hearty welcome from " Uncle 
John." He was a member of the Birch Lake Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, being one of the leading spirits 
engaged in the erection of the church edifice, and his 
house was always open for the benefit of the church 
society. He was, also, a member of the St. Joseph 



Valley Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., to which he had belonged 
for over thirty-five years, being one of the charter 
members, and had filled all the chairs. Mr. Rinehart 
died February 20, 1881, and left a wife and five chil- 
dren. The funeral services were conducted by the 
Rev. W. P. French, paistor of the Birch Lake Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, who preached an eloquent dis- 
course from Exodus, first chapter and sixth verse : 
'• And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that 
generation." The funeral was the largest ever held 
in this part of the country. 

■ Mrs. Rinehart was born March 15, 1821, in Cham- 
paign County, Ohio. They had a family of seven 
children — Caroline J., Lewis W. (deceased), Welling- 
ton C. Elizabeth E., R. Melcinia, Emma 0., and 
Thomas, who died in infancy. Mrs. Rinehart, after 
the decease of her husband, took the sole charge of 
the business, which she managed with consummate 
ability. She is a lady of generous impulses, and a 
worthy counterpart of her husband. She is a member 
of the Baptist Church. 

ABRAHAM RINEHART. 

Abraham Rinehart was born January 5, 1817, in 
Rockingham County, Va., and came to Cass County 
with his father's family. At the age of sixteen, his 
father "gave him his time," and he commenced life 
for himself. Two or three years later, he went to 
Iowa and Illinois. In the latter State he made the 
acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Owen, whom he mar- 
ried in February of 1838. In August following Mrs. 
Rinehart died, they having come back to Cass 
County, and he was again married, in 1843, to 
Miss Hannah E. Denton. They have six children 
living — Clarence Landais, Carlton W., Mary Amelia, 
Carrie E., Annis A. and Myra E. ; five deceased — 
Adaline E., Charles D., Edward L., Harriet D. and 
Abbie A. Mr. Rinehart has lived an ordinary life- 
time in Cass County, and has witnessed its develop- 
ment from a wilderness to one of the best agricultural 
sections in the State, and in his own person, typifies 
many of the agencies that has wrought this great 
change. In his political and religious affiliations, he 
is a Republican and a Baptist. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



Natural Features— Pie-liistoric Eemains— Early Settlements— Orig- 
inal Owners ot the Land— Early Marriages— Civil Organization- 
Civil Officers— Early Statistics— Early Roads— Schools and School- 
houses— Religious Organizations— Cemeteries— Veuice—Biograpli- 



NATURAL FEATURES. 

UPON the northern border of Cass County, west of 
the center, is situated the Township of Wayne. 
The township lines were surveyed by William Brook- 
field in March, 1827, the subdivision lines made by 
John Mullett, Deputy Surveyor, in April, 1830. In 
the survey, this township is designated as Town 5 
south, Range 15 west. It is bounded on the north 
by Hamilton in Van Buren County, east by Volinia, 
south by La Grange and west by Silver Creek. A 
range of hills extending from southwest to northeast 
divides the township into two nearly equal portions. 
The eastern comprises that part lying upon the hills, and 
eastward to the Volinia line is undulating and hilly. 
The western part includes the lower plateau, and con- 
tains a portion of the " Dowagiac swamp," being 
about four miles in length, and from one to two miles 
in width. 

Twin Lakes, the largest body of water in the town- 
ship, lies in Section 16. The most important water- 
course is the North Branch of Dowagiac Creek, which 
enters the township on Section 3, and flows in a south- 
westerly direction, leaving the township at the south- 
west corner of Section 18. It drains Dowagiac swamp. 
Pitcher's Brook, the only stream from the north, comes 
into the township from Van Buren County, flows in 
a southeasterly course through and mingles its waters 
with those of the creek. Barney's Brook, rising in 
a pond north of Twin Lakes, flows northwest. The 
South Branch of the Dowagiac Creek enters the town- 
ship from Volinia, on Section 36, and flows in a south- 
westerly course, into La Grange Township, and from 
that township entering again on Section 33, forming 
Colby's Mill Pond on Section 32, and leaving the 
township on the southeast corner of Section 31. 

The soil of the township varies in localities, but 
consists principally of sand and gravelly loam. The 
land generally produces good crops and amply repays 
the toil of the farmer. The timber on the lower leveli 
which originally was lieavily timbered, consisted of 
ash, beech, ba.sswood, elm, maple, whitewood, black 



walnut, white and yellow oak, with some scattering 
pine. The upper level, or hills, was principally covered 
with oak, hickoi-y and black walnut. 

PRE-HISTORIC. 

Only one mound is known to exist in the township, 
and that is situated on Section 16, on the farm of Mrs. 
E. 0. Taylor, and lies partly on the road near Twin 
Lakes. 

Garden beds have been found on Section 22, about 
eighty rods north of the center, and also on the north- 
east quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 27. 
These have been obliterated by the plow. 

REMAINS OF A MASTODON. 

In June, 1853, the remains of a mastodon were 
discovered by William Griffis on his land. A dam 
across a little brook (which afforded power to a saw- 
mill) was carried off in a freshet, which washed away 
a portion of one of the banks of the stream, and, un- 
dermining an old tree, under the roots of which were 
found the bones of a large animal, consisting of a jaw- 
bone about four feet in length, a tooth which weighed 
some four pounds, a fragment of a tusk about one foot 
long and four inches in diameter, and a rib bone. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settlements in what is now Wayne Town- 
ship were, from all accounts, made in 1833. It is 
difficult to accord precedence to any one, though at 
the present time the location of the Wrights on Sec- 
tion 24 is believed to be prior to that of any other settler. 
Joel C. and Elijah W. Wright, with their f\imilies, 
came from Butler County, Ohio. They settled first 
in La Grange, then moved into Volinia, and finally 
settled in Wayne, on Section 24, on land entered by 
Joel C. Wright. The first election held in the town- 
ship was at his house. Elijah W. Wright possessed 
the first brick-yard. Both fiimilies moved to Mis- 
souri, where Joel C. died. Elijah W. moved after- 
ward to Iowa; his son Milton is living in the northern 
part of La Grange. Jacob Zimmerman, Cornelius Hig- 
gins, Frederick Hurtle, came in nearly at the same 
time with the Wrights, and settled in the eastern part 
of the township. 

Frederick Hurtle and wife, who may be classed 
with the earliest settlers, came from Hamilton County, 
Ohio, in 1833, and settled first on Section 24. He 
lived on his land nearly one year before making this 
entry, which he did March 19, 1834. His wife was 
daughter of Cornelius Higgins. 

Cornelius Higgins, with a large family, left Darke 



•'~» 



imm^ 




JACOB H. ZlfV^ME^KMAN 
JACOB H. ZIMMERMAN. 
A peculiar interest attaches to the life of Jacob H 



Zimmerman, from the fact that he was undoubtedly 
the first settler of Wayne. He was born near Au- 
gusta, Ga., in February of 1800 ; when six years of 
age, his parents removed to Preble County, Ohio, 
where he was reared, and where he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Newton. She was of English descent, 
but was born in Pennsylvania. When a child, her 
parents removed to Preble County, from whence they 
emigrated to Michigan. In 1832, Mr. Zimmerman 
came to Cass County, and settled on Young's Prairie, 
where he remained until his removal to Wayne. In 
the early part of 1833, he took up land, and was 



identified with the development of the township and 
its interests until 1874, when he returned to his old 
home in Ohio, where he is now living, at the advanced 
age of eighty-two years. He reared a family of two 
children — George and Mary Ellen. She was born in 
Preble County in 1830, and was but two years of age 
when the family emigrated to this county. She was 
married in 1852 to Charles G. Hadden, who died in 
1875. She is living on the farm first settled by her 
father. Mr. Zimmerman was a man possessed of 
many admirable qualities. He was a prominent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church, and an exemplary man 
in every respect. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



319 



County, Ohio, to emigrate to Michigan, in the fall of 

1833. He had selected his land in 1882, making a 
location on Section 25. He entered more land in 

1834, so that his farm consisted of some two hundred 
acres. His daughter, Sarah, married Frederick Hur 
tie. The family moved to Iowa about twenty -five 
years ago. 

In 1830, Jacob Zimmerman came to Cass County 
with Hon. James Newton, on a prospecting tour. In 
1831, he came back with George Newton, and raised 
a crop of corn and potatoes on Young's Prairie. In 
1882, he entered land on Section 36, and in 1838 
came with his family and settled on his land. His wife 
dying, he returned to Ohio in 1867, and remained 
there. His daughter, Mrs Mary Hadden, lives on 
the homestead. 

The first entry of land in the township was made 
by Josiah Johnson, June 22, 1831, on Section 35. 
The land was selected by Johnson and his son-in-law, 
George Laporte in 1830, but as the land was not yet 
ready for entry, he left the money and returned to 
Ohio. In October, 1834, Mr. Johnson and two 
daughters, and George Laporte with his wife and three 
children, moved from Harrison County, Ohio. Both 
families camped in their wagons until a log cabin 
could be put up near the banks of Jones' Lake. They 
were assisted in their work by the Indians, a large 
number being in camp in the neighborhood. The 
first clearing was three acres, upon which a crop of 
corn was raised. Mr. and Mrs. Laporte are yet living 
on their farm ; two sons are living in Dowagiac; the 
eldest son is living in Iowa. 

Mr. Laporte's grandfather, George Laporte, came 
from France with Gen. La Fayette, and was a soldier 
in the war of the Revolution, after which he settled 
in Maryland ; from there he emigrated to Ohio, and 
was one of the first settlers of Harrison County. 

William Ferrel, accompanied by his wife and 
three sons, came from Hamilton County, Ohio, in the 
faliof 1834. He entered land on Section 24. They 
stopped a few weeks with Fredrick Hurtle until a log 
cabin could be erected for their comfort and shelter. 
Squire Ferrel was one of the first Justices, and held 
various offices. Of the three sons who came from 
Ohio, William is living on the homestead, Charles on 
Section 35, while Sylvester went to Illinois. Mrs. 
Ferrel is living with her son in Pine Grove. Mr. 
Ferrel died on the farm December 15, 1848. Jacob 
Hurtle is of German parentage, and was born on the 
ocean, during the voyage of his father and mother to 
the United States. The family settled in Hamilton 
County, Ohio, from which place he emigrated with his 
wife and son John to Cass County in 1834. They 
came with an ox team, arriving in Wayne Township 



\ in September. He first located land in Section 23. 
Of eleven children, ten are now living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hurtle moved to Dowagiac in 1873. 

James Kirkwood came from Ayrshire, Scotland. 
Previous to his coming to this State, he lived two years 
in Saratoga County, N. Y., and two years in Portage 
County, Ohio. He entered land October 26, 1835. 
In March, 1836, he began work by clearing his land 
and putting, up a log cabin ; it stood in front of his 
present house, which was built in 1859. 

Abram Weaver with his wife and family came into 
Wayne in 1834, and settled on Section 1. Their son, 
James B. Weaver, was the Greenback candidate for 
President in 1881. The family removed to Iowa 
about 1844. 

Richard V. V. Crane originally came from New 
Jersey; he moved with his wife and family from But- 
ler County, Ohio, and settled on land which he 
entered May 19, 1834. He was prominent in all the 
aSairs of the township, holding the office of Township 
Clerk for twelve years. He was also elected an 
Associate Judge of the County Court. He was one 
of the first Justices of the Peace. About the year 
1856, he removed to Jersey County, 111., with a por- 
tion of his family, where he died January 19, 1875. 

Another settler from Butler County, Ohio, was 
Samuel Squier, he located on Section 35. 

John Shookman came with his wife and family from 
Ohio in 1834 and settled on Section 12, on the farm 
now owned by James Watson, where he remained un- 
til his death. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and was stationed at Fort Meigs. His son, Eleazer, 
a blacksmith by trade, married a daughter of Isaac 
Thompson. He moved into Indiana and there de- 
ceased. David Eck was from Pennsylvania. He 
entered eighty acres on Section 2, in 1834 ; a miller 
by trade. He lived in the township until 1865. 

Obadiah Ourant, the pioneer blacksmith of Wayne, 
brought his family, consisting of his wife and three 
children, from Crawford County, Ohio, in 1836. and 
located on land bought of Albert Warren. He set up 
his forge near the northwest corner of Section 85. 
Mr. Ourant started for California, but died on the 
way in 1850. Mrs. Ourant lived on the farm until 
1868, when she moved to Dowagiac, where she now 
resides. 

Col. Artemus Ellis, wife and family, emigrated from 
Madison County, N. Y., to Geauga County, Ohio, 
and from thence, in 1837, to Cass County, arriving in 
the fall, and settled on land bought of Albert Warren. 
Mrs. Ellis died the next year, and was the first per- 
son interred in the White Burying-Ground. Col. 
Ellis was a soldier in the war of 1812. The family 
went back to Ohio, being discouraged by the sickness 



320 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



which prevailed in the fall of 1838. Those in health 
were in constant demand to care for those who were 
sick. A. C. Ellis, son of the Colonel, resides on Sec- 
tion 31. 

In the spring of 1834, Jesse Greene, with his wife 
and five sons and five daughters, moved to Cass Coun- 
ty, settling first in the woods, within a mile of Young's 
Prairie. While living there, he was busy in making a 
clearing and putting up a house of hewed logs on the 
land which he had entered in 1833, on Section 26. 
Having been a merchant in Ohio, he brought his goods 
to this State, and June 27, 1835, he was licensed as a 
merchant, and paid a tax of $4.81. May 29, 1835, 
he entered eighty acres adjoining his first entry, 
where he built a dwelling house. His death occurred 
very suddenly, he dropping dead from a load of wheat 
while en route with it to St. Joseph. 

The pioneer settler of the lower plateau or western 
part of Wayne was John De Maranville, who came 
with his wife and children from Whitmanville in the 
year 1835. In September, 1834, he entered 160 
acres on Section 17. On this land he built his cabin, 
on the highest bank of Lake Alone. The site of the 
cabin and land now form a part of the farm of H. H. 
Taylor. James P. Wiley was the second settler in 
this part of the town. He came from Huron County, 
Ohio, with his family, in the year 1836, and settled 
on land in Sections 17 and 20. In connection with 
farming, he carried on the coopering business ; he sold 
out in 1865 and removed to Southern Illinois. 

In the latter part of the summer of 1836, Luther 
P. Blood, of Livingston County, N. Y , and Timothy 
B. Colton, of the same county, with Wells H. At- 
wood, under the guidance of John Woolman, Sr., 
found their way into the western part of Wayne ; 
Blood entered 240 acres on Sections 19 and 20, he 
returned to New York, sold out and never returned. 
Colton entered land on Sections 19 and 20. Wells 
H. Atwood, of Middlebury, Genesee Co., N. Y., after 
making a location and entering his land, returned to 
New York for his family, consisting of his wife (Sally 
Kelly) and five children. They arrived August 31, 
1836. That fall and winter he put up his log cabin, 
and inclosed his entire quarter-section with a good 
rail fence. Mr. Atwood continued upon his farm 
until the spring of 1850, when he removed to Dowa- 
giac, where he died in 1866. He was the third set- 
tler in the western part of the township. Early in 
the year 1837, Parley A. Pooler came in from Ohio, 
and took possession of the vacant cabin of De Maran- 
ville. He soon after built his cabin on Section 20, 
adjoining the land of his son-in-law, J. P. Wiley. 
This made the fourth settlement in the neighborhood. 
He died on his farm in 18()6. Mrs. Pooler died at 



I the residence of her daughter in Kalamazoo, Decem- 

j ber 31, 1875, aged eighty-nine years. 

Early in July, 1837, William W. Loomis settled 
upon the southeast corner of the northeast quarter 
of Section 31, now within the corporate limits of the 
city of Dowagiac. He at once began to erect a frame 
house and barn; they were the first frame buildings in 
the township. 

Another pioneer settler and the ninth in the list of 
those who came into the western part of the township, 
was Aaron Cook, from Onondaga County, N. Y. He 
built a log cabin on land which he entered May 26, 

1836. A small lake in the tract on Section 30 bears 
I his name. He died in 1846. 

Julius A. Barney, in company with his brother 
Henry and uncle John Barney, came from New 
i Haven, Huron County, Ohio, into Wayne Township, 
in 1835. In June of that year, he located and entered 
land on Section 10. He and his brother returned to 
Ohio, leaving their uncle who built a log cabin near a 
large spring, on what is now the Hatfield farm. In 

1837, Mr. Barney, in company with his brother 
Henry and brother-in-law, Micajah Ludlow, with their 
families, bid farewell to their old home in Ohio on 

! the 10th day of June, and arrived in Wayne on the 
27th. On arrival, they began living in the log cabin, 
which had been vacated by John Barney on his re- 
I moval to his land in Silver Creek. 

His first work was to clear two and a half acres, 
which, the next spring, was planted to potatoes ; on 
this land he also planted an orchard, having procured 
the trees in South Bend, Ind. He next contracted 
to have fifty acres broken up ; this was put into wheat. 
The crop harvested was threshed out by cattle on a 
hard ground floor. A part of this crop was marketed 
at St. Joseph, in the winter of 1844, at 52 cents 
per bushel. 

Mrs. Barney, who was in poor health, died in the 
! fall of 1837. In 1839, Mr. Barney married a daugh- 
ter of Cyrus Gage. A daughter of this marriage lives 
I in Hamilton, Van Buren County. His second wife 
dying, he subsequently married a lady in Ohio. A 
son and two daughters are living in New Mexico. 

Henry Barney, Jr., accompanied his brother and 
uncle on their prospecting tour in the year 1835. 
October 20 of that year, he entered lands on Sections 
9, 15 and 22. He then returned to Ohio, where he 
remained until June, 1837, when with his wife and 
one son, and, in the company of his brother and 
brother-in-law, set out for their new home. He set- 
tled on his land in Section 15, now owned by Z. A. 
Tyler, where he put up a log cabin, a few rods west 
of the frame house which he erected in 1849. He 
remained on the farm until his death in 1851. His 



I 




J H Nf S . G/A G E 



JvlRS. JOHK S.GAGE. 



JOHN S. GAGE. 

Among the early Bottlers of Wayne, perhaps no one has been more promi- 
nently connected with ila development or haa identified himself more largely 
with its bcBt iiittTeata than John Storm Gage, the immediate subject of this 
biography. He ia a descendant of Thomas Gage, an English sea captain, who' 
with his two brothers, came to this country about the year 1700. Tiiomas settled 
in New England and reared a family of six sons— Eli^ha, Ebenezer, Anthony, 
Closes, George and Mark. The sons settled in the vicinity of southeast Putnam 
County, N.Y. Ebenezer married Miss Grissel Elwell, and reared a family of 
seven children— Chloe, Deborah, Justus, Eli, Jeremiah, Ira and Samuel. Justus, 
thegrandfatherof the subject of this memoir, married Mary Benjamin, by whom 
he had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Cyrus, thei*lder. 
was the frttht-r of John S., and was born in 1784, in Dutchess County, N. Y. 
and married Miss Mahala, daughter of Peter Wilsie, of his native county, where 
Hhe was born September Hi, 1785. They had a family of six children— Peter B., 
Charles C, Justus C, John S., Annis and Caroline M. In 1819, Cyrus and his 
family left the place of their nativity for De Buy ter, Madison County, N.Y.,from 
whence they removed the year following to the town of Scipio, Cayuga County. 
N. Y., where they resided until their removal to Wayne, in September of 1839, 
Thf journey was made with a team and occupied twenty-three days, the family, 
consisting of the parents, John S. and his two sisters. A large portion of Wayne 
was at this time a wilderness, and the last three miles of the journey was made 
by th e aasiatance of a pocket compass. Shortly after their arrival, John started 
for Detroit, where aportion of their household goods had been stored. A journey 
of this kind at the time was no holiday affair, fourteen days being occupipd in 
completing the round trip. The first winter was attended with many privations 
and hardships; the family lived in a log house with a " shake" roof, which was 
80 open that every fall of snow, if attended with a slight wind, would cover the 
upper floor. Mr. Gage relates that it was his custom, on going to bed, to place 
his clothing undi'rnuath it to avoid the necessity of digging them out of the 
snow in the morning. On one occasion his mother's cheeks were so badly 
frosted that the skin peeled ofi*. John received such advantages as were nfTorded 
by the common-school of that day, but completed his education in that other 
school in which the teachers are observation and experience. 

At the age of seventeen he commenced teaching, his first effort being in 
Canoga, Seneca County, N. Y., and among his pupils was Miss Caroline L., 
daughter of John and Esther Ketchum House, whom he married in August of 



1844. Four children had been born to tbetu— Annis A., Cyrus J., Ira B. and 
Ina C, the latter died September 5, 1802. 

Mrs. Gage was born in April of 1821, in Soneca County. After coming to 
Michigan, his services were again required as a teacher, and he taught the firet 
school in what has since been known as the Gage settlement, receiving the very 
moderate compensation of &1 cents por day, and received his pay in the labor 
of his patrons. 

In 1840, he commenced the improvement of his farm, and in January of 
that year cut the first tree; this beginning, however humble in itself has 
been prolific of grand results, and to use a well-worn simile, was the cornerstone 
of his fortune. By industry, perseverance and business acumen he has been able 
to make repeated additions to the little hole in the wilderness until he now owns 
one thousand acres of valuable land; his home farm which is known as the 
"Centennial Bowlder place" is one of the most attractive and beautiful places 
in the township, and is the result of his own industry. The attention of Mr. 
Gage has not been wholly engrossed by his tvgricultural operations. He is among 
those inventors who have given to AnuTiriui fiunirs tli- l.-nofit of patient in- 
vestigation and study in the perfection of ini|>i v. I mfr ^;liuiiil machinery. In 
1860-62, he received letters patent for tbr |,i.il,\ ,<|,l,i,a.a K>.ller Grain Drill 
which has gone into very general use wherL-ver its merits are known. He has 
also taken an active interest in political matters, and has occupied many posi- 
tions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has discharged to the 
satisfaction of his constituents and with credit to himself. Originally a Whig, 
he joined the Free-Soil movement and upon th« formation of the Republican 
party joined its ranks and helped organize the party in Cass County, and was 
their first candidate for the Legislature. 

In 1844, ho succeeded his father ai Supervisor of the township, holding the 
position for two terms. He also served his townsmen as School Inspector for a 
number of years, and officiated as County Superintendent of the Poor for two 
terms. The life of Mr. liage has boon marked but by few incidents, save snch, 
as occur in the lives of most successful business men. Commencing life in a 
new country with only his natural resources as his capital he has conquered 
success in all departments of life and is one of whom the Latin phrase " ^ber 
mce fortutife" is eminently applicable. 

This sketch would not be complete without further mention of the elder 
Gage, who, during his life time, was one of the prominent clti/.-^ns of the town- 
ship ; he was a man highly esteemed for the poMossion of many admirable traits 
of character, an<l his name is prominent among the early settlers of the town- 
ship, where he died in July of 1847. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



321 



wife and youngest son died some three years later. 
Three sons enlisted in the army, going into one of the 
numerous organizations raised in this country. Davis 
M. and Willis died while in the service, and are bur- 
ied in Southern graves. Henry L. was Register of 
Deeds for four years, being first elected in 1873. He 
died on his farm in Silver Creek in 1881. 

Micajah Ludlow came from Plymouth, Huron 
County, Ohio, in June, 1837, and settled on Sectim 
22. This land had been previously located by Henry 
Barney, Jr. He came with his wife, son and daugh- 
ter, and in company with his brothers-in-law, J. A. 
and H. Barney, Jr. His daughter was united in 
marriage with Mr. Chester C. Morton. Mr. Ludlow 
remained on his farm until his death in 1853; Mrs. 
Ludlow died in 18.52. The farm is now owned by C. 
C. Morton. 

During the winter of 1837, Luther P. Blood sold 
to Justus and Ebenezer Gage the 240 acres of land 
which he had located in Wayne Township the sum- 
mer before. They arrived in Cass County on the 3d 
day of June, 1837. They had been informed by 
Jehiel C. Saxton, the County Surveyor, of the gen- 
eral character of the section of country to which they 
were going. The country as presented to their view 
is related as follows : 

" Directly in front of us to the north, from two to 
four miles away, lay the long green belt of low-ground 
timber, now in full leaf (the oak-trees of the lower pla- 
teau not yet leaved out), coming down from the east 
inclosing our little settlement with a semi circular bend 
toward the southwest, in the middle of which winds the 
dark, sluggish waters of the North Branch of the Do- 
wagiac Creek. This belt of low land is about twenty- 
five miles long and from two to four miles wide, and 
was generally known in this part of the State as the 
' Big Da-wa-ga-awk Swamp.' Mr. Atwood offered 
them room in his small cabin until they could build 
one for themselves, and kindly accompanied them back 
to Whitmanville for their families. The three families 
comprised eight adults and seven children, fifteen in 
all, crowded into a log cabin 16x22 feet." 

Justus Gage assisted in establishing the Agricult- 
ural College, and labored hard for its prosperity. He 
assisted in organizing the Cass County Agricultural 
Society, and was one of its first Presidents. He also 
delivered the address before the State Agricultural 
Society in 1852. He was greatly interested in edu- 
cational matters, and held the position of School In- 
spector of Wayne at twelve different times. In 1850, 
he was made Director of the school in Dowagiac, and 
under his management the union school system was 
introduce<l. He took a very active part in founding 
the Universalist Church in Dowagiac, and was one of 



its most efficient and munificent officers, and was a 
licensed preacher of that denomination. He had re- 
tired from his farm and been a resident of Dowagiac 
several years before his death, which occurred January 
21, 1875. 

Joseph Speneer, with his wife and daughter Fran- 
ces, left Madison County, N. Y., September 7, 1837, 
and arrived at what was to be their future home, on 
Section 7, October 16. They came from Detroit with 
teams, coming in by way of Kalamazoo. The first 
cabin of logs was a temporary afiFair, and stood back 
of the present frame dwelling. While engaged in 
erecting his first habitation his family remained a few 
weeks at Keelerville, in Van Buren County. He 
had to get along as best he could in the new settlement, 
and had been stacking his wheat for five or six years 
and threshing it with cattle on a small floor. He 
built a barn in 1843. That winter was very cold, 
with deep snow ; that fall had a good crop of wheat 
in the girdlings. January, 1846, he says : " Produce 
has been low, but we have raised good crops and make 
a slow advance toward a comfortable home." The 
new house was built in 1854. Mr. Spencer not only 
converted wild lands into an excellent farm, but 
erected good and substantial buildings and made 
every improvement necessary to constitute it one of 
the best homes in the township. He died at his 
home on February 27, 1881. Mrs. Spencer is living 
with her son, Edward R., on the homestead. 

Philo B. White came from the town of Caroline, 
Tompkins County, N. Y., and arrived in Michigan 
in June, 1836. He purchased lands from second 
hands on Section 27. Having examined his purchase, 
he returned to New York. He returned with family 
the next year,, and leaving them at Battle Creek, he, 
in company with his brother, proceeded to the land he 
had located. They arrived on the ground on Thurs- 
day, September 8, 1837. The next day they went to 
Mcintosh's saw-mill for lumber to build a plank 
cabin. As there were no roads, the route lay through 
the woods marked by blazed trees. Soon as the lum- 
ber was on the ground and the nails had been bought 
at Whitmanville, at 16 cents a pound, Mr. White, 
being a carpenter by trade, began the building, which 
was of one and a half inch plank, set vertically and 
battened ; the shed roof was of boards and battened. 
The dimensions of the mansion was twelve by twenty 
feet. The window sash was procured of Albert War- 
ren. The fireplace had a clay back and was finished 
out through the roof with a stick chimney. He pai<l 
$5 per thou.sand feet for lumber. He cleared that 
fall by girdling seven acres, which in the spring was 
put into oats and corn. Owing to the sickness pre- 
vailing in the summer and fall of 1838 in nearly 



322 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



every family in the settlement, it was almost impossible 
to harvest any crops. Although extra inducements 
were oflfered, none would accept, and Mr. White was 
compelled to set fire to his field of oats and burn them 
up. Mr. White's services as a carpenter were in 
constant demand ; was a house to be erected or a barn 
to be built, he was the man to do it. After a few 
years, they outgrew the limits of their shanty home, 
and he built a neat and comfortable frame dwelling. 
Mr. White has held the office of Justice of the Peace 
several terms, and has served as Secretary of the 
Cass County Farmers' Insurance Company. He and 
his wife are now residents of the city of Dowagiac, 
having retired from the farm a few years ago. 

Silas A. Pitcher, at the age of twenty-one and 
unmarried, came from Hocking Co., Ohio, to Hamil- 
ton Township, Van Buren County, with his brother- 
in-law, John Cumley. This was in 1836 ; after stay- 
ing a few days he went to Kalamazoo, where he 
worked in a tannery till the spring of 1837, when he 
returned and worked for his brother-in-law. In 1839, 
he and his father came to Wayne Township; here they 
entered land on Section 5, and that fall put up a log 
cabin in which he and his father kept " bachelor's 
hall." In 1861, he sold out and bought the farm ad- 
joining on the west, where he how lives. His father 
continued to reside with him on the farm until 1867, 
when he departed this life at the ripe old age of ninety- 
three years. 

Cyrus B. Gage, a brother of Justus and Ebenezer, 
came from the town of Ledyard, Cayuga County, N. 
Y., in October, 1839, and bought his land from second 
hands. He rented a house and thirteen acres of land 
in the neighborhood till he could build a small frame 
house on his land on Section 21. Mr. and Mrs. Gage 
lived on the farm until their decease in 1847-48. 

John S. Gage and two sisters accompanied their 
parents. He now owns the homestead. One of the 
sisters married Julius A. Barney ; the other is a 
widow and living in California. Mr. Gage now owns 
400 acres in his home farm . 

Andrew Kirkwooil came first from Scotland in the 
year 1832, and went back, but returned in the next 
year, 1883. He and his wife (also from Scotland) 
with two boys came to Michigan from Ohio in 1836, 
and moved into the log cabin built by his brother 
James. Here they lived until June, 1838, when they 
moved to Section 5, and settled on land bought July 
19, 1836. The farm is now owned by Silas A. Pitch- 
er, and Mr. and Mrs. K. are now living in Dowagiac. 

In moving to their new home in north Wayne, in 
June. 1838, he went through near where the present 
road is located, and forded North Dowagiac Creek 
about five rods below where the bridge is now. They 



j cut out the brush in the road and filled up the holes 
to give their cattle good footing, and all passed safely 

j through. 

They have had five sons and one daughter ; the sons 

j and son-in-law were in the army; Alexander, Thomas, 
William and their brother-in-law, Samuel Bell, en- 
listed in the Nineteenth Infantry; John G. was in the 

. Twelfth Infantry; he died of disease at home; Andrew F. 

i enlisted in the Sixth Cavalry, and was killed by Indians 
near Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. 

Thomas M. N. Tinkler came from York, Living- 
ston Co., N. Y., in 1837, on a prospecting tour ; he 
returned, and, in 1839, accompanied by his wife and 
two sons, he set out for the new home that was to be, 
and arrived in Wayne October 25. Here he settled 

j on Section 20, where he purchased land, paying $5 

\ per acre. There was on the land a cabin and about 

I five acres of clearing. When Mr. Tinkler had paid 

; for his land, he had just enough money left to purchase 
provisions for one year and buy a yoke of oxen ; then 
he traded a silver watch for a plow. He has in his 
farm 136 acres. His eldest son, Isaac W., is residing 
in Buchanan; George is living on an adjoining farm ; 

; a daughter, Mrs. John Nash, on a part of the Barney 

' farm. Section 15. 

I The Thompson family came from Darke County, 

I Ohio. Isaac entered land on Section 23, in 1835, 
also in 1836, and later on Section 24. He moved to 
Iowa in 1855. Benjamin, a son of Isaac Thompson, 
settled in 1832, on the banks of Stone Lake. He 
entered land on Section 23, in Wayne, and moved to 
it in 1836. He died in March, 1837, and his widow 
became Mrs. McOmbcr, now living in lUniois. Mr. 
Thompson was in Company A, Nineteenth Michigan 
Infantry. 

Joel Mann, with wife and three children, emigrated 
from Huron County, Ohio, town of Lyme, in 1869. 
He purchased a portion of his farm with present resi- 
dence from Selah Pickett, on what is known as Pick- 
ett's Corners. He also purchased a part of his 
farm from the Widow McOmber. Of six children, 
only three are living. Two sons are on adjoining 
farms. 

Leverett C. Howard came when a boy from Jeft'er- 
son County, N. Y., to White Pigeon, thence to La 
Grange County, Ind., then removing to Dowagiac in 
1851, where he remained two years; thence to Niles, 
after which he settled on Section 23, on the farm he 
now occupies, upon which he built the third brick 
house in the town. He married Clarinda Pickett, a 
daughter of Selah Pickett, a pioneer of 1834, coming 
from Chautauqua County, N. Y., and settling on the 
farm now owned by Joel Mann, at the junction of 
Three Roads, and known as Pickett's Corners. Here 



I 




JOHK &f^EEK. 



^f^S.JOHN GREEfJ. 



JOHN GREEN. 
The subject of this sketch was born in Preble 
County, Ohio, January 12, 1821. He was the eld- 
est son of Je.sse and Charity Green, who reared a 
family of twelve children, five girls and seven boys. 
The elder Green was a native of Wilkes County, Ga., 
where he remained until he was fifteen years of age ; 
his wife was born in North Carolina. John lived in 
Preble County until he was thirteen years of age, at 
which time his father concluded to emigrate to Michi- 
gan. Although in an early day, the journey was not 
marked by any incidents worthy of mention. They 
settled in Wayne on land adjoining the present farm 
of his son, where he resided until his decease. 



John received a limited education, and livud at the 
old home until he was thirty-five years of age, at 
which time he was married to Miss Sarah E., daugh- 
ter of Sylvanus and Amy Reynolds, of Van Buren 
County ; they have been blessed with two children — 
William A. and Jesse, both living at home. 

Mr. Green has always been a farmer, and in his 
chosen calling has been eminently successful ; he owns 
a fine farm of 160 acres under a good state of cultiva- 
tion, and the farm presents many evidences of thrift 
and prosperity. Mr. Green is one of the pioneers of 
Wayne, coming to the county in the early days; he 
has witnessed its development and identified himself 
with its history. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



Mr. Pickett kept a tavern, and was Postmaster. Mr. 
Pickett died at the house of his son-in-law, October 
17, 1872, aged eighty-one years. Mrs. Pickett died 
December 6, 1872, aged seventy-eight years. 

Samuel Hardenbrook, with his wife and three sons 
and three daughters, came from Richland County, 
Ohio, in the year 1836, stopping first, a short time, 
in La Grange, then coming to Wayne and settling on 
land on Section 17. He lived there two years ; then 
moved to St. Joseph County. Mr. Hardenbrook was 
a veteran of the war of 1812. Adolphus, a son, 
moved from La Grange Prairie in 1859 and settled in 
Section 34. He married a daughter of Capt. Isaac 
Shurte. Mr. H. died on his farm in December, 1880. 
The family came originally from Maryland, and moved 
to Ohio in 1825. 

Arthur Graham, with his wife and son, emigrated 
from Scotland in 1835, and settled at New York Mills, 
Oneida Co., N. Y. In 1838, he came to Michigan, 
land looking. He purchased a farm of Jacob Silver. 
August 22, 1839, he came with his family, and occu- 
pied the log cabin belonging to James Kirkwood' 
Their eldest son, James, is in Nevada, engaged in 
mining, being an owner of the Alexander mine. 
Another son, Richard, died in California October 5, 
1880. Mr. Graham is now a resident of Dowagiac. 

Zophar Mott's first location in Michigan was at 
Battle Creek in 1835, where he moved from Tomp- 
kins County, N. Y. He came, with his wife, one son 
and three daughters, to Wayne, in 1838, and settled 
on the farm now owned by William White. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mott both deceased on this farm. 

James Watson, a native of Renfrewshire, Scotland, 
emigrated, with his wife and family, and settled first 
at New York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y. In 1842, 
they moved to Michigan, and settled in Wayne, on 
Section 14. Alexander, a son, lives on the home- 
stead. 

Chester C. Morton was born, in 1822, in the town 
of Pompey, Onondaga County, N. Y. He came to 
this State in 1844, and stopped in Constantine, where 
he was employed in the store and mill of Joseph R. 
Williams. After working here a few months, the 
work in the mill proving detrimental to his health, he 
left and went to St. Joseph, where he was engaged in 
a store and in collecting. Here he remained until 
the winter of 1847, when he came to Wayne and 
taught the school in District No. 4. In the spring, 
commenced farming on eighty acres, which he pur- 
chased, in Section 16. In 1849, he married Mary, 
daughter of Micajah Ludlow, who came from Ohio in 
1837, and settled on the south side of Twin Lakes, 
on Section 22. Mr. Morton pays great attention to 
sheep raising, in which he is successful. He has a 



flock of nearly five hundred. Of seven children, five 
are now living. 

In common with all who came to this region when 
it was new, and worked their way perseveringly to 
wealth and independence, Mr. Morton has seen his 
share of hard trials, reverses and successes, and can 
look back on his life in Michigan with the satisfaction 
that by his own industry he has accomplished so 
great results and created the pleasant surroundings 
of his present home. 

HoUis Bond, accompanied by his wife and sons, 
Josiah C. and Thomas, moved in the year 1833 from 
Livingston County, N. Y., to Scio Township, Wash- 
tenaw County. They lived there until 1853, when 
they moved to Cass County and settled in Wayne, on 
the farm now owned by Alex. Watson. Residing 
there four years, they sold and removed to Section 1, 
on the farm formerly owned by Abram Weaver. Mr. 
Bond died on the farm in May, 1876. Mrs. Bond 
and daughter are living in Dowagiac. Two sons, 
Josiah C. and Franklin, enlisted at the commencement 
of the war in the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, and 
joining Company F. Josiah was killed in the battle 
of Gettysburg, Penn., July 2, 1863. Franklin was 
discharged for disability in 1862, and, on recovery, 
re-enlisted in Company C, Veteran Reserve Corps, 
from which he was mustered out June 26, 1864. 

A sketch of Elias Jewell, who came to Wayne in 

1867, will be found elsewhere. 

O. G. Hunt came to Cass County from Champaign 
County, Ohio, with his father and the family, when a 
boy. They settled first on the east side of Young's 
Prairie on a leased farm ; then they moved to Porter 
ToM'nship, settling on Baldwin's Prairie. In 1852, 
having reached the age of twenty-seven, he concluded 
to go to California, and remained there nine years 
engaged in mining and farming. Having done well, 
and with a desire to see home, he returned to Porter 
and engaged in farming. He finally purchased, in 

1868, the one hundred and twenty acres, which was 
the Ourant farm. 

Wesley Huif, with his wife and family, moved into 
Wayne from Porter in 1869, and settled on the farm 
formerly owned by Julius A. Barney. Mr. Huff 
married, in Volinia, Mary D. Warner; they have had 
nine children. Their eldest son, Isaac, enlisted in the 
First Sharp-Shooters, Company I ; was taken prisoner 
and died in Libby Prison. Eight children are living ; 
a son and daughter are at home. Mr. Huff came 
from Clark County, Ohio, with his parents and settled 
in Volinia in 1834. 

Jonathan M. Jewell came into Wayne from La 
Grange in 1869, and purchased from H. B. Wells a 
small tract of land on Section 28. He owns 120 



324 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



acres on Section 27. In 1872, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lovina Putnam, of New Carlisle, Ind. 
Mr. Jewell came from Butler County, Ohio, in 1839, 
with his father (William W. Jewell) and mother ; they 
settled on the east side of La Grange Prairie, where 
they lived two years, then moved to McKinney's 
Prairie and remained five years, then selling out and 
returning to La Grange Prairie, where he became pos- 
sessed of 240 acres. 

John P. Fiero, born on McKinney's Prairie, mar- 
ried a daughter of Eber Root. Moved from La 
Grange to Wayne in 1876, and settled on the farm 
formerly owned by Israel Ball. The land was first 
entered by Albert Warren. 

Michael Smith and wife (Emma Cummings) settled 
on 120 acres of the farm formerly owned by Jesse 
Green. Willis Cummings, the father of Mrs. Smith, 
enlisted in the Second Michigan Cavalry, was taken 
prisoner and died in a rebel prison. 

Henry B. Wells came into the township of Wayne. 
Here he selected and purchased forty acres of land 
on Section 28. He began working for John S. Gage, 
and was in his employ three years, meanwhile clear- 
ing his land. In 1853, he entered the employ of the 
Michigan Central railroad company, as freight con- 
ductor. In 1854, the railroad company sent him to 
Sault Ste. Marie, where he had charge of some work 
on the canal ; he was on this work nearly a year when 
he returned and resumed his work on the railroad, 
which he followed till 1856, when he was made an 
agent for the purchase of fuel for the railroad. In 
1859, he left the road and settled on his farm. In 
1861, he was selected by the people of his township 
for the office of Supervisor, which he held for six 
years. During the war, he made two journeys to 
Mississippi as agent for Wayne and Silver Creek, to 
fill the quotas of both townships. In 1870, he be- 
came Postmaster of Dowagiac, which position he filled 
nearly three years. 

Although not among the oldest pioneers, Mr. Wells 
has had his share of trials from the inconveniences 
attending a new country, and has contributed his share 
in transforming the country to its present condition. 

Worden Wells, a brother of Hon. H. B. Wells, 
came with his wife from Kalamazoo County in 1855, 
and settled first on Section 15, on land now owned 
by S. L. Julien. He next settled on the farm on 
which he is now living, near Glenwood. He is in the 
employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company 
as fuel and timber inspector. 

Isaac R. Swartout, accompanied by his family, 
came from Cape Vincent, Jeff'erson County, N. Y., in 
1865. They settled in La Grange, on land purchased 
of Humphrey Baugham. In March, 1881, he sold 



out and purchased a farm in Wayne. Mr. Swartout 
was Orderly Sergeant in Battery D, First New York 
Light Artillery. 

The following are the original entries of land em- 
braced in the township of Wayne : 

Section 1. 

Richard V. V. Crane, Butler County, Ohio, May 19, 1834 77 

Abram Weaver, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1834 40 

Stephen Bull, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 23,1835 160 

Abram Weaver, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1835 80 

.John L. Clark, Butler County, Ohio, July 10, 1838 80 

Eli Eck, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 22, 1847 40 

William Griffis, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 19, 1852 40 

John Shookman, Cass County, Mich., April 14, 1852 40 

John Patterson, New York City, July 6, 1852 73 

Section 2. 
Richard V. V. Crane, May 19, 18.54 79 



David Eck, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 25, 1834 80 

Richard V. V.Crane, Dec. 29, 1834.' 40 

Richard V. V. Crane, Dec. 3, 1836 40 

David Eck, Dec. 5, 1830 40 

Peter Dine, .Tan. 7, 183r, 40 

Section 3. 

Thompson Cowham.Cass County, Mich., July 1, 1837 80 



Thompson Cowham, Cass County, 'Mich., Jan. 1, 1838 80 

Daniel C. Squier, Cass County, Mich., March 8, 1852 40 

■ Section 4. 

Jacob Hungerford, Madison County, N. Y., April .3; 1837 83 

Horace Tryon, Madison County, N. Y., April 11,1837 40 



Section 5. 
Andrew Kirkwood, Cass County, Mich., July 19, 



235 



Joseph Van Horn, Van Buren County, Deo. 13, 1836 40 

Jacob Statler, Cass County, Mich., March 10, 1837 46 

Orrin Hungerford, Madison County, N. Y., April 18, 1837... 83 

Orrin Hungerford, April 22, 1837 40 

Frederick Pitcher, Van Buren County, Sept. 12, 1839 40 

Silas A. Pitcher, Van Buren County, Sept. 12, 1839 40 

Silas A. Pitcher, Van Buren County, Oct. 23, 1839 40 

Lothrop Wilson, Van Buren County, Nov. 30, 1841 40 

Section 6. 

Rector York, Berrien County, May 4, 1836 240 

James Dickson, Cass County, Mich., May 10, 1836 228 

Francis Hungerford, Oneida County, N. Y., April 3, 1837 92 

Section 7. 

Rector York, Berrien County, May 7, 1836 80 

James Dickson, Cass County, Mich., May 10, 1836 80 

Sullivan Treat, Cass County, Mich., May 17, 1836 154 

Jacob Statler, Marion County, Ohio, July 21, 1836 80 

Joseph Spencer, Cass County, Mich., Deo. 9, 1837 74 

James T. Finch, Van Buren County, April 25, 1842 40 

Section 8. 

Simon Van Horn, Cass County, Dec. 25, 1837 40 

Section 9. 

Henry Barney, Jr., Huron County, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1835 40 



Henry Barney, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1847 80 

Henry Barney, Jr., Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1848 40 




JAMES KIF^KWOOD, 



MF(S, ISABEL KIRKWOOD. 



JAMES KIKKWOOD. 
James Kirkwood, one of the pioneers of Wayne, 
was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, April 12, 1811. 
His father, Thomas Kirkwood, was a successful farmer, 
and married Jeanette Crawford, by whom he reared a 
family of nine children. James received a common 
school education, and, at the age of seventeen, started 
in life for himself as a farm-hand. On attaining his 
majority, he left the home of his nativity and came to 
the United States. He stopped in the town of Gal- 
way, Saratoga Co., N. Y., for two years, when he 
went to Summit County, Ohio, where he remained 
until his emigration to Cass County, in February of 
1836. He purchased the farm on which he now re- 
sides in the township of Wayne. In 1840, he was 
married to Miss Isabel, daughter of James Brown, 



whose sons, David and William, were the founders of 
the village of Brownsville. Mrs. Kirkwood is a native 
of Ayrshire, where she was born in August 12, 1819. 
She came to Michigan with her family in 1831. They 
reared a family of seven children, only two of whom 
are living — John and Agnes. John resides on the old 
farm ; Agnes married Elmer Hall. The life of Mr. 
Kirkwood, in many respects, is not unlike that of 
most of the early settlers of Cass County. He has 
given his energies to the improvement and cultivation 
of his farm, and the building up of an honorable repu- 
tation. He has identified himself with all the best 
interests of Wayne, and served his fellow-townsmen, 
in many capacities, those of Treasurer and Road Com- 
missioner being the most notable ones. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 10. 

ACRES. 

Austin Bond, Madison County, N. Y., .June 27, 1834 80 

Harry Lansing. Madison County. N. V., June 27, 1834 80 

Julius A. Barney, Huron County, Ohio, June 2T, 1835 80 

Julius A. Barney, Huron County, Ohio, June 2r,, 1835 80 

Rouse Ely, Huron County, Ohio, June 2tj, 1835 40 

John L. Clark, Butler County, Ohio, Dec. 3, 1836 80 

Abner Thompson, Cass County, Mich., June 12, 1837 80 

Julius A. Barney, Cass County, Mich., June, 23, 1838 40 

Section 11. 

John L. Clark, Butler County, Ohio, May 19, 1834 80 

Simon H. Dobler, Butler County, Ohio, Nay 27, 18,3,''> 70 

William Weaver, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1836 80 

Isaac Waldron, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 6, 183(; 80 

Henry Barney, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 1, 1837 80 

Auer Umberfield, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1838 80 

Auer Umberfield, Cass County, Mich, Jan. 10, 1838 40 

Chester C. Morton, Cass Cimnty. Mich., March 3, 1848 40 

Section 12. 

James M. Wright, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1847 40 

John Cays, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 5, 1833 80 

William Huff, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 18, 1833 80 

William Huff, Cass County, Mich, March 1,1834 80 

John Shookman, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 0, 1834 40 

John Shookman, Cass County, Mich., May 20, 1835 40 

Adam Kunkle, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1835 80 

Robert Dine, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. .30, 1835 40 

Stephen Ball, Cass County, Mich., March 7 and 18, 1836 .SO 

John L. Clark, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 11, 1838 40 

John Shookman, Cass County, Mich., April 14, 1852 40 

Section 13. 

William Oriffis, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 15, 1832 40 

.Susannah Griffis, Cass fJounty, Mich., Sept. 1, 1834 40 

Leyi Hall, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1834..... 40 

Charles Hall, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 26, 1835 40 

Charles Hall, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 183G 40 

James Kirkwood, PorUge County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1835 160 

John Shookman, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836 40 

Eleazer Shookman, Cass County, Mich., March 18, 1836 80 

Horace Butler, Cass County, Mich., May 20, 1836 80 

Section 14. 

Daniel Kunkle, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1835 160 

William Tarboss, Cass County, Mich., Xov. 20, 1835 80 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich , May 9, 1836 160 

William G. Straw, Cass County, Mich., May 9, 1836 160 

Horace Butler, Oneida County, N, V., May 20, 1836 80 

Section 15. 

Jame- Hall, Cass County, Mich., April 8, 1835 49 

Rouse Bly, Huron County, Ohio, June 17, 1836 173 

Rouse Bly, Huron County, Ohio, June 26, 1835 80 

Daniel Kunkle, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1835 80 

Henry Barney, Jr., Huron County, Ohio, Oct. 2(i, 1835 80 

Horace Butler, May 20, 1836 80 



Section 16. 



.School Land. 



Section 17. 
John UeMaranville, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 16 & 29, 1 

James P. Wiley, Huron County, Ohio, June 16, 1836 

Goodman & Cresson, Philadelphia, Penn., Oct, 7,1835.. 



Garret Shurte, Berrien County, Mich., March 21, 1837 80 

Gideon Allen, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 13, 1847 40 

Thomas M. N. Tinkler, Cass County, Mich., May 24, 1861 40 

Skction 18. 

Lorenzo Jordan, Cass County, .Mich., Nov. 3, 1845 75 

Catharine CluUom, Butler County, Dec. 6, 1851 120 

Section 19. 

Luther P. Blood, Livingston County, N. Y., May 18, 1836 200 

Timothy B. Colton, Livingston County, N. Y., Dec. 3, 1836... 40 

John S. Gage, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 15, 1847 40 

Archibald Sewell, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 25, 1850 80 

Amasa M. Worden, Berrien County, Feb. 4, 1861 75 

Ebenezer Gage, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 1, 1851 80 

(Catharine Cullom, Butler County, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1851 40 

Section 20. 

James P. Wiley, Huron County, Ohio, June 16, 1836 160 

William Townsend, Cass County, Mich., March 30, 183G 80 

Erastus Ingersoll, Geauga County, Ohio, April 29, 1836 80 

Wells H. Atwood, Geauga County, Ohio, May 18, 1836 160 

Luther P. Blood, Livingston County, N. Y., May 18, 1836 40 

Abijah Pierce, Livingston County, N. Y., May IS, 1836 120 

Section 21. 

Goodman & Cresson, Philadelphia, Penn., Oct. 7, 1836 160 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., May 9, 1836 160 

Sherwood & Beers, New York City, May 12, 1836 320 

Section 22. 

Henry Barney, Jr., Oct. 20, 1836 160 

Abram V. Huff, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 15, 1836 40 

Sherwood& Beers, May 12, 1836 320 

Horace Butler, May 20, 1836 120 

Section 23. 

Jacob Hurtle, Hamilton County, Ohio, July 27, 1836 40 

Isaac Thompson, Sept. 30, 1835 40 

Isaac Thompson, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 7, 1836 40 

Benjamin Thompson, Cass County, Mioh., Jan. 12,1836 40 

Jonathan Smitli, St. Joseph County, Nov. 6, 1836 80 

AdolphusChapin, St. Joseph (bounty, Nov. 9, 1835 IfiO 

Horace Butler, May 21, 1836 80 

Sherwood & Beers, May 12, 1836 160 

Section 24. 

Joel C. Wright, Cass County, Mich., August 13, 1833 80 

Joel C. Wright, Cass County, Mich., March 15, 1834 40 

Joel C. Wright, Cass (bounty, Mich., March 18, 1836 40 

(;ornelius Higgins, March 15, 1834 40 

Elijah W. Wright, March 15, 1834 40 

Frederick Hurtle, Darke County, Ohio, March 19, 1834 40 

William Ferrel, Hamilton County, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1834 .*... 

William Ferrel, Hamilton County, Ohio, July 27, 1836 120 

Horace Butler 80 

Rotnour & Cook 120 

Isaac Thompson 40 

Section 25. 

Cornelius Higgins, Darke County, Ohio, Aug. 27, 1832 80 

Cornelius Higgins, Cass County, Mich., .March 15, 1834 80 

David Huff, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 5, 1833 160 

Adam Gunckel, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1833 80 

Jacob Hurtle, Hamilton County, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1834 4^^ 



326 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHiaAN. 



ACRES. 

wniiam Ferrel, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1836 80 

Isaac Waldron, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1836 80 

Benjamin Sherman, St .Joseph County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837.. 40 

Section 26. 

Jesse Green, Preble County, Ohio, Aug. lo, 1838 160 

.Tesse Green, Cass County, Mich., May 29, 1835 80 

Albert Warren, Cass County, Mich., May 27, 1836 160 

John S. Hopkins, Tompkins County, X. Y., July 13, 1836 120 

Sarah B. .Stone, Norfolk, July 16, 1836 120 

Section 27. 

Sherwood & Beers, New York City, May 12, 1836 320 

Johns. Hopkins, July 13, 1836 320 

Section 28. 

Henry Gee, Cass County, Mich., July 1, 1834 80 

Sherwood & Bsers, New York, May 12, 1836 320 

Horace Butler, May 20, 1836 80 

Alex. H. Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1836 160 

Section 29. 
Samuel R. Henderson, Washington County, N. Y., Aug. 6, 

1835 160 

Goodman & Cresson, Philadelphia, Penn., Oct. 7, 1835 320 

Wells H. Atwood, Genesee County, N. Y., May 18, 1836 80 

William R. Hall, Niagara County, N. Y., May 18, 1836 80 

Sectio.n 30. 

George Goodman, Philadelphia, Penn., Oct. 7, 1830 40 

William R. Hall, May 18, 1836 80 

Cook & Rotnour, May 2(1, 1836 254 

William W. Loomis, Cass County, Mich., April 25, 1837 160 

Sophie Dufoe, Cass County, Mich., June 23, 1841 76 

Section 31. 

James Thompson, Washington County, N. Y., Aug. 6, 1835... 80 

Ebenezer Broughton, Washington County, N. Y., Aug. 6, 1835. 80 

George Goodman, Oct. 7, 1835 40 

James Devoe, Berrien County, Mich., Not. 25, 1835 154 

.Tames Husted, Cass County, Mich., April 23, 1836 75 

Nancy Ann Loomis, Berrien County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837.... 80 

William W. Loomis, St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837. 80 

Phebe Loomis, St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 3(1, 1837 40 

Section 32. 

Samuel R. Henderson, Aug. 6, 1835 liiO 

Lyman A. Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., April 21, 1836... 80 
Lyman A. Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., May 10, 1836.... 240 
Horace Butler, May 10, 1836 160 

Section 33. 

Dennis Wright, Cass County, Mich., June 23, 1831 80 

Horace Butler, Oneida County, N. Y., May 20, 1831 160 

Silas Baldwin, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1836 160 

Erastus Trumbull, Jackson County, Mich., March 27, 1837.... 160 

Samuel R. Henderson, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 2, 1837 80 

Section 34. 

John Lamm, Preble County, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1833 320 

Charles Ellis, Cass County, Ohio, July 20, 1836 80 

John Smith, Cass County, Ohio, July 20, 1836 80 

Zopha.- Mott, Calhoun County, Mich., Jan. 30, 1837 80 

Isaac S. Bull, Cass County, Mich., April 12, 1845 40 

Samuel K. Henderson, Cass County, Mich.. March 18, 1837.. 40 



Section 35. 

AOEES. 

Josiah Johnson, Harrison County, Ohio, June 22, 1831 160 

Samuel Squier, Butler County, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1833 80 

Samuel Squier, Butler County, Ohio, March 1. 1834 80 

John Tucker, Hamilton County, Ohio, July 27, 1835 80 

Albert Warren, Cass Connty, Mich., May 27, 1836 160 

Myron Strong, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 80 

Horace B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 80 

Section 36. 

Jacob Zimmerman, Cass County, Mich., March 23, 1832 160 

Jacob Zimmerman, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 5, 1835 40 

John Fox, Montgomery County, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1834 120 

John Fox, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 25, 1835 40 

James Tyler, Cayuga County. N. Y., May 14, 1836 160 

Benj. Sherman, St, Joseph County, May 14, 1836 80 

Benj. Sherman, St. Joseph County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837 40 

As nearly as it is possible to ascertain, the first 
marriage was that in which Elijah W. Wright and 
Mary Johnson were the contracting parties, and 
August 11, 1836, the date of the wedding. The next 
took place November 20, 1836, between Isaac Huft' 
and Mary Shookman. Then Joseph Crane and Elsie 
Tietsort, March 2, 1837. After them came Abram 
Huff and Mary Green, December 12, 1837 and, 
two days later, December 14, 1837, George Newton 
and Esther Green ; William Ferrel, Esq., officiated at 
all the weddings. Thus even in the midst of the stern 
realities of pioneer life, it will be seen that Cupid was 
at work. 

Perhaps the first adult who died in Wayne, was 
Mrs. Elijah W. Wright, whose death occurred in 
March, 1835. 

CIVIL ORGANIZATION. 

The name of Wayne was suggested by Cornelius 
Higgins, who was an admirer of Maj. Gen. Anthony 
Wayne. He was a distinguished officer in the Revo- 
lutionary war, a man of unparalleled bravery and 
led the forlorn hope in the attack upon Stony Point. 
His decisive victories over the hostile Indians of the 
West and Northwest, and the treaty of Greenville in 
1795 put an end to all existing Indian disturbances. 
From the organization of the county, in 1829, up to 
the year 1835, this township was included within the 
limits of the township of La Grange. An act of the 
Territorial Legislature, approved March 17, 1835, set 
it off as a separate township. The first township 
meeting was held at the house of Elijah W. Wright, 
on the 6th day of April, 1S35. 

The principal officers of the township from 1835 to 
1881, inclusive are given in the following list : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1835-36, Cornelius Higgins; 1837-38, Abraham 
Weaver; 1839-40-41, County Commissioners; 1842, 
Abram Weaver; 1843, Cj'rus Gage; 1844-45, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



327 



John S. Gage; 1846, Joel C. Wright; 1847-48, 
Ebenezer Gage ; 1849-50, William G. Wiley ; 1851- 
52-53, M. V. Hunter; 1854, John W. Trotter; 
1855-56, Ebenezer Gage; 1857-58-59, Sylvanua 
Henderson; 1860-61-62-63-64-65, Henry B. 
Wells; 1866-67-68-69, Israel Ball: 1870, William 
0. Van Hise ; 1871, Francis 0. Van Antwerp ; 1872, 
Samuel Johnson; 1873, Hiram H. Taylor; 1874, 
Henry B. Wells; 1875-76, Samuel Johnson; 1877, 
Wesley Ely; 1878, Thaddeus Hampton; 1879, Frank 
P. Lee: 18S0, Hiram Nowlin : 18S1, Henry B. 
Wells. 

CLERKS. 

1835-36-37-38-39, Richard V. V. Crane ; 1840- 
41, S. B. Clark ; 1842-43, R. V. V. Crane ; 1844, 
Joseph Crane ; 1845, P. B. Gage ; 1846, Julius A. 
Barney; 1847-48-49-50-51, R. V. V. Crane; 1852, 
William H. Hall ; 1853, J. J. Blauvelt ; 1854, Will- 
iam G. Wiley; 1855, A. S. Haskins ; 1856, Arthur 
Graham; 1857, L. C. Howard; 1S58, A. Graham; 
1859-60, Asa Huntington ; 1861-62, Jacob Sturr ; 
1863, M. S. Cobb ; 1864-65, A. Huntington ; 1866, 
L. C. Howard; 1867-68-69-70-71, Samuel John- 
son; 1872-73-74-75-76, Charles H. Bigelow ; 
1878, Ward H. Taylor ; 1879-80, John P. Fiero ; 
1881, Frank Atwood. 

TREASURERS. 

1835, Elijah W. Wright ; 1836, Joseph Crane ; 
1837-38, Joel C. Wright ; 1839, Abram Weaver ; 
1840-41, Henry Barney, Jr.; 1842, William G. Wi- 
ley ; 1843, S. B. Cla/k ; 1844, Wells H. Atwood ; 
1845-46, William Ferrel ; 1847, D. M. Heazlet ; 
1848, Micajah Ludlow ; 1849, D. M. Heazlet ; 1850, 
Philo B. White; 1851-52-53-54-55-56, .James 
Kirkwood; 1857-58, Homer Wells; 1859, Henry B. 
Wells; 1860, Thomas N. M. Tinkler; 1861, James 
Kirkwood ; 1862, G. S. Bassett ; 1863, Henry C. 
Allen; 1864, Willard Wells; 1865, W. Wells, Jr. ; 
1866, G. W. Amsden ; 1867-68, P. B. White ; 1869, 
Robert Carr; 1870, Orson H. Butrick; 1871, John 
Crawford ; 1872, Alexander H. Mason ; 1873-74- 
75-76, Wesley Ely; 1877, George W. Tinkler; 
1879-80, George W. Hunter : 1881, Theo. P. Bond. 

EARLY STATISTICS. 

The assessment roll for the year 1836 contained 
the names of twenty -four resident tax -payers. The 
number of acres owned and value, and the number 
and kind of live stock, with values, are shown in the 
following statement : 

Richard V. V. Crane, 197 acres, $266 ; 2 horses, 
$80 ; 4 head of cattle, $58 ; 4 swine, $8. Total, $412. 
Tax, $4.12. 



David Eck, 80 acres, $105 ; 1 cow, $10 : 4 swine, 
$8. Total, $123. Tax, $1.26. 

Abram Weaver, 40 acres. $58 ; 2 head cattle, $14 ; 
1 hog, $2. Total, $72. Tax, $0.72. 

Stephen Ball, 240 acres, $3.05 ; 5 horses, $170 ; 

5 head of cattle, $67 ; 8 swine, $16. Total, $538. 
Tax, $5.38. 

John Shookman, 80 acres, $100 ; 2 horses, $80 ; 
4 head of cattle, $30 ; 4 swine, $8. Total, $223. 
Tax, $2.23. 

Eleazer Shookman, 80 acres, $100 ; 2 horses, $100. 
Total, $200. Tax, $2. 

Elijah Wright, 80 acres, $125 ; 1 horse, $40 ; 2 
cows, $20; 14 swine, $14. Total, $199. Tax, $199. 

William Ferrel, 120 acres, $160 ; 2 horses, $75; 2 
j 2 oxen, $90 ; 2 swine, $2. Total, $327. Tax, $3.27. 

Frederick Hurtle, 40 acres, $55 ; 3 head of cattle, 
$35 ; 7 swine, $7. Total, $97. Tax, $0.99. 
! Isaac Thompson, 120 acres, $160 ; 1 horse, $35; 11 
head of cattle, $120; 6 swine, $12. Total, $327. 
Tax, $3.27. 

Benjamin Thompson, 40 acres, $55 ; 1 cow, $10 ; 
4 swine, $5. Total, $70. Tax, $0.70. 

John Cayse, 2 head of cattle, $30 ; 5 swine, $8. 
Total, $38. Tax, $0.38. 

John De Maranville, 160 acres, $225; 4 head of 
cattle, $60 ; 1 hog, $3. Total, $288. Tax, $2.88. 

James Kirkwood, 160 acres, $200 ; 4 head of cattle, 
$100. Total, $300. Tax, $3. 

Joel C. Wright, 120 acres, $175 ; 1 horse, $50 ; 5 
head of cattle, $34 ; 10 swine, $20. Total, $279. 
Tax, $2.79. 

Abraham Huff, 40 acres, $50 ; 1 hog. $3. Total. 
$53. Tax, $0.53. 

Joseph Van Sickle, 40 acres, $53. Total $53. 
Tax, $0.53. 

Cornelius Higgins, 200 acres, $275 ; 4 horses, $170 ; 
7 head of cattle, $104 ; 16 swine. $16. Total. $565. 
I Tax, $5.65. 

j Jacob Hurtle, 80 acres, $100 ; 1 horse, $25 ; 2 head 
! of cattle, $25; 2 swine, $2. Total, $162. Tax, 
\ $1.62. 

Jesse Green, 240 acres, $825 ; 3 horses, $90 ; 14 
head of cattle, $106; 3 swine, $3. Total, $524. 
Tax, $5.24. 

Josiah Johnson, 160 acres, $208 ; 2 head of cattle, 
$35; 7 hogs, $10. Total, $253. Tax, $2.53. 

Jacob Zimmerman, 200 acres, $276 ; 1 horse, $30 ; 

6 head of cattle, $56; 7 swine, $14. Total, $370. 
Tax, $3.70. 

Dennis Wright,* 80 acres, $1,000 ; 1 horse, $40 ; 
3 head of cattle, $50; 1 hog, $1. Total, $1,011. 
Tax, $10.11. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



George Laporte, 5 head of cattle, $58 ; 6 swine, 
$12. Total, $70. Tax, $0.70. 

EARLY ROADS. 

The first highways remembered by the oldest set- 
tler in Wayne were the trails used by the Indians in 
their migrations to various points in the State. The 
Indians rarely diverged from a straight line in follow- 
ing these trails, and always traveled in single file. 
The paths were so worn by constant use as to produce 
in some localities depressions more than twelve inches | 
in depth. The most important trail passed through 
the township from the southwest to the northeast, and 
was called the " Sac Trail." The line of this trail 
was very nearly followed by the State road from Niles 
to Kalamazoo, making Twin Lakes, on Section 16 
west, at Henry Barney's, a point in the line. The 
act authorizing this road was approved February 16, 
1838. This road has been straightened through some 
of the sections, but retains a portion of its original 
route. The Pokagon & Little Prairie Ronde road 
passes through the township in about the same course 
as originally laid from Section 31, to Pickett's Cor- 
ners, between Sections 22 and 23, thence east into 
Volinia. 

It was with much difficulty that good roads were 
constructed in certain localities in the township. The 
yielding nature of the soil made it necessary to cordu- 
roy the highways in many places, by which means 
they have been made not only passable, but in most 
instances they are in good condition. This is espe- 
cially true of the road across Dowagiac Swamp, where 
the settlers thought it impossible to build one. 

Previous to 1887, the road to St. Joseph, then the 
market or important outlet for this part of the State, 
was through Pokagon Township, thence by Berrien 
Springs, or by a still more devious route, through Lit- 
tle Prairie Ronde to Paw Paw, where the road inter- 
sected the Territorial road, thus making ten or fifteen 
miles more travel than by a direct route across the 
swamp into Silver Creek, and thence direct to St. 
Joseph. As early as June, 1835, a committee was 
appointed to examine and report upon two routes. 
The committee appointed from Volinia was Jacob 
Morland, Jacob Charles, Jonathan Gard and James 
Newton ; from Wayne, Elijah W. and Joel C. Wright 
and William Ferrel. After two attempts by the com- 
mittee at making a crossing, the matter rested until 
the spring of 1837, when a survey was made by John 
Woolman, Sr., under the direction of John Barney, a 
pioneer of Silver Creek, and others. 

The Overseer of Highways, in opening the road, 
made some changes in the line of survey, and the 
road was finally established by common consent. Jo- 



seph Crane, Elijah W. Wright and Albert Warren 
were Highway Commissioners at the time of the sur- 
vey. The township had been divided into three 
road districts ; Nos. 1 and 2 comprised the eastern 
half, and No. 3 the western half, of which Abram 
V. Tietsort was the Overseer. In July, the in- 
habitants were warned out to work on the newly- 
laid road. Owing to the efforts of John Barney, the 
causeway was finished and the river bridged. The 
high water in the river in the spring of 1838, made 
the bridge and causeway impassable, but that summer 
the road was repaired, a new bridge built, and the 
road was once more in a passable condition for wagons, 
if not heavily loaded. The County Commissioners 
granted $50 toward the bridge, and the next year, 
1839, authorized a tax of $100 to be laid on Silver 
Creek, Wayne and Volinia, to further improve the 
road. The completion of the Michigan Central Rail- 
road, in 1848, diverted the trade from St. Joseph to 
the newly-created towns of Lawton, Decatur and 
Dowagiac. Three other roads were opened across the 
swamp, and the first road then became an ordinary 
township road. 

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES. 

Considerable interest was manifested in educational 
matters by the pioneei's. The first schoolhouse in 
the township of Wayne, usually called the Higgins 
Schoolhouse, was built in the fall of 1835, by the 
voluntary and united efforts of the early settlers living 
on either side of the line between the townships of 
Wayne and and Volinia, and was located on or near 
the northeast corner of Section 24. This schoolhouse 
was a rude structure of logs, with an open fire-place 
on one side, capable of containing any quantity of 
wood. The desks were simply a shelf made of boards 
fastened to the walls, with a slight inclination from 
the back to the front ; they occupied two sides of the 
room. The seats were of slabs, supported by stakes, 
upon which the scholars could sit, facing either way, 
as there were no backs. Hon. George Newton, of 
Volinia, was the first teacher, in the winter of 1835- 
36. He promised to teach the school if a schoolhouse 
could be built. The second teacher was a Mr. Hop- 
kinson, in the winter of 1836-37. Mr. William Rig- 
gins was the third teacher, in the winter of 1837-38. 
The fourth teacher was Justus Gage, in the winter of 
1838-39. The township election for 1838 was held 
April 2, at which time the first School Inspectors 
were elected. They met on the 11th of April and or- 
ganized by electing Justus Gage, Chairman, and R. 
V. Crane, Township Clerk, Clerk ex officio. They 
then proceeded to divide the township into nine school 
districts. About 1840, a school was opened in an old 




f i- -'Si 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cooper shop belonging to James P. Wiley. John S. 
Gage was the first teacher, for which he received a 
salary of five shillings per day, board not included. 
Mr. Gage did not receive any money, but each per- 
son in the district, liable to pay a tax, worked it out 
on Mr. Gage's land, by which he was enabled to break 
up about ten acres. The second teacher was a Mr. 
Stephen Crow, who taught in the same building for 
about the same salary, board included. He was fol- 
lowed by Miss Caroline Gage, afterward Mrs. Treat. 
Her school room was in the old log house of Mr. 
Wiley, he having moved " out of the old house into 
the new." 

At the annual meeting of the District No. — , in the 
fall of 1842, measures were taken for building a school- 
house of hewn logs and covered with a good shingle 
roof; it was situated in Section 21. The school room 
was finished similar to the Higgins' Schoolhouse, ex- 
cept that it was warmed with a stove instead of a fire- 
place, which improvement gave another side for 
desks and seats. Miss Sarah Cook was the first teach- 
er in the new building, in the winter of 1842-43, fol- 
lowed by Marshall Hathaway, in the winter of 1844- \ 
45 ; then by Mr. C. C. Morton, in the winter of 1846 ' 
-47. i 

Three districts made reports in 1842, showing 
the books in use to be : DaboU's Arithmetic, Olney's 
and Woodbridge's Geographies, Murray's English 
Reader, Cobb's Juvenile Reader, and Cobb's and Web- 
ster's Spelling Books, Kirkham's Grammar, and Hales 
History of the United States. 

The Glenwood Schoolhouse, in District No. 2, 
challenges admiration. It was erected in 1880, at a 
cost of $1,100. The Gage Schoolhouse, situated in a 
beautiful grove on the east line of Section 20, is a i 
credit to District No. 4, on account of its size, comfort I 
and convenience. In fact the township is well sup- ' 
plied with school facilities, which redounds to its 
credit. 

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. i 

There were among the early settlers people of dif- 
ferent denominations, but the most friendly feelings 
existed between them, and the desire to enjoy the 
privileges of religious worship was above all denomi- 
national preference, and we find that their first meet- 
ings were held in common in the cabins of the settlers 
and at the Higgins Schoolhouse. 

The first missionaries " to go up and possess the 
land," in 1837, were two Free-Will Baptist preachers 
named Neely and Julian. 

Rev. Samuel L. Julian was a regular member of 
the Free-Will Baptist Church in Brookfield, N. H., 
and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel Novem- 
ber 6, 1833. 



Rev. Benjamin F. Neely was a member of the Free- 
Will Baptist Church in Montpelier, Vt., and was or- 
dained at Lisbon, N. H., June 14, 1835. 

The first Methodist class was organized about 1839, 
by Rev. H. Van Order, with Charles Hull as class 
leader. 

Among the members of this class were Charles 
Hull and wife, John Shookman and wife, Jacob Zim- 
merman and wife, Isaac Waldron and wife, Levi Hull 
and wife, Peter Tietsort and wife, Isaac Thompson, 
William Ferrel, Arthur Graham and William Kirk- 
wood. 

The first building erected by this society as a house 
of worship, was a plain unpainted frame structure. 
After being in service about twenty-eight years it 
was sold. 

Their present house of worship erected in 1872, at 
a cost of $2,400, is a commodious symmetrical frame 
building, thirty by forty feet, with a tower ten by ten 
feet, in which is the vestibule ; the tower is sur- 
mounted by a spire and contains an excellent bell, pre- 
sented by Mr. Woodward, of New York City. This 
society was first incorporated September 15, 1860. 
The following persons were appointed as trustees of 
the M. E. Church at Wayne, called the " Wayne 
Chapel." Joseph Sturr, Henry Palmer, Ezra Knapp, 
Jacob Sturr and A. G. HoUenbeck. It is included 
in the Cassopolis Circuit, with Rev. E. L. Kellogg 
preacher in charge. 

The pastors of Wayne Chapel have been Van Order, 
Jones, Shaw, Jakeways, Watson and Young. The 
pastor now in charge is Rev. W. L. Mathews. A 
Sabbath school is connected with the church; Clarence 
Churchill is its present Superintendent. 

In December, 1839, Rev. Henry Worthington was 
appointed to the Paw Paw charge. He was a mere 
boy, not yet of age, but gifted with unusual ability. 
He came into the neighborhood as a missionary ; his 
route extended to St. Joseph ; his journey was made 
by horseback. His first meeting at which the class 
was formed was held in a log schoolhouse in Silver 
Creek, situated on what is now the Godfrey farm. 
Joseph Spencer was chosen the first class-leader, and 
continued to be leader nearly twenty years. The 
preacher's appointments were for every two weeks, 
and meetings were held in schoolhouse, cabin, or any 
place where " two or three are gathered together." 
The society removed to Wayne in 1844, meetings 
being held in a log schoolhouse, situated about 
eighty rods east of where the church edifice now 
stands. 

During Rev. Goodwell's ministry, there was a 

revival in the log schoolhouse, at which time a large 
number joined the society. Rev. Joseph Jones held 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



a series of meetings in the winter of 1860-61, at 
which time more members were added. About this 
time the question of building a church was agitated, 
and subscripcion papers were circulated for the pur- 
pose of raising the necessary funds. The legal incor- 
poration of the society was consummated in 1861, as 
follows : Joseph Jones, preacher in charge, appoint- 
ing Daniel Mott, Joseph Spencer, Freeman Spencer, 
Daniel Roe Mott, Joseph Mott, Silas Pitcher, Wells 
Carver, Sanford Wheelock and Samuel Filkins a 
Board of Trustees. At a subsequent meeting the fol- 
lowing persons were appointed a Building Committee : 
Joseph Mott, Joseph Spencer, D. R. .Mott and 
Andrew Kirkwood. When the spring opened, work 
on the church was commenced and in the fall a 
neat frame building was completed, at a cost of 
$2,000, all of which was promised at the day of dedi- 
cation. 

Among those who have been pastors of the church 
are the following : Rev. Robert Watson, Rev. Thomas 

McCool, Rev. Goodwell, Rev. James Robinson, 

Rev. Joseph Jones, Rev. J. I. Buell, Rev. George 

Hoag, Rev. Miller, Rev. J. M. Richards. Rev. 

George A. Buell is the present minister. 

In consequence of removals and deaths, the mem- 
bership has fallen off from sixty in 1861, to twenty- 
five in 1881. 

A Sabbath school has been maintained since the . 
organization. The Superintendents have bten Joseph 
Spencer, Daniel R. Mott, and the present Superinten- 
dent is Mrs. Melissa Kirkwood. 

In March, 1874, the people of Glenwood and vicin- 
ity met and organized a church society with the fol- 
lowing persons as members: Craigie Sharp, Oscar F. 
Hall and wife, W. Huff and wife, John Burns and 
wife, Clinton Huff and wife, J. B. Laylin and wife, 
Charles Laylin and wife, Alfred Turner and wife, 
Abner Townsend and wife, John Andrews and wife, 
M. D. L. McKeyes and wife, Mrs. Eben Copley, 
Charles and Napoleon Copley and Catharine Wells. 
The incorporation of the society was at a later date, 
as follows : 

At a meeting of the "Church of Christ," held at 
Glenwood, September 29, 1874, the following per- 
sons were chosen Trustees of the church : Oscar F. 
Hall, Alfred H. Turner, Craigie Sharp, Josiah B. 
Laylin, John W. Burns and M. D. L. McKeyes. 

The society have a house of worship which was 
erected and inclosed by Craigie Sharp ; the interior 
work and finish was done by the society. 

A Sunday school is connected with the church, of 
which Charles B. Laylin is Superintendent. 

The pastors of this church have been Revs. Will- 
iam M. Roe, Myron B. Rawson and Henry Sigerfoos. 



CEMETERIES. 

"A little spot is all they now require 
For their last resting place. There the green turf 
May grow, and flowers may bloom, and sun and rain 
.May come, hut they will ne'er have thought or care 
For them again. A stone, a single stone, 
Will tell their humble names to passers-by ; 
But their best monuments will ever be 
Engraven on the hearts of those who knew. 
Nor yet knew half their worth till they were gone." 

There are four burial-places in the township. That 
in the northern part of the town on Section 4, is 
known as the Wilson Cemetery, and comprises about 
a half acre of ground. The Gage Cemetery is 
situated near the center of Section 20, and contains 
two acres of land given by Justus Gage for this 
purpose. The first person buried here was Mrs. 
Hungerford. A small burial-place is connected with 
the Wayne Chapel, in the eastern part of the town on 
Section 24. There is a small burying-ground on Sec- 
tion 26, the land for which was given by Philo B. 
White. The first interment was that of the wife of 
Col. Artemas Ellis. 

Venice — not the city of the sea with its canals, 
gondolas and the Bridge of Sighs — but a paper town 
laid out and on the banks of the South Dowagiae 
Creek, and the only sighs were probably those of the 
owner at his failure to found a city. This paper city 
was brought into existence August 6, 1836, by Or- 
lando Crane, proprietor. It was situated in the south- 
west part of the township, where Dowagiae now stands. 
It occupied the whole southwest quarter of Section 31, 
and contained 538 lots; each lot was 4x8 rods. There 
were two public squares, each sixteen rods square. 
Front, Broad and Main streets were to be six rods 
wide; Second. Fourth, Fifth, Cedar, Franklin, 
Washington, Pearl and Walnut streets were four rods 
in width. 

The building of a steam saw-mill in 1855, by 
Worden k Foster, at Tietsort's Side-Track, was the 
beginning of a hamlet and post office, called Model 
City, which name was retained till 1874, when it was 
changed to Glenwood. 

Tietsort's, on the Michigan Central Railroad, was 
known in the early days of the railroad as a side tract, 
then as a signal station, and later, as a regular station 
for passengers and freight. A post office was estab- 
lished here, known as Model City Post Office. In 
1874, Craigie Sharp, Jr., and Thaddeus Hampton, of 
Wayne, and Edwin Barnum, of Paw Paw, laid out and 
platted at this point the village of Glenwood. It con- 
tains one general store, one saw-mill, two blacksmith 
shops, about twenty houses with a population of not 
far from 100, also a church of the denomination called 




r.e:side:K:'e OF THE l^te e c. ta/ lor, v/ayne , mich- 



History of cass county, Michigan. 



331 



Disciples. It is the only village wholly within the 
township. 

The Wright saw-mill, located about two miles east 
of Dowagiac, on the South Branch of the Dowagiac 
Creek, was the first mill of any description in the 
township of Wayne. It was built by Dennis Wright, 
in 1834, on land bought of Government in 1831, and 
located on Section 33. It changed hands several 
times, and only stood about fifteen years. 

Brick-making was commenced by Elijah W. and 
Joel C. Wright, about two years after they came into 
the township, on the east end of the south half of the 
northeast quarter of Section 24. They only continued 
in this business about three years. 

The first person to commence the business of mer- 
chandising in Wayne was Jesse Green. He was 
licensed as a merchant July 27, 1835 ; his store was 
in a log building adjoining his log cabin. He did not 
continue long in the business. 

The first public house in the township was that 

which was opened by McOmber, about 1836, 

in his house, which stood on the line between Wayne 
and Silver Creek, and now included in the corporate 
limits of Dowagiac. Calvin Hale kept a tavern about 
1840, on what is now the Evans farm, about half a 
mile east of Pickett's Corner. A man named Van 
Vranken succeeded Hale. Selah Pickett raised the 
sign of a public house on his corners, and also had 
the post office. A man named Hatch kept tavern in 
same stand. 

The first post office was established in Wayne about 
1839-40. It was kept at the house of Justus Gage, 
he being the only Postmaster until the ofiice was dis- 
continued. Selah Pickett was Postmaster at Pickett's 
Corners until it was removed two miles east and kept 
in Volinia. When Model City Post Office was estab- 
lished the first Postmaster was Amasa Worden ; next 
Worden Wells, and succeeding him was Henry Crego. 
When the name was changed to Glenwood, Craigie 

became Postmaster, then Burns. Thaddeus 

Hampton is the present Postmaster. 

The first tannery was started in 1839, by S. B. 
& J. Clark, on a little brook on the west half of the 
northwest quarter of Section 11. The business was 
carried on about twenty-five years and then discon- 
tinued. 

George May, the owner of a large tract of timber 
land situated about three miles west of Tietsort's Sta- 
tion, began getting out timber for the erection of a 
steam saw-mill at the station. While this work was 
going on he conceived the idea of building a railroad to 
transport logs from his land to the saw-mill. Acting 
upon his idea, he began work on the west end by get- 
ting out and laying down ties, upon which were fas- 



tened wooden rails for the car to run on. After com- 
pleting a small portion of the road, he put a car upon 
the track to carry the ties and rails as the work pro- 
gressed. About two miles of this road was built, and 
then work ceased for want of funds. The saw-mill 
was not completed for the same reason. 

Craigie Sharp afterward built a plank road over 
the same route. 



BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

J08EPH SPENCEK. 
Joseph Spencer, one of the pioneers of Wayne, 
was born in Madison County, N. Y., August 27, 1811. 
His parents, Jacob and Anna Spencer, reared a fam- 
ily of ten children. He received an ordinary com- 
mon school education, and in 1836 was married to 
Miss Laura Foster, of his native county. The fol- 
lowing year he emigrated to Michigan with his family, 
which consisted of his wife and one child, and settled 
on the farm now occupied by his son Edward R., a 
view of which is presented on another page. He re- 
sided on this farm until his decease, which occurred 
in February of 1881. He was a man of unquestioned 
integrity, and possessed of more than an ordinary 
amount of perseverance and industry. He detested 
simulation, and was a man of strong convictions. He 
had a heart full of sympathy for the weak and op- 
pressed, and his benevolence was proverbial ; an Aboli- 
tionist of the old school, he did much in the anti-slavery 
cause in its early days, when the name was a reproach. 
He was one of the founders of the North Wayne M. 
E. Church, and was one of its prominent members 
until his decease. He reared a family of five chil- 
dren — Francis, now Mrs. Hungerford, of Kansas ; 
Helen, wife of J. M. Bell ; Edward R.; Mattie L., 
now Mrs. Dr. Weed, and Emery J.; the latter died in 
1857. Edward R. was born on the old homestead in 
March, 1842. He received an academical education, 
and was one of the " brave boys in blue." He en- 
listed in the Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, and was 
with Sherman on his "march to the sea;" he was 
captured in March of 1863, and confined in Libby 
Prison, where he spent his twenty-first birthday. He 
returned to Wayne at the close of the war, and in 
1866 was married to Miss Frances E., daughter of 
Eli Rich, of Decatur. Two children have been born 
to them — Fred E. and Beulah B. Mr. Spencer takes 
an active interest in politics, and is a zealous Repub- 
lican, a successful farmer, and in every way a worthy 
citizen. 



332 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



RANSOM DOFF. 

By tracing the Dopp family back three genera- 
tions, we find that the progenitor of the American 
branch came from Holland. 

John and Permelia (Reynolds) Dopp, parents of 
Ransom, were both natives of New York State, where 
they were united in marriage, and where Ransom was 
born in Geneseo, Livingston County, November 10? 
1828. 

In 1840, he accompanied his parents to Hillsdale, 
in this State. The family consisted of eleven chil- 
dren, and his parents being in moderate circumstances, 
the opportunities afforded him for advancement were 
very limited, and at the age of sixteen years started 
out on the voyage of life on his own account as a 
stage-driver, which was at this time the only public 
conveyance for travelers. He was in the employ of 
B. Humphrey & Co. for between four and five years, 
and then engaged in the livery business at Niles, 
where he remained four years. He then ran a stage 
line on his own account from Niles to South Bend, 
Mottville and La Porte for about three years, when he 
removed to his farm in Wayne, forty acres of which had 
been purchased while residing at Hillsdale. He now 
devoted his whole attention to his chosen avocation, 
and to his indomitable energy and perseverance can 
be attributed his remarkable success, which has far 
exceeded his most sanguine expectations. His farm 
of 1,400 acres is the largest in the county, and the 
larger portion of it is under a high state of cultiva- 
tion, and he is acknowledged to be one of the most 
successful farmers in the county. On another page 
will be found a view of his home, which attests his 
thrift and success. But few men have applied them- 
selves more assiduously to business than he ; politics 
he has avoided, and his agricultural operations have 
received his entire attention. In matters of educa- 
tion, he has endeavored to give to others the advan- 
tages that he was denied of, and for many years has 
been a member of the school board. 

In July of 1848, he was married to Miss Jane, 
daughter of Samuel Barnhouse, a native of Virginia. 

They have been blessed with five children — Willie, 
Latecia, Louella, Augusta and Jane. Willie and 
Latecia are dead. 

GEORGE WHITBECK. 
George Whitbeck was born in Rensselaer County, 
N. Y., November 29, 1820. He was the eldest of a 
family of eight, the children of Peter G. and Dorathy 
(Van Buno), who were of Holland descent. They 
emigrated to this country on board the same vessel, 
although not acquainted at that time. In 1842, 
George Whitbeck started out on the voyage of life, 



first going to Western New York, against the advice 
of his old employer, who presented him with $20, 
with which to return home when he made a failure ; 
but he little knew the material of which his young 
employe was composed, for he never had occasion to 
avail himself of the opportunity offered. In 1845, he 
accompanied Mr. Gideon Allen to Cass County, and 
worked for him three consecutive years, and then pur- 
chased the land known as the E. 0. Taylor farm of 
the State at $4 per acre, making the first purchase in 
this section. Having made some improvemonts, this 
was disposed of to good advantage four months later, 
and he then purchased forty acres of the farm on 
which he now resides, and to which he has added from 
time to time as his means would admit, until he now 
has 330 acres of as good wheat land as can be found 
in the county. It is known as the " Five Oak Farm," 
is under a high state of cultivation, and has fine farm 
buildings, as will be seen by an illustration on an- 
other page. His success in life has been wholly due 
to his own exertions, and shows that industry, 
economy and good management bring a sure reward. 

In political belief, Mr. Whitbeck is a Republican, 
his first Presidential vote being cast for Henry Clay. 
He has, however, devoted little attention to politics. 

In the fall of 1847, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Jane Allen, who died in 1854. Three children 
blessed their union, Charlotte, now Mrs. A. Berch ; 
Sarah, now Mrs. D. Blish ; and John A., who deceased 
when a young man of great promise in 1872, in his 
twenty-second year. March 4, 1855, he was married 
to Mrs. Maria Crossman, who was born in Broome 
County, N. Y., February 21, 1830. Mr. Whitbeck 
commenced life with only a strong pair of hands and 
a robust constitution as his captial, and has not only 
acquired a competency but attained a prominent posi- 
tion among the successful farmers of Cass County. 

ADOLFHUS T. HARDENBROOK. 
Adolphus T. Hardenbrook, one of the pioneers of 
Cass County, was born in the village of Lisbon, Md., 
in 1823. His parents were Samuel and Sarah Ann 
(Bell). The elder Hardenbrook was a Virginian, 
and was born in 1794 ; his wife was three years his 
junior ; they reared a family of eight children, four 
boys and four girls. In 1828, the family removed to 
Richland County, Ohio, and in 1832 came to Cass 
County, and settled in .the township of La Grange, 
where they resided many years. The elder Harden- 
brook and his wife, however, died in Berrien County, 
the former in 1862, and the later in 185(3. At the 
age of fourteen, Adolphus went to live with Hiram 
Jewell, of La Grange, with whom he remained until 
he had attained his twenty-first year. December 25, 




"V^' 




y\DOLPH'JS HARDEJsfBF^OOby. 







SILAS PITCHER- 



MF^S. l/diA PITCHEf^. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHlCrAN. 



333 



1879, at the age of twenty-seven, he was married to 
Miss Margaret, daughter of Capt. Isaac Shurte, one 
of the first settlers of the county. Mr. Hardenbrook 
resided in La Grange until his removal to Wayne in 
1861. He followed agricultural pursuits during his 
life time and was regarded as one of the successful 
and progressive farmers of the county. He acquired 
a competency and endeared himself to a large circle 
of friends by his kindness and liberality. He died in 
Wayne in December of 1880. His wife is still living 
on the farm which for so many years was his home. 
They had a family of twelve children — Wallace M., 
Mary A., Isaac S., Susan E., Martha E., Sarepta R., 
William E., Ada Z., Francis E., Henry D., Azalia 
D. and Iris E. Of the above, only two are now 
living, Azalia D. and Isaac S., the latter is living on 
the old place. He married Miss Josephine Gwilt in 
1875. 

EMERY O. TAYLOH. 

Emery 0. Taylor was born in Rodman, Jefferson 
County, N. Y., in 1S20. At the age of twelve, he 
was thrown upon his own resources, and commenced 
life as a farm hand. In 1836, he came to Michii^an ; 
spent the summer in Calhoun County. He returned 
in the fall of the year, and was engaged in farming 
up to 1841, at which time he was married to Miss 
Sally L., daughter of Charles and Laura Parmenter, 
of Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y. She was born in 
Rodman, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1822. In 1844, 
he came to Michigan with his family, and in company 
with his brother, Rowland C, and settled in Hart- 
ford, Van Buren County, where he purchased a farm 
the following year. In 18.51, he changed his location 
to the southern part of the county, and five years later 
came to Wayne and bought the farm where he resided 
until his decease, which occurred in May of 1881. 

Mr. Taylor was an enei'getic and successful farmer 
and a worthy citizen in every respect. He identified 
himself with Wayne and its interests, and was re- 
garded by those who knew him best, as an honest 
man, and a valuable friend. In Berrien County he 
was Justice of the Peace for eight years ; filled the 
office of Highway Commissioner. He left three chil- 
dren — Addie, Sanford G. and Herbert E. 



district school in winter. The elder Pitcher was a 
native of Switzerland, and came to this country a few 
years after the close of the Revolutionary war. He 
stopped for a time in Philadelphia, where he followed 
his trade, that of a tailor, and where he was married. 
His wife was also from Switzerland, and, not having 
the money to pay her passage, was sold, in accordance 
with a custom of those days, to a Quaker, for a period 
in which her services liquidated her indebtedness, 
t'hey removed to Ohio about 1800. 

On attaining his majority, Silas decided to come to 
Michigan. He first stopped in Van Buren County, 
where he remained until 1839, which is the date of 
his settlement in Wayne. He purchased a new farm, 
which he improved and where he has since resided. 
He married Miss Lydia, daughter of Richard Holmes, 
of Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo Co. She was born May 
2, 1826, in Ohio. They have reared a family of four, 
three of whom are living — Cynthia (now Mrs. John 
Lilly), George W. and Allen R. Mrs. Lilly was born 
February 1, 1845 ; George W., July 4, 1847 ; and 
Allen R., November 14, 1850. Mr. Pitcher is a 
prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and in many ways has identified himself with the 
best interests of Wayne. 

L. C. HOWARD. 

L. C. Howard was born in Jefferson County, N 
Y. His parents, Orrin and Sarah Howard, were 
sturdy people and reared a family of nine children, 
five boys and four girls. The elder Howard was a me- 
chanic, and to avail himself of the cheap lands of 
Michigan, and to give his family the consequent ad- 
vantages, emigrated with his family to Cass County 
in 1834. 

L. C. received a common school education, and 
married Miss Clarinda Pickett in Wayne Township, 
they have one child, a daughter, Florence W. Mr. 
Howard is a Republican, and both he and his wife 
are exemplary members of the Congregational Church. 
Mr. Howard is a substantial farmer, and occupies a 
prominent position among the citizens of his locality. 

We present on another page a view of his home. 



SIJ.A8 .V. PITCHER. 
Silas A. Pitcher was born in Pickaway County, 
Ohio, December 23, 1814. He was the youngest in 
the family of Fredrick Pitcher and Ann C. Her, 
which consisted of six. When Silas was a babe, the 
family removed to Hocking County, where he spent 
his youth like that of most farmer boys, alternating 
the summer's work upon the farm with a term at the 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

HOWARD. 

Farly belief hi its Uiii>rnrtiictiveiie8.s— William Kirlf, tlii' llrst Selller— 
The .Scttleinenl, including Social Aimisemeiits— First Manulactur- 
CIS— I,ow Prices of Farm rroducts— Characteristics of Pi(meer8— 
Land Entries— Poll List of IS37— Yankees vs. Hooslers— statistics 
and Productions— Schools— Civil List— Biographical. 

WHEN the earliest emigrants came into Cass 
County they first settled upon the prairies 
and. when they were all occupied, selected the heavily 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



timbered portions of the county, where an infinite 
amount of labor was required to bring it into cultiva- 
tion, in preference to the oak openings, or barrens, as 
they were sometimes denominated, for they labored 
under the delusion that the soil was unproductive for 
it, and its productions, differed from what they were 
accustomed in their Eastern homes. 

Being impressed with this belief the first settlers of 
Pokagon expected Howard township would never be 
settled and that they would have it for a cattle range, 
for which purpose it was peculiarly adapted, owing to 
the existence of a certain kind of wild grass known 
as "barren grass," which attained a most luxuriant 
growth all through the woods and afforded abundant sus- 
tenance for troops of wild deer that ranged through the 
forests which were unobstructed by small underbrush, 
such as now can be found in great abundance, for the 
annual fires kindled by the Indians for this purpose, 
ran through the woods each autumn destroying all 
the small vegetation. 

At this time it was a beautiful sight to look for a 
long distance under the leafy covering which was 
clean and trim, with no fences, roads, or even track, 
save the deer paths and Indian trails, that meandered 
thi-ough them to obstruct or break the view. At a 
later date in the stilly night, from some leafy covert, 
could occasionally be heard the lone howl of the wolf 
or the growl of a bear as he went foraging through 
the cornfields or snuffing around the betterments for 
a pig. while the wily fox paid his nightly devours to 
some hen-roost. 

This township, however, possessed too many attrac- 
tions to remain long without receiving the attention 
of the adventuresome pioneers, who were at this 
period flocking to this Western country by the thou- 
sands, in search of homes. 

As near as can be ascertained the first settler in 
this township was William Kirk, a native of Virginia, 
who before coming here stopped for several years in 
Stillwater, Ind., and after disposing of his property 
there, removed to where Niles now is, and for a time 
occupied the same house with Squire Thompson, but 
the two families not getting along amicably in one 
small log-house, Mr. Kirk built a log cabin at the 
foot of the hill on the top of which Mr. Thompson 
resided. Not long after, while out hunting for his 
cattle, he found the spring on the farm now occupied 
by Mr. John W. Tiramons, in Section 18, and true 
to his Southern education, which was to locate near a 
spring, regardless of roads or neighbors, he immedi 
ately decided to make it his home, and erected his log 
cabin to which his family were removed far from those 
with whom they could have intercourse. 

Mr. Kirk fre(|uent!y told his son-in-law. Mr. II. 



Lamberton, now a resident of Section 19, that he 
lived but a short time at Niles, and as Squire Thomp- 
son moved to Pokagon in 1826, Mr. Kirk must have 
removed here as early, if not prior to this time, and 
therefore to him belongs the honor of first locating in 
this township, and performing the initial labors in 
behalf of civilization. 

When coming here Mr. Kirk possessed $600, 
six yoke of oxen, ten cows and twenty hogs, and was 
therefore what might be called a wealthy pioneer, for 
but few possessed even enough money to enter their 
land, and as for stock were entirely destitute of it. 
Notwithstanding his start in this new country, when 
the land was placed in market, he did not possess 
money enough to enter his, for it had been dissipated 
in a large measure by extending the hospitalities of 
his home to every hunter, land looker, and specula- 
tor who came his way, for in him was united pioneer 
and Southern hospitality. 

He was what might be denominated a genuine 
frontiersman, kind and open-hearted, fond of fishing, 
hunting and the wild woods ; and little did he care 
for his isolated condition, or for the fact that he was 
obliged to go to Fort Wayne, Ind., to mill, and put 
up with many other inconveniences. Thirty-two or 
thirty-three years ago some of his stock was killed on 
the railroad, which then extended through this town- 
ship, and becoming piqued at the manifest unfairness 
of the company in paying him for them, coupled with 
the fact that neighbors were getting inconveniently 
near, and the country too much developed to gratify 
his hunting proclivities, he disposed of his property 
and again started westward, and did not stop until he 
reached the Pacific Ocean, and located in Oregon, 
where he died in March, 1881, at the ripe age of 
eighty-nine years. His wife still survives him. 

In 1830, Joseph Harter moved his family from Preble 
County, Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by 
S. C. Thompson, and there remained until his death. 
None of his childrea now reside in the county. About 
1833 or 1834, he built a saw-mill on a small stream 
on his farm, the first and only one in the township 
run by water-power, there being a few portable mills 
of little note now in the township. 

Peter Barnhart accompanied Joseph Harter to this 
township, he then being a young man twenty-two years 
of age. He worked for Mr. Harter about three years 
and then commenced work on his own land, entered 
by Mr. Harter for him in Section 8, and which he 
.still retains, and the eighty acres has been increased 
to lo3. Mr. Barnhart was drafted when the cele- 
brated Sauk war so frightened the people, and started 
with his neighbors for the seat of war, which it is need- 
les.s to say they never reached, as will more fully be 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



335 



made to appear in the general chapters of this work 
to which the reader is referred for any item of interest 
pertaining to this township not treated of here. 
Plenty of hard work and coarse fare was the lot of 
Mr. Barnhart in common with other pioneers in an 
early day, and the monotony of his existence was 
varied by dances at which he frequently officiated in 
the role of fiddler, receiving compensation then very 
acceptable. His first wife, Catharine (Sink), by 

whom he had children, one still living, having 

deceased he married Lovina Brooks, who still survives. 

Among the early settlers was William Garwood, a 
Virginian, who settled on Section 6, and remained 
there until his demise ; and cotemporaneous with 
him was I. W. Duckett, who entered land in Section 
5, in 1829, and then removed to Section 2, but sub- 
sequently disposed of his property and removed to 
California. 

John and Jacob Kinsey, with their families, ac- 
companied with their widowed sister, Mrs. Sally 
Stoner and children, came to Howard in 1830, and 
settled on the farm now owned by Mr. J. V/ood, in Sec- 
tion 18, and here made the first brick in the town- 
ship. .John K. remained here until his death, while 
his brother and sister removed to Valparaiso, Ind., 
where they remained until their deaths. 

Isaiah Carberry, who was born in Mason County, 
Ky., in 1800, removed with his parents, when six 
years of age, to Brown County, Ohio, and although 
while a resident of this State, engaged in manufactur- 
ing tobacco and whisky, never indulged in the free 
use of either. In 1831, he removed his family, con- 
sisting of his wife, Susannah (Pickett), and two chil- 
dren to Michigan with an ox team, and stopped for 
two years near Beeson's Mill, in Berrien County, 
where he built a log cabin, but in 1833 moved on the 
farm now owned by Thomas Moran, which he pur- 
chased of Government and largely cleared up. After 
several changes he, in 1840, moved on his present 
farm of eighty acres, which was purchased for $400, 
when in a wild state. He is the father of five chil- 
dren by his lirst wife, two of whom still survive and 
are residents of California. It is largely due to as- 
sistance of his second wife, Mrs. C. Kinsey, that his 
present farm has been cleared up and improved. She 
is one of the pioneer women to whom the succeeding 
generations are largely indebted, for her part, by no 
means a light one, has been well done in connection 
with the arduous labors of pioneering. Their days of 
hard labor were relieved by dances, at which Mr. 
Carberry used frequently to preside as fiddler. The 
settlers, one and all, met on a common level at these 
times and entered heartily into the festivities of the 
occasion. These dances were most frequently held in 



the evening after logging, husking or quilting bees, 
and the settlers were not particular as regards their 
costumes, homespun for the ladies and coarse boots 
for the men being plenty good enough to be consid- 
ered among the elite. 

William Young and his wife, Elizabeth (Christie), 
came to Howard Township in 1831 or 1832, and 
located on Section 24. He was born in Vermont in 
1796. Mr. Young was foully murdered December 
16, 1879. His lifeless and charred remains were 
found lying in the old-fashioned open fire-place of the 
humble house in which he had, for twenty-five or 
thirty years, with little exception, lived a solitary life. 
The affair caused quite an excitement. It was sup- 
posed he had been murdered for a small sum of money, 
something between -flOO and $200, which he was 
known to have had in his possession. This supposi- 
tion was found to be correct, and William S. Hobart, 
on trial, was found guilty, and is now serving out a 
life sentence in the Michigan Penitentiary, in punish- 
ment for the crime. Mrs. Young died in 1868. ^ wo 
descendants of these pioneers now reside in the county. 
Lorena C. (Messenger) in La Grange Township and 
Ann (Curtis) in Howard. Robert C, Orrin S. and 
Nancy E. (Coates) are deceased. 

John B. Tiramons came from Butler County, Ohio, 
with Squire Edwards, who settled in Pokagon, and 
for whom he worked, and after a time, purchased land 
in Pokagon, and, after clearing up about twenty acres, 
he disposed of it, and in 1850 moved on the farm now 
owned by Mrs. Berden, in Section 2, which was origi- 
nally settled by three brothers — Samuel, Robert and 
William Faries, who came from Middletown, Ohio, in 
1834. Samuel and Robert ran a blacksmith and gun- 
shop on this farm, and were skilled artisans. They 
also manufactured plows, and formed quite an im- 
portant adjunct to the new settlement, for it ob- 
viated the necessity of their going to Bertrand for this 
class of work, which, with the poor roads and slow 
methods of locomotion, usually by ox team, was quite 
a tax on the early settlers. Robert left the county 
and ultimately located in Milwaukee, Wis. Samuel 
returned to Ohio where he deceased, and William 
went to the land of gold, California, where he also 
deceased. 

John B. Timmons, before referred to, died in July, 
1876, while his wife, Phebe (Faries) resides with her 
son, John W., on the old William Kirk farm, which 
is now supplied with good farm buildings. Another 
son, George W., resides in Niles. Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Parker), wife of John W., is a daughter of the pio- 
neers, Albert and Lucinda Parker who, while Mrs. 
Parker lived, resided on the farm owned by her 
grandfather, Cyrus Mowry, who <lied in 1861, his 



336 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



former home being in the State of New York. 
" Grandma " Mowry, as she was affectionately called, 
used to relate to her children some of the incon- 
veniences to which they were first subject, such as 
pounding their corn on a stump, and baking their 
corn-bread on a board before the fire. 

In 1834, James Coulter, accompanied by his father, 
came into this county from Clinton County, Ohio, j 
bringing about one hundred and fifty head of milch 
cows, which were disposed of to the settlers on advan- | 
tageous terms, and they then purchased 640 acres of 
land of Government in this township. After a stay 
of six months, they returned home. He soon came 
back again and commenced the work of clearing his 
farm, and, in 1836, went to Ohio, and returned with | 
his bride, Ann (Wilson), in a lumber wagon drawn by I 
an ox-team, the journey occupying seventeen days. 
They moved into a humble log house in the woods, , 
and remained on this farm until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1874, and where his widow still resides. , 
She recalls very vividly the time when, in order to 
assist along in the household economy, she, in com- 
mon with other pioneer mothers, manufactured cloth 
for family use, and did other work from which the 
modern farmer's wife is now exempt. They were 
blessed with eight children, four of whom survive, as 
follows : Margaret (Mrs. E. White), and William H., i 
both residents of this township, also Sarah A., who 
lives with her mother, and John F., who lives in 
Fairmont, Neb. 

William H. Doane, a near neighbor of Mr. Coulter's, i 
removed from Greene County, N. Y., to Albany, and i 
into Michigan in 1835, with his brother, and stopped 
at Niles, but could obtain no information regarding 
desirable fands from the people of this place, who 
looked upon them as land speculators, who at this 
time were not given a warm reception by actual set- 
tlers, for they held land out of the market, thus re- 
tarding the improvement of the country. But meeting 
a Capt. Stocking, he gave them minutes of some land, 
and they entered 360 acres in this township, on a i 
portion of which Mr. Doane now resides. With 1,000 
feet of lumber, he constructe<l a place of abode, and 
with the exceptron of sixteen months, commencing in 
1836, at which he worked at his trade, that of car- j 
penter and joiner, in St. Joseph, he has been a resi- 
dent of this township since coming here. In 1887, 
he went to New York and married Elizabeth Roberts, ' 
a native of Wales, who died in 1843, leaving two 
children — George and John, Jr. — and, in 1844, he was 
united in wedlock to Miss L. A. Chase, and they are 
the parents of four children — Emory C, Edward M., 
Herbert H. and Lilly M. As indication of the ' 
scarcity of money. Mr. Doane dressed and sold a fine ' 



roasting pig in Niles for 25 cents, and this was about 
the time that any one residing within a circumference 
of from ten to fifteen miles were denominated neigh- 
bors. He brought a stove into the township in 1837, 
and it was for years known as " Doane's Nigger," 
and attracted much attention. As will be seen else- 
where, Mr. Doane has taken a prominent part in 
township aff'airs. 

Probably no one is more conversant with or has 
been more prominently identified with the history of 
Howard Township since 1835, than Ezekiel C. 
Smith, who with his wife, Laura (Parmelee), came 
from Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y., to Michigan at this 
time. He was preceded by his father, Amasa, and 
brother Zenas. His mother, Candace, died here in 
1836, and was interred in the Barren Lake Cemetery, 
which land was donated for this purpose by Mr. 
Smith. Amasa, after a stay of three years, removed 
to Ohio, and from there to Iowa, where he died at the 
advanced age of ninety-one years. Zenus removed 
to Kent county, which place he left and emigrated to 
Tennessee, because the railroad run through his farm, 
which was an intrusion he could not brook. 

Mr. Smith had hardly become a resident of the 
township before he was honored with the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace, which office he held for thirty-six 
years, and during this time has started about four 
hundred couple on the matrimonial voyage of life, a 
record in the marrying line few Justices can compete 
with. 

As Supervisor of his township in 1839, he intro- 
duced and was instrumental in the passage of a reso- 
lution for the payment of $20 bounty on every wolf 
killed, which, with the State bounty of $20, would, 
in his opinion, make the business of wolf-hunting so 
profitable as to exterminate these pests, and his 
theory proved correct. 

In 1850, he represented his district in the State 
Legislature, and has taken an active part in all the 
public interests of his township, and has the univer- 
sal respect of all, for his upright manner and many 
estimable qualities. * 

January 11, 1882, he celebrated his golden wed- 
ding, and it is a quite remarkable fact that during 
this long period no death has occurred in his family, 
or, as he pungently puts it, he has had meetings, 
dances, debating societies, weddings, and in fact, 
almost everything in his house but a funeral. His 
family consists of five children, as follows : Ellen F.; 
George P., in Benton County, Mo.; Albert B., in 
Iowa ; and Julia L., now Mrs. J. Doane, in Porter 
Township; Jerome A., in McMinnville, Tenn. 

John M. Reese was born in Shurban, New York 
State, May 15, 1796. He married Angeline Mills 



I 




JAfviES SHAv/. 



JAMES SHAW. 

The Shaw family are of Welsh extraction. The 
progenitor of the American branch came from Wales 
many years ago, and settled in Stonington, Conn., 
and from there removed to Rensselaer County, N. Y., 
where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. Samuel 
Shaw, Sr., grandfather of James, was in the Revolu- 
tionary war, and held a Lieutenant's commission. 

James Shaw was born in Berlin, Rensselaer Co., 
N. Y., February 28, 1813, and was reared on a farm, 
receiving a common-school education. He remained 
with his parents, Samuel, Jr., and Elizabeth Shaw, and 
and assisted them on the farm until 1840, when he, 
accompanied by his wife, Maria P. (Wheeler), to whom : 
he was married March 2, 1839, started for the West j 
to carve out for himself a home. He first purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of land in Howard Town- 
ship, only twenty acres of which had been partially 
prepared for cultivation, and commenced life, after the 
manner of all pioneers, in a log house. About twenty , 
years subsequent, he disposed of this farm, intending ' 
to go farther West, but eventually purchased the farm 
in Howard on which he now resides. He has been 
successful in accumulating a competency, and is now , 
enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. In politics, 
he has been a conservative Democrat, and has been 



honored with various township oflBces, including that 
of Supervisor, to which position he was unanimously 
elected for 1844, and again for 1846, his name being 
placed on the head of both the Democrat and Whig 
tickets, which is a testimonial of appreciation worthy 
the man. He served as member of the State Legisla- 
ture in the sessions of 184.5 and 1847, and during the 
latter term was appointed Chairman of the Committee 
on Agriculture and Manufactures. As candidate 
for the Legislature in 1860, in a Republican district, 
he ran far ahead of his ticket. He was also candidate 
for the State Senate in 1868. He was frequently on 
the stump in important political campaigns, and was 
accounted an efficient speaker. His public career has 
been such as to gain the full confidence, not only of 
his political friends, but also those who opposed him, 
for he is a man who despises to engage in anything 
underhanded to accomplish his objects, he being scru- 
pulously honest. 

His first wife, who was born February 13, 1823, 
having departed this life in November, 1860, leaving 
one child, A. J. Shaw, he married, December 21, 
1868, Margaret E., daughter of James Dennison, who 
was a descendant of George Dennison, a Colonel in 
the war of 1812. Mrs. Shaw was born in Berlin, N. 
Y., February 24, 1829. They have no children. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHTOAN. 



337 



in 1820, who still survives and at the age of eighty 
years spun yarn on a "big wheel" for a pair of 
stockings. In the spring of 1834, they moved to 
Northern Indiana, and three years later to Section 
19, Milton, with a family of ten children. They en- 
dured the hardships incident to a pioneer life. As a 
pensioner of the war of 1812, he drew it until his 
death in July, 1876, his widow now receiving it. The 
name of their children are Anna Maria, Jacob, Mar- 
tha, Judson, Wade, Elisha M., Sarah A., Emaline 
and Caroline, twins, Mary C. Esther, Rebeckah H., 
John M. and Lewis Cass. 

Judson Wade Reese, who was born in New York 
State in 1825, moved on his farm west of Barren 
Lake in 1849. He and his wife, Catharine M., 
widow of Richard T. Heath and daughter of Samuel 
Willard, have been blessed with two children — Ann 
Adell and Judd. 

Maj. Henry Heath was born in Connecticut, De- 
cember 1, 1780, from which place he moved on the 
Holland purchase a few miles from Buffalo, N. Y., 
and in 1833 to Howard Township, and settled on Sec- 
tion 29, with a family consisting of a wife and nine 
children, as follows : Henry O., who was a teacher 
and Methodist preacher ; George, a blacksmith ; 
Richard T., who was at one time a merchant in Cass- 
opolis, and who performed a perilous journey through 
the wilderness to many of the " wild cat " banks of 
the State to get the so-called money redeemed; 
Charles; Lucien, now a resident of California ; Giles; 
Albert, an attorney who held the office of Colonel 
during the war of the rebellion, and who, with his 
brother Lucien, are the only children living; two died 
in infancy. Richard T., above mentioned, married 
Catharine M. Willard in 1840, and moved on the farm 
now owned by Judson W. Reese. Their two children, 
Mary E. and George E., are both deceased. 

Samuel Willard was born January 26, 1793, in 
Lancaster, Mass. In 179 4 he moved to New York 
State, and after several changes and finally, in 1814, 
to Erie County, which was his home until 1837, and 
while here as a member of a militia company partici- 
pated in the battle of Oswego, in the war of 1812. 

He married Ann Abbott in February, 1822, and 
in 1837 moved with his family to Howard Township, 
having purchased eighty acres in Section 30. He 
improved this farm and remained on it until his death 
May 13, 1877, having been a resident of this town- 
ship forty years. His widow, Ann, who was born in 
Philadelphia, Penn., in 1803, now resides on the same 
farm on "Yankee street," on which she moved in 
1837. 

The year 1835 witnessed quite an influx of popula- 
tion to Howard, for the erroneous tlieories regarding 



the barrenness of the soil had been by this time exploded, 
and, having full faith in its future, George Fosdick laid 
out a village of sixtyfour lots, which he named How- 
ardsville, on the farm now owned by Henry Pryen. 
He carried on the blacksmith trade in his embryo vil- 
lage, and, in addition, made a specialty of jail locks, 
with which he furnished nearly all the jails in South- 
western Michigan and Northern Indiana. 

His village never materalized and, disappointed in 
his aspirations, Mr. Fosdick disposed of his property 
and moved to Indiana, where he deceased. 

Once the prices procured for produce was far from 
remunerative, and Josiah Kinnison recalls the time 
when he sold his first crop of corn after coming into 
the township in 1838, at 15 cents per bushel, and 
drew it to Berrien Center, while oats brought 10 and 
12 cents. He in common with others drew wheat 
to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, thirty miles 
distant, and received but 60 cents per bushel, and 
it took three days to make the trip. 

As before indicated Mr. Kinnison and his wife Lydia 
(Cook), came into the township in 1838, and located 
on the farm on which he now resides, paying $5 per 
acre for it to speculators. Mrs. Kinnison is deceased, 
as is also his second wife, Sabrey (Thomas). He has 
two children now living. Mr. K. kept the first in- 
firmary in the county, at Edwardsburg, and never 
had more than six indigent persons under his care at 
one time. 

In 1837, W. Olmstead could have been seen start- 
ing from Ohio for Michigan, with his wife, Matilda, 
one child and all his worldly possessions stowed away 
in a one-horse wagon. He spent that winter in How- 
ard, and then removed to Egypt, 111.; but thirty 
months later moved on to his farm in Section 1, in no 
better financial condition than when he first left it. 
But the forty acres has been increased to 312. He 
is now living with his second wife. Electa (Dodds), his 
first one having deceased. Of twelve children born 
to them ten are living. Henry Houser, who deceased 
in 1878, emigrated from Preble County, Ohio, in 
1835, and settled upon and improved the farm now 
owned by Martin Dunning in Pokogon, and was 
prominently identified with the township,as will be seen 
by the civil list. 

Mrs Mary (Brown) Houser, deceased in 1864, and 
was the mother of six children, viz.; S. M., farmer 
in this township ; Michael, a resident of Berrien 
County ; Eli, of St. Joseph County ; William, a mer- 
chant in Dowagiac ; Mary, in Northern Michigan, 
and Martha Jane, also a resident of Dowagiac. 

When eleven years of age, Jerome Wood moved 
from Batavia, N. Y., to Beardsley's Prairie with his 
father, Lyman D. Wood. They next became res! 



338 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



dents of Van Buren County, and then of St. Joseph 
County. During his boyhood days in this then new 
country, Mr. Wood became very much elated over a 
pair of buckskin pantaloons, which were the best his 
parents could procure for him at that time. He also 
recalls the time when potatoes and salt constituted 
their sole diet, whilejohnny cake was considered plenty 
good enough for all occasions. Some twenty-nine 
years ago, Mr. Jerome Wood and his wife, lantha 
Corey, moved from Kalamazoo County to Silver Creek 
Township, and subsequently to their present home. 
Section 6, in Howard. Kachal Corey, mother of 
Mrs. Wood, who has resided in Silver Creek Town- 
ship for the past twenty-five years, is probably the 
oldest person in the county, her age being ninety 
years. 

Attracted by the many inducements of Michigan 
in 1835, Henry Lamberton, then a young man, 
started for this then Territory from Canada, to which 
place he had removed from Genesee County, N. Y., 
with his parents and made it his home at Detroit, 
Grand Rapids and Niles successively, and finally, 
about twenty-two years since, purchased his present 
farm in Section 19, when in a state of nature, and 
has improved it. His first wife, Lovina, was a 
daughter of William Kirk, the veteran pioneer, by 
whom he had six children and ten by his present wife, 
Lucinda (Kemp), and now has nine boys living. 

John Blanchard came from New York State 
when a young man, and lived for a few years at Niles, 
and then, in about 1840, purchased his present farm 
in Section .31, of William Collins, and, having erected 
a log house, he and his wife Ann (Dailey) moved on 
and improved the land, and he has done his part in 
developing the country. They are the parents of ten 
children, eight of whom are living. 

The residence of David White, in Section 16, on 
which he mov^d some seventeen years since, is pleas- 
antly located, near Barren Lake. He has been a 
resident of that township since, 1864. In 1845, 
William Van Ness and his wife Arietta (Lee), came 
from Erie County, N. Y., and lived with one of their 
neighbors until their log cabin could be erected in 
the oak openings, and they in common with other 
settlers succumbed to the ravages of the ague. Mr. 
Van Ness deceased in 1845, and the family were 
kept together until arriving at manhood's estate by 
his widow who resides on the old homestead. Of 
their children, R. L. is the present Treasui-er of 
Cass County ; Mary, now Mrs. Carlisle, in Milton, 
and William and Carrie at home. 

When four years of age, in 1835, J. Hanson came 
from Johnstown, N. Y., with his parents, and settled 
in Jefferson, and endured the usual privations of 



pioneer life. About fifteen years since, he and his 
wife, Harriet (Lee), moved on their present farm in 
Section 36, which is adorned with farm buildings, 
which are a credit to the township. They are the 
parents of three children — Hettie, Lydia and Edward. 

James Shaw, although not moving into the county 
until 1840, has done considerable pioneer work in 
the way of clearing and improving land, and the fine 
row of trees that embellish the farm of Mr. Root were 
set out by him. His biography appears in another 
place. 

John Bedford, the present Township Clerk, has 
had held this office since 1873. He is a native of 
Boston, England, and settled in Pokagon in 1852, 
and, one year subsequent, in Howard Township. 

In 1852, Amos C. Foot came from Mishawaka, 
Ind., and settled on the farm in Section 31, on which 
his son Andrew T. resides, which, at this period, was far 
removed from its original appearance by the hand of 
the pioneer. A. S. Foot has filled the oflBce of Justice 
in this township. Among the early settlers in Ber- 
rien County was William Nye, who, some forty-seven 
years since, emigrated from Ohio. He performed his 
full portion in removing the primal forests and fitting 
the land for the habitation of civilized man. He de- 
ceased in 1877, on the farm to which he moved some 
ten years since, and where now resides his son-in-law, 
J. P. Powers. 

Mr. Powers is a native of x\ustria, from which 
country he removed some twenty-six years since. His 
house is situated part in this and part in Berrien 
County, and by a removal from one side of the room 
to another, they can change the county of their resi- 
dence. 

The German race is further represented by Ernest 
I. Reum, who, some twenty-five years since, settled 
on the farm where he now resides. He is a fair rep- 
resentative of this frugal hard-working people, quite a 
number of whom are now settling in this section of 
the county. 

One of the most prominent characteristics of the 
old time was the universal hospitality and helpfulness 
that abounded everywhere. The latch string ran 
through the door, and the belated traveler was sure of 
entertainment at the first house. Everybody was 
ready to help in case of accident or sickness. The 
pioneers, many of whom have now passed away, 
will always live in the memories of their successors. 
Theirs was a peaceful warfare against dame nature. 
Their banner was always a flag of truce, their trophies 
the fallen tree and burning log-heap, their reward, the 
prosperity and happiness enjoyed by their descendants 
to-day. In this work the wife and mother has done 
her full share ; enduring privations without com- 



J 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



339 



plaint ; with a kindly greeting for the tired husband 
and boy, and good words for the faint-hearted begin- 
ner or weary traveler, surely to her should be awarded 
the meed of praise. 

The following comprise a complete list of the orig- 
inal land entries of the township : 
Section 1. 

ACRKS. 

.Samuel Ellsworth, Cass County. Mich., May 8, 1848 40 

Nathan Robinson, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 18, 1843 40 

A. .'^mith, Cass County, Mich., May 1, 1833 73 

R. 0. Salisbury, Cass County, Mich., April 8, 184.'j 190 

Amos Dow, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 27 and March 14, 183il 80 

S. Bentley, Cass County, Mich., .\pril 8, 1839 40 

Theo. I. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., July 8, 1836 80 

H. Salisbury, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 31, 37 and April 15, 

l.'<40 40 

Section 2. 

.Tames C. Faries, I ass County. Mich., .Ian. 28, 183.5. 40 

R. Culver, Cass County, Mich., June 16, 18.35 80 

N. C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., June 2.5, 18-35 454 

R. I. Faries. Cass County, Mich., July 3, 1835 40 

Section '■',. 

William Baker, Jefferson County, N. V., Jan. 2, 1834 40 

E. C. Smith, Erie County, X. V., June 18, 1835 80 

N. C. Sanford, Lilch6eld County, Conn., June 25, 1835 186 

Daniel Smith, Erie County, N. Y., July 13, 1835 80 

J. Garwood, Cass County, Mich., July 20. 1835 40 

Archibald Clyborn, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1835 40 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich,, March 14, 1836 40 

R. Culver, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 15, 1837 40 

Section 4. 

.loseph Garwood, St. Joseph County, Nov. K, 1829 74 

I. W. Duckelt, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 11, 1832 40 

William Northup, Erie County, N. Y., June 2, 1835 152 

J. Garwood, Cass County, Mich., July 13, 1835 160 

Henry Harter, Preble County, Ohio, July 6, 1836 200 

Section 5. 
William Garwood, Lenawee County, June 19, and .\ug. 14, 

1829 1.30 

I. W. Duckett, Cass County, Mich., March 3, 30 and Feb. 22, 

1833 . 194 

William Garwood, Cass County, .Mich,, Feb. 22, 1833 40 

Sebert Tnney, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 22, 1835 80 

William Garwood. Cass County, Mich., Jan. 31, 1837 40 

1. W. Hicks, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 7, 18.53 40 

Section li. 
W. Garwood, Cass County, Mich., June 19, 29 and May 29, 

1830 .• 309 

Jesse Toney, Cass County, Mich., June 19 and 20, 1829 133 

John Ray, Lenawee County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1829 70 

John Kinsey, Cass County, Mich., March 11, 1830 75 

Baldwin Jenkins, Cass Cjunty, .Mich., March 11, 1830 2 

Section 7. 

John Ritter, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 

Peter Barnhart, Cass County, June 13, 1831 80 

John Clark, Cass County, June 17, 1831 80 

William Garwood, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 26, 1831 80 



C. Albright, Cass County, Mich., Aug., 27; Sept. 5, 30, Nov. 

6, 1833 240 

(). Edwards, New York City, Nov. 29, 1836 80 

Section 8. 

.Solomon Landis. Cass County, Mich , April 13. 1830 80 

John Hensey, Cass County, Mich., April 13, 1830 80 

William Morris, Cms County, Mich., May 11, 1830 80 

Jacob Kinsey, Cass County, .Mich., July 17, 1830 80 

Joseph Barter, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 29. 1830 80 

I. W. Duckett, f^ass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1832 160 

N. McCoy, Cass County, Mich., July 2, 1832 40 

Joseph Harter, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 22, 1835 40 

Section 9. 

S. Stoner, Berrien Ouuty, Aug. 1, 1831 80 

I. & S. Bhymer, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 1, 1832 80 

S. Kinsey, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 1834 40 

G. B. Fitch, Ontario County, N V., June 30, 1834 80 

I. W. Bailey, Cass County, Mich., July 17, 1835 80 

S. Waldo, Columbia County, N. Y., .Tuly 17, 1835 80 

Peter Fraser, Cass ('ounty, Mich., July 14, 1835 80 

S. Toney, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 16, 1836 80 

G. B. Fitch, Cass County, Mich., .Tan. 23, 1835 80 

Section 10. 

E. C. Smith. Erie County, N. Y., June 18, 183.5 160 

Elmer Emmons, La Porte, Ind.. July 20, 1836 160 

D. Parmley, Erie County, N. Y., Jan. 29, 1836 40 

K. Barter, Preble County, Ohio, July, 6, 18.3i) 80 

Tho. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1836 40 

E. T. Doane, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 25, 1837 80 

Section 11. 
S. Faries, Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1833, and Jan. 28, 

1835 200 

George G. Doane, New Hanover, N. C. July 9, 1835 40 

George G. & William H. Doane, New Hanover, N. C, .July 9, 

1838 160 

C. A. Fletcher, Chautauqua County, N. Y., Aug. 1. 1835 40 

E. Culver, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 16, 1837 80 

D. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 31, 1840 40 

Section 12. 

C. A. Parker, Berrien County, Feb. 18, 183 6 40 

R. Haynes, Worcester, .Mass., Nov. .30, 1836 160 

J. Smith, '"ass County, Mich.. Jan. 31, 1837 40 

J. D. Dutton, Berrien County, Feb. 2 and 9, 1837 320 

Benjamin Cooper, Cass County, Mich., March 25, 1837 40 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County. July 2.5, 1837 40 



John Coulter, Clinton County, Ohio, July 13; Sept. 21. 1833, 

and June 20, 1834 360 

Benjamin Cook, Livingston County, N. Y., Oct. 19, 1835 80 

C. A. Parker, Berrien County, Sept. 8, 1836 160 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County. July 25, 1837 40 

Section 14. 

John Coulter, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1834 80 

Thomas Doane, Jr., Berrien County, .July 9, 18i5 80 

Matthew Doane, Berrien County, July 9, 1835 80 

George G. an 1 William H. Doane, New Hanover County, N. 
C, July 9, LS.35 160 

D. Parmele, Cass County, .Mich., July 29. 1835, and Feb. 5. 

1836 120 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Nathan McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 7, 1829 80 

Daniel Partridge, Cass County, Mich., May 4, 1836 40 

Section 15. 

John Fosdick, Cass County, Mich., April 16, 1833 80 

A. H. Owen. Monroe County, N. Y., July 8, 1834 40 

L. C. Stafford, Erie County, X. Y., Oct. 4. 1834 120 

('. Kinney, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 15, 1835 80 

Charles Butler, New York City. Oct. 21, 1835 40 

Nathan McCoy. Cass County. Mich., Nov. 7, 1835 40 

Charles Campbell, Cass County. Mich., Dec. 2, *835 80 

William Maddox, Cass County, Mich., Jan. r,, 1836 40 

James B. Hebert, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 6, 1836 40 

Austin Stocking, Berrien County, .\pril 25, 1836 40 

M. Germon, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 2, 1837 40 

Section 17. 

Richard Meek, Wayne County, Ind., March 11, 1830 160 

Joseph Barter, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 29, 1830, and June 

13, 1831 240 

D. Partridge. Erie County, X. Y., April 9, 1835 80 

J. Selkrig. Berrien County, July 22. 1835 40 

S. Ercanbrack, Berrien (^unty, Aug. 7, 1835 40 

James Selkrig. Berrien County, Aug. 21, 1835 80 

Section 18. 

Thomas Phillips, Darke County, Ohio. June 27. 1829 160 

S. Witter, Dnion County, Ind.. Oct. 6, 1829 80 

William Kerk. Cass County, Mich., May 31, 1880 82 

John Pool, Jr., Wayne County. Ind., July 5, 1830 80 

William Morris, Cass County Mich., Nov. 29, 1830 80 

Daniel Fisher, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 21, 1831 81 

John McDanicls, Cass County, .Mich., Aug. 2, 1832 „.. 40 

Peter Barnhart, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 2, 18-38 40 

Section 19. 

Eli Ford, Cass County, Mich., May 31. 1830 80 

Theo. Denniston. Cass County, Mich., Dec. 3, 1831 83 

John Kinsey, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 1, 1831 80 

Daniel Phillips, Cass County, Mich., April 16, 1833 40 

Daniel Fisher, Cass County. Mich., Feb. 3, 1834 40 

T. T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 12, >634 40 

J. A. Elliott. Litchfield County, Conn.. June 16, 1834 120 

Peter Lyon, Ontario County, N. Y., June 24, 1834 125 

Nancy Nealy, Ontario County, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1835 40 

Section 20. 

C. Lewis and 0. Green, Ontario County. N. Y., Sept. 23, 1830 134 

George Fosdick, Berrien County, Feb 29, 1832 79 

Jonas Ribble. Cass County, .Mich., Nov. 14, 1832.. 120 

E. Griswold, Berrien County, July 2, 1833 80 

T. Husted, Otsego County, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1834 80 

S. Bushnell. Madison County, N. Y., June 16, 1834 80 

Zenos Smith, Cass County, Mich., July 29, 1835 40 

Section 21. 

George Fosdick, Berrien County, Feb. 29, 1832 64 

Catharine Stewart, Berrien County, March 8, 1832 65 

Peter Lyon, Ontario County. N. Y.. June 24, 1834 92 

0. H. and M. E.Gallup, Hamilton County, Ohio, June 25, 

1834 80 

Taber Earle, Erie County, N. Y., Dec. 11, 1834 107 

Sally and F. L Bailey, Cass County, Mich., July 29, 1836... 40 

C. K. Green, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 1, 1835 40 



1 Sbctioh 22. 

Peter Lyon, Ontario County, N. Y., June 24, 1834 160 

Taber Earl, Erie County, N. Y., Dec. 11, 1834 80 

Charles Butler, New York City, Oct. 21, 1835 80 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., April 21, 1836 80 

D. Pattengell, Cass County, Mich., May 12, 1836 40 

H. P. Voorhies, Montgomery County, N. Y., July 8, 1836 160 

! Mitchell Germon, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 9, 1837 40 

1 Section 23. 

j William Sherwood, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 2, 1833 80 

Erastus Todd, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 2, 1833 160 

Peter Lyon. Ontario County, N. Y., June 24, 1834 80 

H. V. Voorhies, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 29, 1835... 240 

Franklin Emerson, Cass County, Mich., July 16, 1835 40 

Charles Butler, New York City. Oct. 21, 1835 40 

Section 24. 

William Young, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 4, 1832 80 

J. Coulter, Ointon County, Ohio. July 13, 1833 40 

H. P. Voorhies, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 29, 1835... 80 

William Young, Cass County, Mich., July 16, 1835 40 

H. Rogers, April 23, 1836 40 

N. Dumbottom, May 2, 1X36 240 

George Barter. Preble County, Ohio, July 16, 1836 120 

Sectio-n 25. 

H. P. Voorhies, Montgomery County, N. Y.. June 29, 1835... 80 

N. Dumbottom, Cass County, Mich., May 4, 1836 80 

G. Lawrence, George Beach and William H . Imlay, Onon- 
daga County, N^ Y., May 14, 1836 437 

Section 26. 

B. P. Voorhies, Montgomery Couuty, N. Y., June 29, 1835... 80 

John Rush, Cass County, Mich., .July 2, 1835 40 

Luther Chapin. Cass County, Mich., April 23, 1836 80 

Peter Putman, Montgomery County, N. Y., May 7, 1836 400 

E. L. Yates, Montgomery County, N. Y., Nov. 29. 1836 40 

Section 27. 

John Rush, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 16, 1834 120 

D. H. and John S. Gallop, Cass County. Mich., July 2, 1835, 40 

C. K. Green, Berrien County. Mich., Aug. 1, 1835 160 

E. W. Sanford, Erie County, X. Y., Oct. 3, 183-5 80 

Charles Butler, New York aty, Oct. 21, 18-35 40 

T. Busied, Otsego County, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1835 40 

T. Busted, Cass County, Mich., April 23, 1S36 40 

T. T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1K36 40 

S. Bentley, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1846 40 

Section 28. 

Benry Heath, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 19, 1833 .50 

B. B. Kercheval, Wayne County, Mich., Dec. 7, 1833 80 

E. Winslow. Berrien County. Mich., Dec. 22, 1834 78 

/.. Smith, Erie County. N. Y., April 8 and July 16, 1835 80 

W. W. Sanford, Erie County, X. Y., Oct. 3, 1835 40 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., Oct. 15. 183.) 40 

Charles Butler, New York City, Oct. 21. 1835 80 

X. Dumbottom, Xew York City, May 2, 1836 80 

D. Goodwin, New York City, Nov. 30, 1835 »0 

Section 29. 
C. Loomis and 0. Green, Ontario County, X. Y., Sept. 23, 

1830 112 

J. Hussy. Erie County. N. Y., July .3, 1832 80 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



J. W., Wniiam W., E. F. and S. J. Bailey, Erie County, N. Y., 

Feb. 14, 1833 80 

Henry Heath, Erie County, N. Y., June 25, 1833 320 

Skctio.v 30. 

A. Chapman, Windsor County, Vt., Sept. 16, 1831 8fi 

J. Pattengell, Erie County, N., Y., Oct. 1, 1831 80 

T. T. Lewi.s. Herrien County, Mich., Feb. 13, 1833 40 

E. Huntley, Erie County, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1833 80 

J. W. Abbott, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 3, 1833 40 

Jonathan Abbott, Cass County, Mich., May 27, 1834 40 

D. W. Briggs, Berrien County, Mich., June 10, 1834 80 

S. Chandler, Jr., Madison County, N. Y., June 16, 1834 80 

R. C. Clark, Madison County, N. Y., June 16, 1834 80 

Veler Lyon, Ontario County, N. Y., June 24, 1834 40 

Section 31. 

John Pattengell, Erie County, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1831 87 

Ezra Williams, Erie County, N. Y., April 9, 1832 80 

Zina Rhoades. Erie County, Sept. 28, 1833 160 

J. W. Abbott, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 3, 1833 40 

N. Bacon, Berrien County, Mich., Oct. 7, 1833 87 

J. Abbott, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 21, 1834 40 

William C. Collins, Berrien County, Mich., June 24, 1834.... 80 

0. Johnson, Erie County, N. Y., July 3, 18^4 80 

Section 32. 
J. W,, William W., E. F. and 8. Bailey, Erie County, N. Y., 

Feb. 14, 1833 80 

H. Albert, Jr., Erie County, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1833 160 

J. A. Elliott, Litchfield County, Conn., June 13, 1834 80 

Peter Lyon, Ontario County, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1834 40 

Thomas Wheeler, Berrien County, Mich., Feb. 23, 1835 80 

E. Huntley, Cass County, Mich , July 10, 1835 40 

S. Waldo, Columbia County, N. Y , July 17, 1835 80 

A. H. Frizelle, Greenup County, Ky., Feb. 11, 1837 80 

Section 33. 

A. I. Dunbir, Berrien County, Mich., Aug. 4, 1835 40 

John H. Woods, (;a8s County, Mich., Aug. 4, 1835 40 

J. H. Heath, New York City, .Vug. 10, 1835 160 

William Morris, Cass County, Mich., March 5, 1836 80 

John G. Bond, Berrien County, Mich., Feb. 4, 1837 40 

George and Charles Bond, Berrien County, Mich., Feb. 4, 

1837 80 

A. H. Frizelle, Greenup County, Ky., Feb. 11, 1837 200 

Section 34. 

George McCoy. Cass County, Mich., June 17, 1831 80 

George McCoy. Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1834 40 

Austin Stocking, Columbia County, N. Y., Jan. 22, 1835 40 

George McCoy, Cass County, Mich., July 1, 1H35 80 

Section 35. 
H. P. Voorhies, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 23, 1835.. 320 

Peter Putman, Montgomery County, N. Y., May 7, 1836 240 

Mary Smith, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 20, 1849 40 

Section 30. ! 

Leonard Kellogg, Nov. 10, 1835 40 \ 

William Schneck, Herkimer County, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1835 40 

Hiram Rogers, Casa County, .Mich., April 23, 1836 840 

Grove Laurence, George Beach, W. H. Imlay, Onondaga 

County, N. Y.. May 14, 1836 280 

H. Wilkinson, Cass County, Mich., July 20, 1836 40 

Thomas T. Lewis, Cass County, Mich., July 23, 1830 120 j 

E. L. Yates, Montgomery County, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1830 80 j 



Howard Township was organized by an act of the 
Territorial Legislature, approved March 7, 1834, and 
text of the enacting clause reads as follows : "All that 
part of the county of Cass comprised in surveyed 
Township 7 south, in Range 1*3 west, be a town- 
' ship, by the name of Howard, and the first town- 
ship meeting shall be held at the dwelling house of 
John Fosdick, in said township." 

The early records of the township have been de- 
stroyed, but the following comprises a 

POLL LIST. 

for the election held August 21 and 22, 1837 : Ira 
I Perkins, John W. Abbott, Jonathan Wells, 0. D. S. 
Gallup, Zenos Smith, Henry Heath, J. V. R. Per- 
kins, Ezekiel C. Smith, Amasa Smith, Ephraim 
Huntley, Joseph C. Teats, Ebner Emmons, Arthur 
C. Blue, Charles Stephenson, Zina Rhodes, Na- 
thaniel Dumboltom, Eli Rice, Jr., Daniel Partridge, 
Gurdon B. Fitch, Sylvenon Dumboltom, Calvin 
Kinney, Nathan McCoy, Henry L. Gould, Jonathan 
E. Wells. 

This township was originally settled by Eastern 
people, all of whom were termed " Yankees," irrespect- 
ive of what locality they were from, and " Hoosiers," 
and there existed, for a long time, quite a strife be- 
tween the two factions as regards political preference, 
and it was "Yankee" or " Hoosier " instead of 
Whigs or Democrats, in their early elections, and at 
first, the Hoosiers obtained the victory, but their con. 
quests continued but a short time, for they were soon 
outnumbered, and consequently outvoted by their op- 
ponents. 

This spirit of sectional differences existed in the 
ordinary affairs of life, and the young people did not 
commingle in their pleasures. The first one to break 
the lines of conservatism was William Weed, who 
married Squire Thompson's daughter, and the old 
gentleman entertained serious doubts about the expe- 
diency of the union, and when Ezekiel C. Smith repaired 
to his house to perform the marriage ceremony, he 
inquired, in a very solicitous tone : " Do you know 
anything about this 'ere man that is going to marry 
my gal '!" and he felt quite reconciled when assured 
that he was an exemplary young man, and would 
make a good husband. From this time on a better 
feeling pervaded, and soon a feeling of amity extended 
over the entire population. 

In this connection it might be mentioned that in 
all probability the marriage of Isaac Beehimer to Miss 
Phillips, daughter of Thomas Phillips, in the fall of 
1832, was the first one consummated in the township. 
Squire Edwards performing the ceremony that 
fastened the connubial knot. The settlers were early 



342 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



reminded of their future state by tlie death of Mrs. 
Marrs, who died in 1832 or 1833, and this was the first 
death that occurred in the township of which the his- 
torian can learn. 

The boundaries of Howard were surveyed by Will- i 
iam Brookfield, D. S., in 1827, and subdivisions com- 
pleted by him July 11, 1828, as per contract with 
Edward Tiffin, Surveyor General of the United 
States. 

There are no streams of any consequence in the 
township, but it possesses a remarkable lake which 
was formerly known as Lake Alone, from its isolated 
situation, no other lake being very near it. Its waters 
are remarkably pure and soft, and as no surface 
streams empty into it, it must be supplied with under- 
ground springs. It has no outlet except an artificial 
one, for it is the base of the water supply of Niles, five 
miles distant, to which place water is conducted by 
means of underground pipes. On the east bank of 
Barren Lake as it is now called, is a hotel to which 
pleasure parties repair in the summer time. 

It is quite certain that this township has been the 
site of very severe battles fought by its aboriginal or 
prehistoric inhabitants, for Mr. E. C. Smith, with the 
assistance of his father and brother, made excavations 
in a mound on the farm of R. Earl in 1835, and there 
found the skeletons of hundreds of warriors, who were 
buried in a circle, with their heads all lying toward a 
common center. Great clefts or cuts in the skulls of 
a large number was conclusive evidence of their hav- 
ing met a sudden death from blows inflicted with a 
tomahawk, hatchet or similar sharp pointed instru- 
ments. 

Some of the skeletons were charred by fire, 
and it is possible that some of them met a horrible 
death at the stake, after the manner of Indian war- 
fare. But whether friend and foe met here and in- 
terred their dead after a hard-fought battle, will never 
be known, for a blank page represents the unwritten 
history of these early times and events. 

In 1833, William Young erected the first frame 
barn in the township, on Section 14, where it still 
stands. George Fosdick probably constructed the 
first farm house in the township, in Section 21, in 
1835, which is still standing, while the first brick 
one was built by John Pettingill in Section 31, in 
1842. About the latter date farmers began to erect 
better buildings, and discard the rude log structures, 
which had well served their time, and over the entire 
township can be found fine farm buildings and culti- 
vated fields, while the Indian trails and deer paths 
have given way to suitably constructed wagon roads, 
and the old settlers and their descendants are enjoy- 
ing the results of many years of patient toil. 



.STATISTICS AND PRODUCTIONS. 

Although destitute of a village, or even a post 
office, Howard has a population of 974, and this pop- 
ulation is engaged in farming on 152 farms of 17,152 
acres, 11,168 of which are improved. In 1879, there 
was raised upon 3,313 acres, 62,070 bushels of wheat, 
which is an average of 18.74 bushels per acre ; from 
2,171 acres planted to corn, 73,802 bushels were 
husked, while from 659 acres sown to oats, 15,838 
bushels were thrashed. In 1880, there were owned in 
the township 519 head of horses, 815 head of cattle, 
1,037 hogs, while in 1879, 1,888 sheep produced 8,- 
843 pounds of wool. Apples and small fruits are 
raised in abundance, and this showing contrasts 
strongly with the township when William Kirk first 
decided to make it his home. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school in the northwestern portion of the 
township was taught by Joseph Harter, in a discarded 
log house in the winter of 1833, and among the early 
school teachers was Fanny Bailey. 

The township now comprises seven whole and one 
fractional districts, with 265 children between the 
ages of five and twenty years. District No. 1 has 
a brick schoolhouse, valued at $1,000, with a seating 
capacity of 56; No. 2, a frame building valued at 
$900, seating capacity 60 ; No. 3, a frame building 
valued at $875, seating capacity 48 ; No. 4, a brick 
building valued at $100, seating capacity 40 ; No. 
7, a frame building valued at $800, seating capacity 
30 ; No. 8 (fractional) frame valued at $800, seating 
capacity 36; No. 10, frame valued at $600, seating 
capacity 50 ; No. 11, brick, value $700, seating ca- 
pacity 44. During the past school year, $558 was 
paid male, and $1,012 female teachers. The town- 
ship has a library of 500 volumes. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The only church in the township is the Methodist 
Episcopal, which was organized by Rev. W. H. Samp- 
son with six members, viz.: James and Ann Coulter, 
Dennis and Cynthia A. Parmalee, Eliza Smith and 
Elizabeth Young. In 1858, they built a house of 
worship costing $1,300, called Coulter's Chapel, from 
the fact that the church lot was given by James Coul- 
ter, who also assisted liberally in its construction. It 
now has a membership of fifteen. 

The following comprises a list of tlie principal civil 
officers of the township : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1834, Samuel Mars; 1835, George Fosdick; 1836- 
37, Henry Heath ; 1838, Thomas Glenn ; 1830-43, 






HeKKV /LDRICH- 



f/lF?S.HEKR/ /LDF^ICH. 



£rL____,4 .^!^ 





F^ESIDEj\lCE OF H E]\'f^V /LD F^ I C H, O/JTV/yX, JVIICH- 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



343 



Ezekiel C. Smith ; 1844, James Shaw ; 1845, Oscar 
Jones ; 1846, James Shaw ; 1847-48, J. N. Chip- 
man ; 1849, Oscar Jones ; 1850, Elam Harter; 1851, 
Oscar Jones; 1852-53, Ezekiel C. Smith; 1854, 
Elam Harter ; 1855-56, Ezekiel C. Smith ; 1857-58, 
Benjamin Cooper, Jr.; 1859, William Curtis ; 1860, 
Ezekiel C. Smith; 1861-70, William H. Doane; 
1871-74, H. S. Hadsell; 1875-76, Benjamin 0. 
Vary ; 1877, William H. Doane ; 1878-79, Walton 
W. Harder; 1880-81, Asher J. Shaw. 

TREASURERS. 

1836, Joseph H. Abbott ; 1837, S. Dumbolton ; 
1839-42, James Coulter ; 1843, William H. Doane, 
1844-55, H. D. Gallup ; 1856-58, Perry P. Perkins; 
1859-60, James G. Willard; 1861-62, Alexander 
Cooper ; 1863-64, T. C. Raridan ; 1865-66, Samuel 
Ullery; 1867-68, John Dwan; 1868-70, E. Blanch- 
ard; 1871-72, Walter W. Harder; 1873, D. P. j 
Garberich (Garberich deceased in November, 1873, 
and W. H. Doane appointed) ; 1874, Walter H. Har- 
der ; 1875-76, Elbridge T. Reed ; 1877, Nelson K. 
Allen (resigned, and G. G. Huntley appointed) ; 1878, 
G. G. Huntley; 1879-80, E. Monhan; 1881, J. 
W. Timmons. 

CLERKS. 

1834-36, Peter Eraser ; 1837, Z. Smith ; 1838, J. 
W. Abbott; 1839, Z. Smith; 1840-41, A. S. Cook; 
1842, David M. Howell ; 1843-47, Richard T. Heath ; 
1848, Robert N. Peebles ; 1849, John M. Peebles ; 
1850, Thomas H. Huston ; 1851-54, John L. Schell; 
1855-59, Thomas H. Huston ; 1860-65, James A. 
Collins; 1866-68, Perry P. Perkins; 1869, Jacob 
Keller; 1870-73, J. G. Van Evera ; 1873-81, John 
Bedford, Jr. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

1836, Henry Heath, Oliver S. Gallup, Ephraim 
Huntley, E. C. Smith ; 1837, E. C. Smith, Charles 
Campbell ; 1838, W. H. Doane ; 1839, Thomas T. 
Lewis, Z. Smith; 1840, E. C. Smith, S. Toney ; 
1841, David M. Howell, Isaiah Carberry ; 1842, W. 
H. Doane ; 1843, John L. Schell, Isaiah Carberry ; 
1844, Oliver D. S. Gallup, E. C. Smith ; 1845, J. 
L. Schell ; 1846, 0. D. S. Gallup ; 1847, James S. 
Needham ; 1848, Oscar Jones ; 1849, E. C. Smith ; 
1850, Isaiah Carberry ; 1851, Elam Hunter ; 1852, 
Oscar Jones ; 1853, E. C. Smith ; 1854, Isaiah Car- 
berry ; 1855, M. Van Ness; 1856, E. C. Smith; 
1858, Isaiah Carberry, W. H. Doane ; 1859, Isaiah 
Carberry ; 1860, E. C. Smith, John A. Snodgrass ; 
1861, W. H. Doane ; 1862, H. S. Hadsell ; 1863, 
Samuel Ullery ; 1864, E. C. Smith ; 1865, W. H. 
Doane ; 1866, Henry N. Cameron ; 1867, Hiram H. 
Hinchman ; 1868, E. C. Smith ; 1869, W. H. Doane, 



Samuel Ullery ; 1870, John Dwan ; 1871, Andrew 
T. Fort; 1872, Jerome A. Smith; 1873, W. H. 
Doane; 1874, John Dwan, Asher J. Shaw; 1875, 
W. H. Doane, H. N. Cameron, Almon Gott ; 1876, 
Jerome A. Smith ; 1877, B. 0. Vary ; 1878, Henry 
N. Cameron ; 1879, Alexander Cooper, Henry N. 
Cameron, Almon Gott; 1880, Alexander Cooper; 
1881, B. 0. Vary. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

MILTON. 

Beardsley's I'raiiie and the Towusliip lu " Ye Olilen Times "—First 
Settlers and Early Settlement— Laud Entries— Erection of Town- 
ship—Soil and Products— Religious Organizations— Schools— c'ivil 
List— Biographical. 

THE early history of Milton and Ontwa are so in- 
timately connected that it is with difficulty they 
can be appropriately separated ; together they form 
one harmonious entirety, for, from Edwardsburg, which 
was the first stopping-place of the early settlers, they 
naturally radiated into the surrounding country, and 
the boundaries of this township, lying so close to 
Edwardsburg, its attractive landscape did not fail to 
arrest the attention of the adventurous pioneer, who 
were not slow to avail themselves of the broad acres 
laid out so temptingly before them, which invited cul- 
tivation. 

A goodly portion of Beardsley's Prairie being in 
this township, it enabled the pioneers to reap almost 
immediate returns for the labor bestowed in cultivating 
its surface, while the luxuriant herbage afforded suste- 
nance for the stock brought in at this early period, so 
that although their methods of living were necessarily 
very primative, they never lacked for the absolute 
necessities of life. 

According to the belief of numerous parties, and 
they certainly have excellent reasons for it, John 
Hudson, who came from Ohio, was the first settler in 
this township, and he located on the farm now owned 
by Allen Dunning, Jr., in Section 11, which was pur- 
chased by his father in 1836. Hudson purchased this 
land, eighty acres, of the United States Government, 
November 26, 1830, and after disposing of the same, 
returned to his former home in Ohio, with his love 
for pioneer life thoroughly satiated. Others think 
that to J. Melville belongs the credit of having first 
located in the township, and on the land now owned 
by Mrs. A. Jennings, in Section 24, and which he 
purchased of the United States Government Septem- 
ber 24, 1829. He certainly can claim priority of 
purchase. Melville was a native Scotchman, and a 
a blacksmith by trade, although he never plied this 
avocation in his pioneer home except in his own behalf 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



or to meet the pressing necessities of a neighbor, when 
his knowledge of the art possessed by mythological 
Vulcan proved most acceptable. Like many of those 
who first plowed the virgin soil, he moved away, as 
emigrants began to pour in and fill up the county, and 
where he passed the final years of his life cannot be 
ascertained. Among those who first settled in this 
township was Cannon Smith, who was born in the 
State of Delaware, and started for the West from the 
county of Sussex, that State, in the summer of 1828. 
At this period railroads were unknown in this county, 
and they started on their long journey toward the 
setting sun with his family, except Mrs. Smith, closely 
stowed away in the capacious wagon, which also con- 
tained all their worldly goods. Mrs. Smith performed 
the journey in a covered two-wheeled gig. While en 
route, he stopped for one month in Delaware County, 
Ohio, where he visited a brother, and there received in- 
formation which caused him to make Cass County the 
terminal point of his journey. He reached Edwards- 
burg October 11, 1828, which was on the eleventh 
birthday of Wesley, one of his sons. He made Ed- 
wardsburg his home until the spring of 1831, pursuing 
the avocation of farming in the meantime, at one 
time, working the farm of the famous old pioneer 
Ezra Beardsley. November 8, 1829, he purchased his 
land — 160 acres — in Section 14, this township, but 
did not move on the same until the spring of 1831, 
and then into the first frame house built in the town- 
ship, erected by himself, in the interim. One peculiar- 
ity regarding this house was the unique manner in which 
the lumber for its erection was prepared, the tools con- 
sisting of an ax, draw-shave, hammer and auger. 
After the trees had been felled and split, and hewn 
out into siding as nearly as possible, the draw shave 
was brought into requisition, and the furnishing labor 
performed with it. The studding and braces were split 
out like fence-rails, and then laboriously smoothed on 
one side to an even surface. The frame was fastened 
together with wooden pins, and the roof consisted of 
"shakes," held down with poles. Altogether, it was 
a most ingeniously constructed house, and shows that 
when necessity required, the hardy pioneer was equal 
to any emergency. In this house was entertained, 
and free of expense, a large number of emigrants as 
they came in the country, while erecting a log cabin 
to shelter them, and the hospitable board was ever 
spread for the stranger as they passed into or west- 
ward through the county. Reverberating through 
the house could many times have been heard 
hymns of praise, as sung by worshipers gathered 
there to hear the word of life proclaimed by some 
minister of the Gospel. Mr. Smith was a devout 
Methodist, but his religion was broad and liberal , 



enough to include those of other denominations, and his 
house was considered the home of the ministers of all 
creeds. Money, at this time, was diflBcult to obtain, 
and in order to secure enough to meet the second pay- 
ment on his farm, Mr. Smith journeyed on foot to and 
from the State of Delaware, an undertaking from 
which the most enterprising young farmer of to-day 
would shrink from performing. Mr. Smith died in 
1843, and his wife, Charlotte (Handy), in 1872. His 
family consisted of ten children, of whom John H. 
and Elizabeth are in Indiana ; George, Kittura and 
Henry, deceased; Emeline in Milton ; Mary (Mrs. 
Wooster) in Milton, while Wesley and Cannon reside 
on the old farm, the latter occupying the old home- 
stead. 

In those halcyon days the name of Peter Truitt 
was familiar to all, he being a very active energetic 
business man, who emigrated from his birthplace in 
Sussex County, June 17, 1831, his journey taking 
forty-four days. He first sold goods at Bertrand, but 
soon brought them to Milton Township, where he 
opened up the first stock of goods brought in the 
township, and almost simultaneously commenced keep- 
ing a tavern, where for years he did the honor of 
" mine host " to all who had occasion to 3top at the 
" White Oak Tree Tavern," which was the name by 
which his tavern was designated by many, because 
of a monstrous white oak tree that grew near it, 
which about fifteen feet from the ground threw out 
three immense branches, one to the north and alter- 
nately above it one to the south and to the east, as if 
welcoming all from these directions to the entertain- 
ment to be found, almost beneath its wide-spreading 
branches. 

Mr. Truitt was married four times, first to Mary 
(Simpler), who died in Delaware, and by whom he 
had five children, viz.: John M., who married Ann ~ 
Eliza Carpenter, and now resides in Edwardsburg; 
Elizabeth C. (Mrs. J. Tittle), and Henry P. and 
David T., who are farmers in Milton, and Eliaa S. 
(deceased). Elizabeth McKnitt, whom he also mar- 
ried in Delaware, was his second wife, and by whom 
he had two children — Mary Jane (Mrs. J. Butts), in 
Milton, and Esther Ann (Mrs. J. Griffith), in Green- 
ville, Mich. His third consort was Deborah McKnitt, 
and of the fruits of this marriage there is but one 
child living — Mr. James M. Truitt, who resides in 
Milton. By his fourth wife, Mrs. Sarah McKnitt, he 
had no children. Mr. Truitt was born February 7, 
1801, and resided on the fiirra he purchased so many 
years before, until his death December 5, 1881. Pre- 
vious to his death, his health was very poor, and mind 
considerably shattered, but should one ask him any- 
thing regarding his religious experiences, he would be 



HISTORY OF CASS COUiNTY, MICHIGAN. 



345 



found bright on this subject, for he was an active 
Methodist, and identified himself with this denomina- 
tion when there were but ten members in the congre- 
gation, and has been ever since a zealous supporter of 
the cause, and it is a remarkable fact that when all 
things sublunary had almost faded from his mind, 
his knowledge of spiritual aff.iirs continued bright 
and clear like an oasis in the sandy desert, until his 
death. 

Spencer Williams accompanied Peter Truitt when 
he came to this county, and for several years subse- 
quent to his arrival worked for him by the month, 
until by a systematic course of saving, the wages paid 
being quite small, he was enabled to purchase eighty 
acres of land, which was improved, and added to from 
time to time, until he possessed a fine farm. He, in 
common with others, had many discouragements, and 
although they might be considered trivial, assume im- 
portance in proportion to the surrounding circum- 
stances, as was the case when he possessed but $27, and 
loaned one-half, which he never received, and had the 
balance stolen ; at another time, his season's labor was 
destroyed in a few hours by the flames burning up a 
large quantity of prairie hay he had made. Mr. 
Williams' death occurred in 1877, and that of his wife 
Sarah (Smith), in 1881. Eight children survive them 
— John H., the eldest, being in Jefferson ; George 
W., a farmer in Milton, while the old farm is con 
ducted by Amos, and with whom reside Mary and 
Larrenia, his sisters. Eliza (Mrs. Crittenden) is a 
resident of Howell, this State, as is also her brother 
Samuel, while Eunice (now Mrs Clark) constitute the 
balance of this family. 

J. Morris, J. Melville and J. Hathaway came in 
this township together in March, 1829, and neighbors 
being almost an unknown quantity, formed quite a 
nucleus for a settlement, but the first two named did 
not remain many years before going to Indiana, where, 
surrounded by the thick woods, they continued their 
pioneer life. Mr. Morris possessed a fife upon which 
he delighted to play, and thus was enabled to while 
away what would otherwise have been some very 
tedious hours, while at the same time it afforded 
amusement for others. 

The State of Delaware paid tribute to this section 
of the county by way of sending her noble sons and 
daughters, who came in such numbers and settled so 
nearly together that it was known as the Delaware 
settlement. They have been amply repaid for emi- 
grating to this section, as the finely cultivated forms 
in their possession and that of their descendants 
plainly indicate. Edward Shanahan was a native of 
Delaware, the year 1806 being the date of his birth. 
In 1832, he came with his wife, Rebecca (Kimmey), 



to this county, and while en route listened to the dire- 
ful stories related by those who were, as they supposed, 
fleeing from certain death, for the Sauk war scare 
occurred this year; but, nothing daunted, he pressed 
forward, and located on Beardsley's Prairie, where he 
remained until 1855, when he removed to Jefferson 
Township, but now resides in Milton. Although not 
an aspirant for ofiice, notwithstanding he always took 
a deep interest in political affairs, he was elected to 
the House of Representatives in 1860. When wend- 
ing his way westward with a one-horse wagon, it is 
doubtful if he anticipated the success that has crowned 
his efforts in his chosen avocation, that of farming. 
Ten of the fifteen children that have crowned his 
marital relations still survive, of whom Henry, Clif- 
ford and Judson are in Wisconsin ; Joseph, in Van 
Buren County ; James, in Ontwa ; Edward, who 
works the farm on which his parents reside ; while 
Sarah (Mrs. Kelley) is in Edwardsburg ; and Louisa 
is the wife of Dr. Taylor. Mr. Shanahan is still an 
active business man, and spends a portion of his time 
in Wisconsin with his children, supervising their 
affairs. His brother Clifford was elected Judge of 
Probate, which oflUce he filled in 1864. 

In the spring of 1836, A. P. Bachus first entered the 
county of Cass, and has no cause to regret the choice he 
made of a home. In 1838, he married Malinda Norris, 
who came with her parents from Erie County, N. Y., 
and to Edwardsburg in 1837, subsequently removing to 
Indiana. In 1838, Miss Norris taught the first school 
in that district — No. 2 — an old cooper shop first being 
used for a schoolhouse, but in a few weeks removed to 
a barn, which had been prepared for the reception of 
the school, but even here the rudest seats and benches 
were used, utility rather than beauty being the great 
desideratum. She had fifty scholars under her charge. 
Before the school terra was completed, it was broken 
up with the ague, which then spread like an epidemic. 
They claim, with one exception, that of Dr. Morgan, 
to be the oldest married couple in the township. 

In the fall of 1834, Henry Aldrich and N. Sage 
started for the West with a single horse and wagon, 
and stopped in Berrien County, where Mr. Aldrich 
remained until 1837, when he removed to Milton 
Township, which is his present home. He has been 
a most successful farmer, and the buildings he has 
erected are a credit to himself and his township. 
His commendable pride regarding buildings is no 
doubt in a measure due to his early trade, that of car- 
penter and joiner, which developed a taate for archi- 
tectural beauty. This trade he followed for three 
years after coming here, and many marks of his 
han<liwork yet remain in this and other townships. 
Mr. Aldrich has been prominently identified with the 



346 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



public affairs of his township, as will be seen in the- 
civil list, and has done much to promote and develop 
the interests of the same. He is a son of James 
Aldrich, who came in the county the same season, 
and whose death occurred in Wisconsin in 1858, to 
which State he had removed. His mother now resides 
with his brother, Dr. Levi Aldrich, in Edwardsburg. 

This township possesses many men who by their 
own industry have acquired a competency, and many 
even more than this, and among this number is R. V. 
Hicks, who, when seventeen years of age, started, in 
1835, from England for America, with his father and 
some older brothers who had been to this country, 
and at as early a date as 1831. His father returned 
to England, but his brothers purchased 500 acres of 
land, including the farm now owned by Mr. C. Had- 
den, and where he remained until 1838, when he re- 
moved to Niles and commenced work in a distillery, 
where he soon rose to the positiop of foreman. In 
1843, he abandoned distilling and settled in Milton 
Township, and he and his brother, E. P., who resides 
with him, are the only surviving boys of a family of 
six. William, who purchased the land before men- 
tioned, left the same and sailed as Captain on the 
lakes for thirty-five years. 

N. B. Dennis, who has served his township in the 
capacity of Treasurer, came from Delaware in 1833. 
His farm is located on Section 15. In 1842, he mar- 
ried Miss Margaret McMichael, who resided in In- 
diana, where she removed with her parents when 
quite young, from Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Dennis can be classed among the active, ener- 
getic, progressive men of his township. It is upon 
such men that the public can rely to further their best 
interests, for he takes an active interest in public af- 
fairs, and is willing to do his share to assist public en- 
terprises, and it is to such men that the community is 
indebted for the measure of progress they make. 

When Allen Dunning, who came from Erie County, 
Penn., reached Milton Township, in 1836, speculation 
was rife and the price of land had advanced to what 
seemed an extravagant price, $7 per acre, which was 
what he paid for land in Section 11. 

He had a large family, and Mrs. Dunning laugh- 
ingly recalls the time when numerous heads appeared 
at every available opening to view the passing stranger; 
but on the same principle that many hands make 
light work, many happy hearts make a happy home, 
and this certainly was one as much in those early 
days, when deprived of the many now considered in- 
dispensable adjuncts to a home, as when in later years 
they became possessed of them. All who meet Mrs. 
Dunning, now a lady seventy-four years of age, are 
charmed with her kindly manner and pleasantly beam- 



ing countenance, and it is no subject of wonder that 
their house was seldom without visitors, either friends 
or strangers, in those early days when such a house- 
hold was prized the more highly because of existing 
circumstances. 

Mr. Dunning was possessed of that happy faculty 
of remembering every description of land to which 
his attention had been called, and he was almost in- 
variably consulted as the oracle on such matters by 
those who were seeking out a desirable place to locate. 
Mr. Dunning deceased in 1869, and of his family 
there are now living Sarah (Mrs. C. Smith) ; Ale- 
meda (Mrs. W. Smith) ; and Averill, all in Milton, 
together with Allen, who resides with his mother on 
the old homestead ; Charlotte, Mrs. E. Morris, on 
Little Prairie Ronde ; Martha, Mrs. Bement, in In- 
diana ; John, in La Grange ; Emmett, in Howard ; 
Martin V., in Pokagon ; and Dyer B., a merchant in 
Edwardsburg. 

Manlove C. Beauchamp left his native heath in 
Kent County, Del., in the spring of 1836, and re- 
moved with his family to a place in close proximity 
to Niles, and one year subsequent to Indiana, and 
several times changed his residence between these 
two places as the demand of his trade required, he 
being by trade a carpenter and joiner, he, in the 
meantime, clearing up some land in Indiana. In 
1847, he removed to Milton Township, and in 1857 
to the farm now occupied by his son J. H. Beauchamp. 
Of his children, Mary S. is in Berrien County ; 
Margaret S., in Niles ; Emily A., in California, and 
Harriet J., in South Bend, Ind. ; four are deceased. 
Mr. C. Beauchamp died in 1872, and his widow 
Mary (Walton), aged sixty-six, resides with her 
daughter, Mrs. Durham. J. H., the only representa- 
tive of the family in the county, is a progressive 
farmer, and takes an active interest in public affairs. 

Caleb B. GriflSth came to Cass County some time 
in the forties and purchased land in Section 21, where 
his widow now resides, with two of her children, his 
death occurring in 1869. One son, Washington 
Irving, also resides on a portion of the farm left by 
his father, who was a very industrious man and knew 
what it was to accumulate property by his own ex- 
ertions. 

George Tittle was one of the first settlers in Van 
Buren County, the date of his settlement there being 
1831, and his daughter Eliza's marriage with Elijah 
Goble was the first marriage consummated in that 
county, the date being 1833. At the time of his 
removal, his son Jacob was but eleven years of age, 
and he recalls those early events with the greatest 
distinctness, it being his portion to do all the errands 
for the family, he at one time going to Cassopolis, 



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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



34t 



after some groceries, when it could boast of but one 
store. Twenty-five years ago, Jacob removed to the 
farm he now owns in Section 9, Milton Township. 
His wife, Elizabeth, is the oldest daughter of the 
veteran pioneer Peter Truitt. 

Mr. M. Carpenter, who came from Susse.x County, 
Del., in 183t), became the victim of a certain class of 
persons denominated " land sharks" by the early 
settlers. He was totally destitute of book education, 
for he is unable to read or write, and being of an un- 
suspicious nature fell readily into the trap prepared 
for him by one of the aforesaid gentry, one of 
whom claimed to possess eighty acres of land, for 
which he asked $1,000. The price was satisfactory 
to Edwards and he paid $600 in silver coin, which he 
poured out of an old shot pouch or bag, it being all 
the money he possessed, and gave his promissory note 
for $400 with the understanding that the deed should 
be forthcoming in due time, whereas he did not pos- 
sess the land in question and had only had some con- 
versation regarding its purchase. When the truth 
dawned upon Mr. Edwards, he became discouraged 
and decided to leave the West as soon as money suf- 
ficient could be procured, but Mr. A. H. Redfield, 
who was agent for the land, made him such a favorable 
proposition for it that he concluded to remain, and 
has been quite successful, notwithstanding the difficul- 
ties in the way of an education he has been obliged 
to contend with. He ran the first threshing machine 
brought into this section, and now, at the age of eighty- 
one years, is a resident of Edwardsburg. A swift re- 
tribution followed his "swindler," who went to Wis- 
consin and purchased a farm with the money and 
was shortly after killed by the premature discharge 
of his gun while hunting. 

Benjamin Parsons and James Maston came to Cass 
County on 1844, and Mr. Parsons first purchased 
land on Beardsley's Prairie, and after a time in Sec- 
tion 23, where he died in 1865, and on which place his 
widow now lives, he having been very successful in 
his chosen avocation. His wife, Mary P. (Abbott), 
came with her parents also from Kent County, Del., 
when she formed the acquaintance of her future hus- 
band, and they settled on Section 14, and here it was 
that Mrs. Parsons cultivated flowers in this then 
comparatively new country. Her parents both died 
in this county. 

Among the early settlers of prominence was An- 
drew Jackson, who possessed a history of more than 
ordinary interest, in that he was impressed into the 
British naval service, and was with Nelson at the bat- 
tle of Trafalgar. He came to Cass County at an 
early day, and located on the farm where Mr. R. Enos 
now lives, and where he remained until his death. 



None of his family now reside in the county. He was 
a man of powerful frame and exercised considerable 
influence in an early day. 

Phillip Shintafiier and family, consisting of three 
sons and two sons-in-law, came to Beardsley's Prairie, 
and settled, in 1831, on the farm now owned by Cool 
Runkle, and resided there until his death, his wife's 
death also occurring here. The children all moved 
West. Little can be learned regarding this family, 
except that they were quite rough in their manners, 
they being frontiersmen of the broadest type. 

James Taylor, a man of more than ordinary ability, 
settled in Milton in an early day, on the farm now 
owned by Mrs. George Sutton. He used to do con- 
siderable petifogging, and was a man who assumed 
considerable importance in any community where he 
cast his lot. He was a wagon-maker, also carpenter 
and joiner by trade, and erected the first M. E. Church 
in Milton. He removed to Oregon, where he came 
near being elected Governor. 

G. O'Dell was also an early settler, but removed to 
Iowa. 

Oliver Drew, who made the first land entry in 1829, 
is deceased, and no representative of his family now 
resides here. In 1830, Hiram Rogers, Luther Cha- 
pin and Calvin Taylor made entries of land in Sec- 
tion 1. 

ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES. 
.Section 1. 

Oliver Drew, New York. Sept. 26, 1829 ^ 80 

Hiram Rogers, Niagara County, N. Y., Sept. 27, 18.30 80 

Luther Chapin, Niagara County, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1830 80 

Calvin Taylor, Erie County, Penn., Sept. 27, 1830 80 

Daniel Brown, Cass County, Mich., ,Iune 6, 1831 .' 80 

Oliver Drew, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1831 80 

Isaac Butler, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 27, 1831 80 

Andrew Jackson, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 4, 1836 80 

Section 2. 

Oliver Drew, New York, Sept. 26, 1829 80 

D. Burnham and F. K. Smith, New Hampshire, June 13, 



1831. 



Stanbury Smith, Cass County, Mich., June 3, 1835 

Spencer Williams, Cass County, Mich., July 14, 1835 

Philip Shintaffer, Cas,'? County, Mich., July 14, 1835 

F. Bronson, New York City, July 22, 1835 

E. Shanaban, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 4, 1836 

Lawrence, Beach it luilay, Onondaga County, N. \., May 17 
1836 



Section 3. 

George McCoy, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Dec. 17, 1834 40 

John Rounsefell, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 14, 1835 40 

D. Clark, Montgomery County, N. V., June 23, 1835 442 

Frederick Bronson, New York City, .luly 22, 1836 80 



Hiram Wray, Cass County, Mich., June 18, 1834 

Winslow & McCoy, Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 18, 1834.. 
J. Rounsefell, Cass County, Mich.. Dec. 29, 1884 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



H. P. Voorhies, Montgomery Couaty, N. Y., June 22, 1835... IBO 

Frederick Bronson, New York City, July 22, 1835 80 

J, H. Hatch, New York City, Aug. 11, 1835 40 

Section 5. 

T. Wray, Cass County, Mich., June 18, 1834 40 

Arthur Johnson, Erie County, N. Y., July 15, 1834 40 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 23, 1834 120 

T. Wheeler, Feb. 23, 1835 80 

J. H. H,atch, New York City, Aug. 7, 1835 320 

Peter Tniitt, Cass County. Mich., Feb. 2, 1837 40 

Section 6. 

Benjamiu F. LarueJ, Wayne County, Mich., July 19, 1830... 80 

John H. .Smith, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 28, 1832 40 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 9, 1833 85 

Nathaniel Bacon, Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 18, 1833 87 

William M. Wray, Berr.en County, Mich., March 17, 1834... 40 

William Miokel, Erie County, N. Y., May 14, 1834 200 

John Rosewarne, Ontario County, N. Y., June 25, 1834 80 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 23, 1834 40 

Section 7. 

Benjamin F. Lamed, Wayne County, Mich., July 19, 1880... 80 

John H. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 28, 1832 , 40 

Benjamin B. Kercheval, Wayne County, Mich., Dec. 7, 1833, 86 

William Bradbury, Berrien County, Mich., May 27, 1834 80 

John Rosewarne, Ontario County, N. Y., June 25, 1834 120 

William Truitt, Cass County, Mich., July 19, 1834 80 

John G. Bond, Berrien County, Mich., July 23, 1834 80 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 22, 1834 88 

Section 8. - 

Henry Drew, Berrien County, Mich., Oct. 26, 1831 80 

T. Wray, Cass County, Mich., June 18. 1834 40 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 23, 1834 80 

Adam Smith, Berrien County, Mich., Sept. 1, 1834 80 

William Holland, Sussex County, Del., Dec. 20, 1834 80 

Samuel Hulin, Berrien County, Mich., Jan. 2, 1835 40 

J. Hulin, Cass County, Mich., July 7, 1835 40 

Samuel Hulin, Cass County, Mich., .luly 7, 1835 80 

C. K. Green, Cass Couaty, Mich., July 22, 1834 80 

J. H. Hatch, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 10. 1834 40 

Section 9. 

S. Toney, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 31, 1832 .- 40 

Hiram Wray, Cass County, Mich , June 18, 1834 40 

William Truitt, Cass County, Mich., July 19, 1834 80 

Thomas Stanton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 20, 1834 80 

Asa Lane, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 20, 1834 40 

Clement Shockley, Cass County, Mich., July 10, 1834 40 

Clement Shockley, Cass County, Mich., July 10, 1835 40 

C K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 22, 1835 40 

Z. Skinner, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 29, 1835 40 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., Sept. 15, 1835 160 

Silas Baldwin, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 30, 1836 80 

Section 10. 

Peter Shanahan, Cass County, Mich , Jan. 15,1834 40 

P. Truitt, Cass County, Mich., May 23, 1834 80 

E. W. Jones, Erie County, N. Y., June 1, 1835 40 

H. P. Voorhies, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 22, 1835... 144 

John W. Fountain, Cass County, Mich., June 25. 1836 40 

William White, Cass County, Mich., July 1, 1836 40 

L. W. .Stockley, Cass County, Mich , July 10, 1835 40 



F. Bronson, New York City, July 22, 1836 S 

J. H. Hatch, New York City, Jan. 13, 1836 4 

William Truitt Cass County, Mich., Jan. 13, 1836 4 

Z. Skinner, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 30, 1836 S 

Section 11. 

John Hadden, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1829.... S 

James F. Loro, New York, Jan. 4 1830 16 

John Hudson, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 26, 1830 8 

Smith & Burnham, New Hampshire, June 10, 1831 16 

E. Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 9, 1833 4 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 22, 1835 4 

Section 12. 

John Hudson, Cass County, Mich., April 29, 1830 8 

John Garwood, Warren County, Ohio, May 15, 1830 8 

John C. Langdon, Wayne County, Mich , Jan. 11, 1830 8 

R. P. & J. H. Wadsworth, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1830 \t 

Alfred Lord, Erie County, Penn., July 5, 1830 U 

Daniel Brown, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 26, 1830 8 

Section lH. 

Cannon Smith, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 16 

Thomas Sullivan, Darke County, Ohio, Oct. -26, 1829 8 

John Hudson, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 2, 1830 8 

G. O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Jan 7, 1830 8 

Philip Shintaffer, Greene County, Ind., Sept. 7, 1830 16 

Adiim Miller, Franklin County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 18.30 8 



Section 14. 
David Harkrider, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 6, 1829. 

Cannon Smith, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 8, 1829 

Gabriel O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 1834 

Nemiah Dennis, Berrien County, Mich., Jan. 26, 183 
0. K. Miller, Berrien County, Mich., July 22, 1835.. 



Section 15. 

Peter Truitt, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1831 V2 

Cannon Smith, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 10, 1834 16 

A. M. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10. 1834 4 

Cannon Smith, Cass County, Mich., April 28, 1834 8 

Peter Truitt, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 13, 1834 4 

Thomas Powell, Cass County, Mich., July 19, 1834 4 

Asa Lane, Cass County, Mich., 060.2(1,1.-34 4 

Peter Truitt, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 20, 1834 4 

C. K. Green, CassCounty, Mich., July 22, 1834 8 



Section 16. 
School Lands. 

Section 17. 

H. 0. Heath, Erie County, N. Y., May 7, 1832 160 

Hiel Truesdail, Branch County, Mich., Oct. 26, 1833 40 

Samuel Hulin, Berrien County, Mich., April 9, 1835 80 

George Heath, Erie County, N. Y., July 3, 1835 160 

C. K. Green, Berrien County, Mich., July 22, 1836 40 

John Smith, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1835 80 

V. S. Bradford, Berrien County, .Mich., Oct. 20. 1835 80 

Section 18. 
Otis Jones, Chautauqua County, N. Y., July 25, 1833.. 



80 T 

Martin Fox, Berrien County, Mich., April 9, 1835 40 

James Williams, Berrien County, April 10, 1836 80 

J. Bertram, Jr., Berrien County, Mich., May 30, 1835 89 

S. Thorp, Kent County, Del., June 3. 1836 80 

William Thorp, Kent County, Del., June 3, 1835 120 

Harvey Kellogg, Geauga County, Ohio, June 20, 1835 89 

J H. Hatch, New York City, Aug. 7, 1835 80 



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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHICrAN. 



349 



Section 19. 

.loseph Doty, Erie County, N. Y.,Oct. 22, 1834 83 

Shubert Jenks, Jr., Berrien County, Mich., Aug. 11, 1835 44 

N.W. T. Thompson, Berrien County, Mich., Sept. 16, 1835... 46 

AsaM. Smith, Cass County, Mich.,. Tan. 27, 1836 80 

George Smith, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1836 80 

Section 20. ! 

.lohn H. Smith. Cass County, Mich., Aug. 29, 1835 172 ' 

William V!. Elliott, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 14, 1836 169 

Section 21. 

(George M. Beswick, Cass Co., Mich., May 2, 1835 40 

Theodore Powell, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 28, 1835 40 

K. Rargrave, St. Joseph County, Ind., Oct 1, 1835 40 

Daniel Folliner, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 23, 1836 214 



Section 22. 

Cannon Smith, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 7, 1833 80 

Adam Ringle, St Joseph County, Oct. 25, 1833 121 

.lacob Harris, Aug. 18, 1834 .-. 42 

William Manering, Cass County, Mich., April 9, 1835 40 

George W. Beswick, Cass County, Mich., June 2, 1836 40 



Section 23. 

Silas Baldwiti, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 20, 1833 

Asa M. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 20, 1833 

Silas Baldwin, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 30. 1834 

Asa M. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 25, 1834 

Thomas T. Glenn, Cass County, Mich., June 21, 1834. 

D. Folmer, Cass County, Mich., May 30, 1835 

Samuel Tomlinson, Cass County, Mich , June 2 1835. 
George Smith, Cass County, Mich , Oct. 5, 1835 



Section 24. 
Isaac Hathaway, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 



J. Melville, Lenawee County, Mich., Sept. 24, 1829 80 

Thomas Sullivan, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 26. 1830...., 76 

This township was created by an act of the Legis- 
lature of the State of Michigan, approved March 15, 
18-38, reading as follows : " All that portion of Cass 
County, designated in the United States survey as 
Township No. 8, south, of Range No. 16 west, be 
and the same is hereby set oft' and organized into a 
separate township by the name of Milton ; and the 
first township meeting therein shall be held at the 
house of Peter Truitt, Jr." Previous to this time, it 
formed a part of Ontwa, which was organized Novem- 
ber 5, 1829. The following are the principal officers 
first elected: James Aldrich, Supervisor; William 
Manning, Treas. ; H. H. Hulin, Clerk ; G. How- 
land, A.s8essor; William Elliott, Joseph S. Grifiin, 
E. Shanahan, Highway Commissioners; William 
Elliott, Asa Mead, James Taylor, School Inspectors. 
An extended list of township officers will be found 
farther on. 

This township is situated in the southwestern por- 
tion of the county, and is located between Howard on 
the north, Ontwa on the east, Berrien County on the 
West, and the State of Indiana on the south. 



The boundaries were surveyed by William Brook- 
field, and the subdivisions by him also, he completing 
them July 11, 1828. To Peter Truitt belongs the 
honor of naming the township, and Milton was selected 
because it was the name of a township in Delaware in 
which he previously resided. 

The soil is very productive, and yields ample returns 
to the husbandman for labor bestowed. Corn, wheat, 
oats, rye, barley and potatoes are cultivated exten- 
sively, and form the principal crops, while stock, such 
as cattle, horses and sheep, are raised to a considera- 
ble extent. Beardsley's Prairie, named after Ezra 
Beardsley, the first settler on it, extends along the 
eastern portion, and in no portion can the land be 
termed hilly, although in some parts it is undulat- 

I ing- 

^ The Brandywine River flows through the north- 
western corner of the township, and was utilized for 
manufacturing purposes at an early day. Three 
lakes, although not very large in size, have been dig- 
nified with names, they being Thompson's, Negro and 
Goose. 

Could those early settlers who pushed on westward, 

' or those who passed away at an early date, again re- 
visit the places once so familiar, they would witness a 
wonderful transformation, for where at that period 
stood the humble log cabin, around which was a small 
clearing, and which in turn was surrounded with 

' woods, can now be found substantial, if not stately 
farm houses, capacious barns, productive orchards, 

: and the sentinel like wind-mill, pointing with ever- 
changing fans to the many broad acres under a fine 
state of cultivation, and upon which are raised such 
abundant crops that their possessors can appropriately 
be*terraed autocrats of the land. 

In 1880, the total number of acres in farms "was 
12,223, of which 8,644 were improved; the total num- 
ber of farms being 105, made an average of 116.41 

, acres in each. 

There were 2,585 acres sown to wheat, which pro- 
duced 48,910 bushels, being an average of 18.92 bushels 
per acre. On 1,754 planted to corn, 80,400 bushels 
were harvested ; and from 440 acres sown to oats was 
threshed 11,490 bushels. There was also produced 
this year 507 bushels of clover seed, 301 bushels of 
peas, 5,075 bushels of potatoes, and 1,488 tons of hay. 
The township possesses 399 head of horses, 649 head 
of cattle, 899 of hogs, and in 1879, 859 head of sheep, 
that produced t,002 pounds of wool. 

Two hundred and fifty-five acres are planted to 
orchards, and small fruits are rftsed in abundance. 

This township is, strictly speaking, an agricultural 
one, it not possessing any village, store, post office, 
mill or manufactory of any kind, although at an early 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



day William Rosewarne erected a saw-mill on the 
Brandywine, which long since has passed away. 

The close proximity of Niles and Edwardsburg en- 
ables the people to do their trading and marketing 
with great ease. 

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 

Religious affairs received the attention of the early 
settlers, and as early as 1830-31, Rev. Erastus Fel- 
ton commenced holding religious meetings, and in 
1832, a Methodist Episcopal society was formed by 
Rev. Gurley. Among the early ministers were Revs. 
Robe, Cooper, Phelps, Armstrong, Meek, Hargrave, 
McCool, Boyd, Owen, Wood, Kellogg, Sampson and 
Vanardor. 

The first church, erected in 1838, was called Smith's 
Chapel, because of the liberality of Cannon Smith, 
one of its founders ; the cost of the church edifice 
was ^1,200. The dedicatory sermon was preached 
by Rev. James U. Watson. It was repaired in 1856, 
and again in 1877 and in 1879, was rebuilt at an ex- 
pense of $966, and is now a neat and attractive 
building. The first trustees were Jesse Smith, 
James Lomery, George Smith, M. C. Beauchamp, 
George W. Smith, Spencer Williams and Cannon 
Smith, Sr. The following comprise the present 
church officers: G. W. Smith, G. W. Williams, 
David Truitt, Trustees ; J. B. Smith, David Truitt, 
A. H. Gilford, Stewards ; J. B. Smith and J. M. 
Griffith, Leaders. 

A Protestant Methodist Church was organized and 
church building erected in Section 10, but finally 
closed for lack of support, and the building is now 
used for a town hall. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school was taught by Asa M. Smith, in 
in the double log house of Thomas Sullivan on Sec- 
tion 19, and the first schoolhouse was erected in Sec- 
tion 13, in 1831 or 1832. April 23, 1838, school dis- 
trict No. 6 voted to raise $200, by tax, with which 
to build a schoolhouse, but a protest was entered by a 
number of persons and at a special meeting they re- 
.scinded their former resolution and voted to raise $2-5 
with which to build a house and purchase a stove, so 
that in this case questionable economy ruled supreme. 
There are, however, at this time, six school districts 
all supplied with substantial school buildings. Dis- 
tricts No. 1 and 4 having brick houses and the bal- 
ance frame buildings, valued at $4,200, and having a 
total seating capacity of 268 ; the whole number of 
scholars between the ages of five and twenty years is 
175. There wai pj,id, for the fiscal year ending Au- 
gust 80, 1881, to female teachers, $681.50, and to 
males, $136.87. 



In 1845, $45 was raised by tax with which to pur- 
chase a township library for adults, and the library 
now contains thirty volumes. 

The following comprise a list of important township 
officers : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1838-40, James Aldrich ; 1841, George Smith ; 
1842, G. Rowland; 1843, J. O'Dell; 1844, James 
Taylor ; 1845, Charles P. Drew ; 1846, James Tay- 
lor; 1847-49, Henry Aldrich; 1850, James Taylor; 
1851, Henry Aldrich ; 1852, N. 0. Bowman ; 1853- 
54, Urial Enos ; 1855, Henry Aldrich; 1856, N. 0. 
Bowman ; 1857, Henry Aldrich ; 1858, R. V. Hicks; 
1859, H. Aldrich; 1860, Isaac Babcock ; 1861, 
Henry Aldrich ; 1862, Urial Enos ; 1865-72, Will- 
iam R. Olmstead; 1873-78, Richard V. Hicks; 
1879-81, William H. Olmstead. 

TREASURERS. 

1838-39, William Manning ; 1840, James Aid- 
rich ; 1841, Peter Truitt; 1842-44, Thomas Powell ; 
1845, George Smith; 1846, Wesley Smith; 1847- 
48, John Ullery ; 1849-51, James B. Smith ; 1852- 
53, John Ullery ; 1854-61, George Smith ; 1862- 
64, N. B. Dennis ; 1865-67, James B. Smith ; 1868, 
Asa Jones; 1869-73, John Barber; 1874-75, 
Charles F. Rosewarne ; 1876-77, William J. Abbott ; 
1878, John Merkle ; 1879, George M. Hadden; 
1880-81, John A. Parsons. 

CLERKS. 

( 1838-39, H. H. Hulin ; 1840, James Taylor ; 
1840-43, Henry Aldrich ; 1844, Job O'Dell ; 1845, 
Henry Aldrich ; 1846, Job O'Dell ; 1847-48, Asa 
M. Smith; 1849, William H. Olmstead; 1850-56. 
M. C. Beauchamp ; 1857, W. H. Olmstead ; 1858- 
63, William H. Powell; 1864, W. H. Olmstead; 
1865-66, J. C. Genung; 1867, William H. Powell; 
1868, M. V. B. Dunning; 1873-79, C. M. Den- 
nis: 1880, Franklin E. Lowry ; 1881, James H. 
Beauchamp. 



BIOGEAPHIOAL SKETCHES. 

PETER TRUITT. 

The name of Peter Truitt has been so long asso- 
ciated with the town of Milton, which he named, that 
its history would be incomplete without a sketch of 
his life. 

He was born in Slatter Neck. Sussex County, 
Del., February 7, 1801, and was a son of Lang- 
ford and Esther A. (Shockley). His father being a 
farmer, he was reared on a farm, and had little oppor- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



351 



tunity for self-culture. February 25, 1819, he was 
married to Mary Simpler, whose father, Milby, was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, also the war of 1812. 
She died in April, 1828. and some two years later he 
married Isabell, daughter of James and Mary Mc- 
Knitt. Learning of them any attractions in the then 
Territory of Michigan, he moved here in 1831, arriv- 
ing June 17, the journey, which was by team, occu- 
pying forty-four days. 

Having entered 80 acres of land near the center 
of the present town of Milton, he erected a double 
log house on what some three years later proved to be 
the wrong description of land, and learning that a 
Mr. O'Dell had started for the land office at White 
Pigeon to enter it, he started in the night for the land 
office, and had the satisfaction of outstripping his 
competitor and securing the coveted prize. 

Being located on the "old Detroit & Chicago 
road," he soon commenced keeping a tavern, which be- 
came famous for the comforts to be found therein, and 
thousands of weary emigrants and travelers have re- 
posed under his roof, their number often being so 
great that the floor would be strewn with beds to ac- 
commodate them. It became known as the " White 
Oak Tavern," because of an immense white oak tree 
that threw out its grateful branches over the house, as 
if inviting all to partake of the cheer to be found 
therein. After a time, a black oak tree was cut off 
some twenty feet from the ground, on the top of which 
for over thirty years could have been seen the sign, 
"Truitt's Tavern," while he continued to keep tavern 
after the sign was taken down, and no man was ever 
turned from his door because he was penniless. 

He helped lay out the road to Niles and built the 
first frame house between the prairie and Niles. He 
was the first and only Postmoster in the township, the. 
name of the post office being Dover. 

In an early day he opened a store at Bertrand and 
sold goods for a time, and then moved his stock to 
Milton Township, and continued business for two 
years longer. This proved a very disastrous enter- 
prise, for he lost so heavily by the decline of goods 
and " wild cat " money, then in circulation, that all 
his property except his land was swept away. This 
however, did not discourage him, and he bravely set 
about repairing his fortune, and at his death, which 
occurred December 29, 1881, he possessed 1,500 acres 
of rich farming lands, which was divided up among his 
seven heirs. He was a shrewd business man, and his 
large accumulation of property was the result of his 
own industry and keen foresight. As a neighbor, he 
was kind and charitable, and none in need were 
turned from his door empty handed ; his generosity 
was proverbial. 



He lived for'^half a century on the farm he first se- 
lected, and not only witnessed, but assisted in trans- 
forming an almost unbroken wilderness into one of 
the finest and most beautiful agricultural districts in 
the West. 

Politically he was a Whig, and then a Republican, 
and held several township offices, including that of 
Justice of the Peace. He became a convert to the 
Methodist faith when fourteen years of age, and he 
and his wife, after coming to this county, united with 
the Methodist Church, when it numbered but ten 
members. He was a zealous Christian, and before a 
church building was erected, religious services were 
frequently held in his house, which was the home of 
the ministers. When old age and disease had blinded 
his intellect, so that all things sublunary had faded 
from his mind, on the subject of religion it was 
bright and clear as an oasis in a sandy desert, and so 
remained until his death. He also took an active 
interest in educational affairs. 

By his first wife he had five children — John M., 
proprietor of the ' Truitt House " in Edwardsburg ; 
Elizabeth C, now Mrs. C. Tittle, in Milton; Henry 
P. and David T., prominent and prosperous farmers 
also in Milton. 

By his second wife, who died in 1834 or 1835, he 
had two children — Mary J, now Mrs. J. Butts, in Mil- 
ton ; Esther A., now Mrs. J. W. Griffith, in Greenville, 
Mich. By his third wife, Deborah (McKnitt), sister of 
Isabell, who departed this life in 1841, he became 
the father of one child, James M., also a farmer in 
Milton. His fourth wife, Sarah (McKnitt) Lane, sur- 
vives her husband, they having no children. 

IIENUY ALDRICH. 
Henry Aldrich, son of James and Hannah (Corn- 
stock) Aldrich, was born in Rhode Island May 5, 
1813. When he was very young, the family removed 
to Monroe County, N. Y., and from thence to Erie 
County, and, in 1829, they again emigrated to Chau- 
tauqua County, where they remained five years, at the 
expiration of which time Henry came to Cass County 
in company with Nathan Sage; his father came 
the previous season and purchased a farm. A son-in- 
law occupied the farm, and with him Henry remained 
a short time whe i he went to work at his trade, that of 
a carpenter and joiner ; he built a school house in New 
Buffalo. In 1837, he came to Beardsley's Prairie, 
and for four years engaged in farming. In 1841, 
he went to Milton Township and settled in Section 1, 
where he has since resided. Mr. Aldrich has devoted 
his life to agricultural pursuits, and in his chosen 
vocation has been eminently successful ; his first pur- 
chase wa.s forty acres, and to this little beginning he 



352 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN., 



has added two hundred, and among the progressive 
and successful farmers of the county, he holds a fore- 
most position. He was the first Supervisor of the 
township, and has filled other township ofiices 
many times. The elder Aldrich was a native 
of Rhode Island, where he was born in 1787, and 
where he was married. In 1837 he bought a 
farm on Beardsley's Prairie ; in 1841, he moved 
on to a farm near Niles, and in 1857 he went 
to Pierce County, Wis., where he died in March of 
the following year; his wife was born in 1792 in 
Rhode Island, and is still living at the remarkable age 
of ninety years. In 1840, Henry was married to 
Miss Almira Treat, daughter of Timothy and Louisa 
Treat; she was born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1821. 
They have reared a family of five children — Altha 
(now Mrs. Drew, of California), J. Monroe (who died 
in the service in 1862), Levi M. (of Elk Grove, Cal.), 
George B. (deceased), and Joseph K. (on the old farm); 
see illustration. 

MANLOVE ('. BEAUCHAMP. 

Manlove C. Beauchamp was born in Sussex County, 
Delaware, January 7, 1811, and is a son of Isaac 
and Mary (Diverty) Beauchamp. This family, as 
their name would indicate is of French extraction, 
and are lineal descendants of the Huguenots, who ; 
were expelled from France in the sixteenth century, 
because of their religious belief, and took refuge in. i 
England, and from which country five Beauchamp 
brothers came to America in an early day. Mr. 
Beauchamp was reared on a farm and received the 1 
education common to farmers' sons of that period. In 
December, 1832, he was united in marriage to Mary 
Walton who was also born in Sussex County, Del.. 
September 2, 1815, and is a daughter of Jonathan and 
Esther (Fountain) Walton , and is of English-Jrench 
descent. 

In 1836, Mr. Beauchamp came to Michigan with 
his family, and made the journey, which took one 
month by team over the almost impassable roads of 
this early period. They first located in Niles, and he 
worked at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner, for a 
time, and then moved to Indiana, where he engaged 
in farming and laboring at his trade, and, in 1847, 
moved to Milton and engaged in farming for ten years 
and then emigrated to the West, but eventually came 
back and purchased the farm where his son J. H. now 
resides, and where he died May 2, 1873. He was 
successful not alone in accumulating a handsome com- 
petency, but in obtaining the esteem and respect of all 
for his many estimable qualities and sterling integrity. 

He was a zealous and eflicient member of the 
Methodist Church, and was one of the class-leaders for 



many years. He was also an active member of the 
Sunday school of which he was Superintendent for a 
long time. Such men are an honor to any commu- 
nity. 

Politically, he was identified with the Republican 
party, and although not an aspirant for office, served 
as Township Clerk for several years. He commenced 
life at the bottom round of the ladder of fortune, and 
was most ably assisted by his amiable wife in climbing 
the same during their pioneer days, and in placing 
want far below them. She still survives him, and is 
living with her daughter in Niles, where her declining 
years are being passed in peace and quiet. Their 
children are Esther J. (deceased), Mary S., Margaret 
S., Rachael A. (deceased), Emily A. (deceased), 
James H., Emily A., Harriet J. and Menerva C. 
(deceased). 

GEORGE SMITH. 

George Smith, son of Cannon and Charlotte (Handy) 
Smith, was born in Sussex County, Delaware, Sep- 
tember 22, 1810. When eighteen years of age, the 
family came to Cass County, and located in Milton, 
where Cannon and Wesley Smith now reside. Here 
the family have lived for fifty-four years, and perhaps 
no family have been more prominently identified with 
the development of the township, and the name of 
Smith is stamped on all the initial events in Milton's 
history. The elder Smith built the first log cabin, 
and to George and John belong the honor of plow- 
ing the first furrow in what is now Milton, and of 
raising the first crop. Cannon died July 24, 1844, 
in his sixty-second year, and his wife Charlotte, April 
8, 1872, in her eighty-sixth year. 

The family of the elder Smith were of course de- 
nied of educational advantages, but George, by a sys- 
tematic course of reading, obtained a large fund of 
knowledge; he was a man of decided opinions, and 
strong convictions. 

He was married in January of 1835 to Miss Eliza, 
daughter of George W. and Mary (Petit) Smith, who 
were also among the early settlers of the township. 
George W. died May 24, 1859, while in his seventy- 
fourth year, and his aged partner in May, 1874, in 
her eighty-fifth year. Mrs. Smith was born in 1819, 
in Sussex County, Delaware, and was a Miss of four- 
teen years at the time of her family's emigration to 
Michigan. They reared a family of eight children — 
Asa, in Pokagon; William H., in Howard; James W., 
in Milton; Martha J., at home; Washington B., in 
Berrien County; George E., in Van Buren County; 
Charlotte B., at home ; Irena M., now Mrs. A Quimby, 
and two children who died in infancy. 

In his political convictions, Mr. Smith was a Repub- 
liciin; he represented Milton for many years on the 








GEOf^GE SMITH. 



I^^F^S. GEOF^G-E Sfvl ITH 






be]^Ij/>)viin[ p/>f^soj^Is. 



]v1^^S,BE>IJAIvll)^i PykR^SOI^S. 



HISTORY OF CAPS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Board of Supervisors, where he was recognized as an 
able and efficient member. He also held many minor 
offices, as will be seen by reference to the civil history 
of the township. 

He was a worthy member of the Methodist Church, 
and his daily life comported with the tenets of his 
faith ; for many years he was a class leader, and all 
religious and benevolent enterprises found in him a 
zealous supporter. 

His death occurred January 25, 1880 : his widow is 
still living on the.place which was for so many years 
his home. 

She is the counterpart of her husband in all that 
pertains to true nobility of character. She was 
originally a prominient member of the Methodist 
Church, but severed her connection with that organi- 
zation and connected herself with the Presbyterian 
Church of Edwardsburg. 

BEX.JAMIX PAR.SOXS. | 

The subject of this sketch, Benjamin Parsons, was 
born in Kent County, Del., March 13, 1820. His 
father, Benjamin F., was born July 9, 1792. Benja- 
min was reared on a farm and obtained a com- 
mon school education. Desiring to improve his i 
financial status he, in 1841, came to Cass County and 
commenced as a farm hand, and made his first pur. 
chase of real estate, forty acres, in 1845, he having i 
but ^100 at this time. He was an industrious and 
prudent man, and lived to see his forty acres increase 
to 444 through his own persistent efforts. I 

He was a most earnest Christian, and a member of j 
the Methodist Church, to which denomination he j 
gave one-third of his property to assist in erecting 
the first house of worship in Milton. May 24, 1845, 
he was married to Mary P., daughter of George and [ 
Mary (Jones) Abbott. Mrs. Parsons was born in Kent 
County, Del., in 1827, and came to Cass County with 1 
her parents. Her father's death occurred in April, ' 
and her mother's in November of 1877. Mrs. Par- ! 
sons, who resides on the old farm, is a most estimable | 
lady, and a most fitting companion for her husband, 
who has passed to his final reward. She is also a 
member of the Methodist Church. They became the 
parents of six children, viz. : John A., William E., 
Sarah E. (Mrs. J. Adams), Laura B. (Mrs. J. Lowry, 
of Indiana), George 0., Cora A. (deceased), and Mary 
L. (who resides at home). 

HICHAKl) V. HICKS. 

Richard V. Hicks, one of the early settlers and 

prominent farmers of the township of Milton, was 

born in Cornwall, England, November 17, 1819. 

The family is one not unknown in English history, 



I and about one hundred and fifty years ago were 
prominent in political matters. 

John Hicks, father of Richard V., was a successful 
farmer and a man of ability and integrity ; he married 
Caroline Perry, a lady of much culture and refine- 
ment. In 1831, William, John R., Perry and Henry, 
brothers of Richard V., came to America to investi- 
gate for themselves the marvelous reports they had 
j heard of the New World. After an extended tour, 
they decided to locate in the township of Ontwa. 
They returned to England and in 1835 they returned 
and purchased a tract of 500 acres on Sections 6 and 
7, Ontwa. John R. again returned to the old home, 
and on his return, the father came back with him, 
also Richard V. and Edward P., then a boy of 
eighteen years. 

William soon after sought a livelihood on the lakes, 
and for thirty-five years was master of a vessel. He 
died in 1872. In 1838, John R. went to Ohio, where 
he 'was engaged on a canal, and met his death in the 
construction of a log house ; his wife, Lettie, died 
about the same time. 

Perry died in Howard in March, 1874. Henry 
lost his life on the Ohio River. The elder Hicks 
went back to England, where he died about 1865. 
Richard V. was engaged with his brother, William, 
for about two years, when he went to Niles, and en- 
tered the employ of John Dodge & Co., distillers; 
with this firm he remained a number of years, and 
for some time had control of their entire business. In 
1843, he purchased the farm where he now resides in 
Milton ; he did not, however, move on it until 1849. 
Since this time, he has followed farming exclusively, 
and perhaps no one in the township has been more 
successful. The farm now consists of 840 acres of 
land under a high state of cultivation. The reader is 
referred to an illustration on another page. His home is 
indicative of thrift and success, and is conclusive evi- 
dence of enterprise and progression. In May of 
1843, Mr. Hicks was married to Miss Catherine, 
daughter of Jacob Ullery, of Ohio; they have reared 
family of nine children — John P., Henry B., Richard 
J., Caroline E., Sarah, William S., Catherine M., 
Mary A. and Orin S. 

In politics, Mr. Hicks is a Democrat, and his 
religious ideas are marked by that liberality that 
characterizes all his opinions and dealings with his 
fellow-men. Mr. Hicks is now in his sixty-third 
year, and Time has dealt kindly with him, he is enjoy- 
ing the full fruition of the toil and perplexities of the 
pioneer days, he has the satisfaction of knowing that 
he has improved his opportunities, and by his own in 
dividual effort won for his family and himself an un- 
tarnished reputation. 



354 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



COOL RUNKLE. 

This gentleman, one of the most successful farmers 
in the county of Cass, is of German extraction, his 
grandparents having emigrated from Germany at an 
early day. His father's name was Adam, and at the 
time of his birth, March 2, 1818, lived in New Jersey. 
About 1826, the family removed to Cortland County, 
N. Y., and from there he came to Cass County in 
October of 1845 ; two years subsequent, he purchased 
the farm where he now resides. In 1841, he was 
married to Miss Samantha Bentley, by whom he had 
one child, a daughter (Samantha). About a year and 
a half after their marriage, Mrs. Runkle died, and, 
in 1848, Mr. Runkle was again married to Mrs. 
Margaret H. Biddle; she died May 24, 1881. Five 
children were the result of this union — Margaret H., 
William A., Henry S., Ida I. (deceased, 1877), and 
one died in infancy. Mrs. Margaret (Biddle) Runkle 
was born in Solon, Cortland Co.. N. Y., in 1822. 
Mr. Runkle has devoted his life to agricultural pur- 
suits, and his success is wholly attributable to his own 
individual efforts. His chances for an education were 
limited, but observation and experience have been his 
teachers, and he has proved an apt pupil. Industry, 
economy and quick perception are perhaps the most 
salient points in his character, and his success in the 
accumulation of property is positive evidence of the 
the fact that industry, energy and economy are sure 
of reward. 

JAME.s H. BEAUCHAMP. 

The subject of this sketch, James H. Beauchamp, 
was born in Milton, April 3, 1847, and is a son of 
Manlove and Mary (Walton) Beauchamp, elsewhere 
noticed. Like his father, he was reared on a farm, 
and aside from a commercial college course, has only 
received a common school education, but has made 
ample use of his opportunities, and is accounted 
among active, energetic and progressive farmers of the 
township, and is ever ready to assist any enterprise 
which will accrue to the advantage of the public, 
either intellectually, morally or financially. He is, 
at present, filling the office of Township Clerk the 
second term. He is an active worker in the Repub- 
lican party, and is a stanch adherent to the principles 
of the same. 

Mr. Beauchamp is in possession of the old home- 
stead, a fine view of which will be found on another 
page, also portraits of his father and mother, which 
filial love prompted him to have here represented. 
January 6, 1875, he was united in marriage to Eva, 
daughter of Oscar M. and Martha A. (May) Dunning, 
who was born on August 4, 1852. Her father settled 
in Ontwa in 1833, but having lost his wife by death, 
many years since, March, 1858, Mr. Dunning re- 



moved to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp have 

been blessed with three children as follows — Hugh D., 
Anna C, Leroy M. 

JAMES M. TRUITT. 
James M. Truitt, son of the prominent pioneer. 
Peter Truitt, and Deborah (McKnitt), was born in Mil- 
ton Township April 17, 1837, which township has 
practically been his home ever since. He received a 
common school education, and was early taught habits 
of industry. With the exception of three years spent 
in Edwardiburg, in the agricultural implement busi- 
ness, he has devoted his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits, and having bsen reared to this avocation, is 
eminently successful, and is now numbered among the 
progressive and successful farmers of the township. 
Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, in 
which he has full faith. April 22, 1860, he was 
united in marriage to Margaret, daughter of John R. 
and Lettie Hicks, who was born in Niles, Mich., De- 
cember 15, 1839. Her father, who came to Cass 
County in 1835, lost his life while assisting in the 
erection of a log house in Ohio. Her mother's death 
occurred soon thereafter. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

SILVER CREEK. 

Survey— Topography— McDaniel the First Settler— .\rrival of Barney . 
Suits. Treat and their Families— Organization-First Township 
M«etlnt;— First OfBcers— Pioneer Wedding— I'okagon and His 
Band— Erection of the First Church- First Road— Assessment 
Roll of 1858— Land Entries— Uucle Tommy— Indian Sugar-Maltmg 
-First School— Later Settlers— Churches— Civil List. 

THE exterior lines of this township designated in 
the field-notes, of the original survey as Town- 
ship No. 5 south. Range 16 west, was surveyed by 
William Brook field. Deputy Surveyor, March 17, 
1827. 

Its subdivisions, however, were not run out until 
April 24, 1830. 

It has the following surroundings : Keeler Town- 
ship, Van Buren County on the north, Wayne on the 
east, Pokagon on the south and the township of 
Pipestone, Van Buren County, forms its western 
boundary. 

Originally the larger portion of the township was 
heavily timbered, especially the southern and central 
portions. Upon the east and north, however, were 
tracts of " oak openings ;" a farm could be con- 
structed from this class of land with much less difficulty 
than from that denominated timbered land, and this 
may account in part for the first settlements being 
made in tlie northeast corner of the township. 




■r'^^^ 




W\LU/Kf^ BILDEF^By\CK, 



JV1F(S.\/^ILLIA^1 BILDEf^By^CK. 



WILLIAM BILDERBACK. 
William Bilderback, one of the prorainent farmers 
and pioneers of Silver Creek, was born in Salem, 
Salem County, N. J., February 11, 1816. He 
was the eldest in the family of Thomas and Mary 
(Hill) Bilderback, which consisted of seven. The 
elder Bilderback was a farmer by occupation, a staid 
and industrious man, but in limited circumstances, 
and unable to give his children the advantages of 
education. In 1820, he removed with his family to 
Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, then a new country, 
where he resided until his decease. At the age of 
ten years William was thrown upon his own resources 
and from that time cared for himself Early in life 
he learned that the road to success was no royal one, 
but that a competency was obtainable only through 
long years of persistent effort. The lesson thus early 
received was productive of results, and may account in 
part for the enviable position he now holds, both social- 
ly and in business. In 18:J0, he was married to Miss 
Sarah Nye, of Lebanon. Ohio, where she was born 
May 22. 1818. Six years after their marriage they 
decided to remove to Michigan, and in the spring of 
1845, came to Berrien County, settling in the town- 
ship of Niles, where they resided until the spring of 
18.50, when they came to Silver Creek, where he had 
purchased a new farm of eighty acres, for which he 
paid $2.50, running in debt for the larger portion. 



He commenced the development of his farm under 
very adverse circumstances, but with that energy that 
has characterized his subsequent efforts, and to the 
original purchase he has made repeated additions un- 
til he now has an estate of 467 acres under good im- 
provement. He attributes a large portion of his suc- 
cess to the efforts of his worthy wife, who has shared 
his trials and adversities, and who has been to him a 
"helpmeet," in all that the name implies. Six 
children have been born to them, Peter J., John, 
William W., Mary, Martha, and Sarah R. The 
three sons were among that noble band who did their 
country service in the war of the rebellion. Peter 
and William gave up their lives, not in the excitement 
of battle, but from disease contracted from exposure 
while in active service. John returned to his friends 
and his home, and resides near the old place ; he is a 
prosperous farmer. Mary is now Mrs. D. W. Sara- 
mons ; Martha married James Momany ; Sarah R., 
Elias Smith, all are residents of the County. In 
his religious and political affiliations, Mr. Bilderback 
is a Methodist and a Republican. Mrs. Bilderback 
is a worthy member of the Disciples' Church. The 
life of Mr. Bilderback has been comparatively un- 
eventful, but made up of acts of every day life 
humble in themselves, but making up a grand aggre- 
gate. He is emphatically the "architect of his own 
fortune," and his career is one worthy of emulation. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



355 



In the vicinity of Indian Lake there was originally 
a magnificent growth of sugar maple. Here the Pot- 
towatomies assembled every spring for the purpose 
making sugar. They had several camps in this portion 
of the township, the principal one being on the farm 
now owned by William Gilbert. 

There are several lakes in the township, the larger 
and more important ones being Magician Lake, in the 
north central part, Dewey's Lake, named in honor of 
one of the original settlers in that portion of the town- 
ship in which it is located, and Indian Lake in the 
extreme southwest corner. 

Magician Lake is the source of Silver Creek, so 
called from the silvery appearance of its waters, caused 
by a light coating of marl at the bottom ; from this 
stream the township derived its name. It flows in an 
easterly and southerly course, and empties into the 
North Branch of Dowagiac Creek, which traverses the 
southwest quarter of the township, through Sections 
24, 26, 27 and 34. These two streams drain the east- 
ern portion of the township. Silver Creek has an 
extended area of fertile and productive lands, and 
can boast of many beautiful and valuable farms, the 
soil for the most part is a fine loam, which produces 
abundant crops of all kinds ; its farmers are progres- 
sive and successful, and although its early settlers were 
beset with many difficulties not experienced by the 
pioneers of adjoining townships, it has earned and oc- 
cupies a foremost position among the important town- 
ships of the county. 

THE PIONEERS AND FIRST SETTLEMENTS. 

To those now residing in a region in which he was 
the first to explore, and where he was the first to en- 
dure the perils and privations of that almost savage 
condition, a pioneer life, the earliest settler is an 
object of especial interest. Many of these pioneers, in 
their integrity of character, their kindness heart, their 
hospitality, their contempt of danger, and their cheer- 
ful endurance of toil and privation, have claims upon 
the historian, other than the fact that they were the 
first to settle here. 

Scarcely a more striking and inspiring figure can 
be presented than one of these hardy and athletic 
frontiersmen with only his family about him, estab- 
lishing his home in the remote solitary wilderness. 

'•HisstrDa; ri^:i' ha-ul ilie ritio grasps, 
His axe the left with equal vigor clasps, 
With equil ner/e prepared the foe to meet. 
Or lay the forest prostrate at his feet." 

The first entry of land in Silver Creek was made 
in Section 12, by James McDaniel, on the 16th of 
December, 1834. The following spring, the exact 
time is not known, he made a permanent settlement; 



like most of the early settlers, he had a large family, 
none of whom are now living in the county. But little 
is known of his antecedents farther than that he was 
a native of North Carolina, from whence he removed 
to Ohio ; he was a man of powerful physique and a 
fine type of the frontiersman — one of those advent- 
urous individuals, who form the advance guard of civ- 
ilization. McDaniels built his cabin on the site now 
occupied by the residence of E. B. Godfrey, and to 
him belongs the honor of erecting the first house and 
plowing the first furrow, aside from connecting his 
name with many of the initial events in the history of 
the township in which he was the first settler. 

Evidently, he was a man possessed of energy and 
enterprise, for soon after the completion of his cabin 
he commenced the erection of a saw- mill on Silver 
Creek, subsequently known as the Barney Mill. For 
lack of funds or other reasons, he failed to carry his 
project to a successful termination, and, about 1838, 
he sold his property, including the mill, to Henry 
Barney. He disposed of the portion on which the 
mill was located, to his son John G. A., who, in com- 
pany with his father, completed it. After the dispo- 
sition of his property, he again took up the line of 
march, and removed to Arkansas. 

October 19, 1835, John Barney, afterward familiarly 
known as Judge Barney, entered 160 acres of land on 
Section 2. He was also from Ohio, and was the 
second permanent resident of the township. The 
precise date of his arrival is also uncertain, but it was 
some time in the spring of 1836. With him came his 
family, consisting of his wife and six children — four 
sons and two daughters. Mr. Barney was an ener- 
getic, ambitious man, and possessed of a good deal of 
natural shrewdness and business acumen. He imme- 
diately took a prominent part in the affairs of the 
township, and soon became one of its leading spirits, 
and identified himself rather prominently with its 
pioneer history. 

In 1843, he erected a furniture manufactory on the 
creek, and many articles of household furniture were 
manufactured, including the old-fashioned spinning- 
wheel, then an article of every-day use. 

Prominent among the names of the early pioneers 
is that of Jacob A. Suits, whose settlement dates back 
to September 1, 1836. Mr. Suits, who came from 
Johnstown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., found on his 
arrival that his was the fifth family, the others being 
McDaniels, John Barney, Daniel Van Horn and 
Philander B. Dunning. The family of Mr. Suits con- 
sisted of his wife and six children, three sons and three 
daughters — Adam, Joseph, Jacob, Lucinda, Phebe ami 
Delia M. He built the fifth house in the township, 
on the farm now owned by his son .\dam, who is un- 



356 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIOrAN. 



doubtedly the " oldest resident." He died in Silver 
Creek in 1844, in the forty-sixth of his age. 

At the time of Mr. Suits' settlement in the town- 
ship, there were but three families between his farm 
and Paw Paw, and as showing the proximity of their 
neighbors, Mr. Adam Suits relates the following inci- 
dent which occurred soon after their arrival : The 
family being out of butter, Mrs. Suits desired her 
husband to ascertain where some could be purchased. 
Meeting Mr. Barney, he solicited the desired informa- 
tion, and was informed that their nearest neighbor on 
the south, Mr. Thomas Burk, of Pokagon, had butter j 
to sell ; on inquiring the distance, Mr. Barney in- I 
formed him that it was only eleven miles. Adam was 
detailed to make the purchase and bring home the 
butter, which he did. 

In September, 1837. Timothy Treat with his family, I 
consisting of his wife and eight children — Fidelia, Al- 
mira. Ruby, James B., Louisa, Ira, Willard and Wal- | 
lace — left their home in Aurora, Erie County, N. 
Y., in a lumber wagon, in which were stored their 
household goods, for Cass County, which was at that 
time considered to be on the extreme verge of civiliz- 
ation. Their departure was ijuite an event in the 
neighborhood, and their neighbors and friends assem- 
bled early to bid them good-bye, and wish them God- 
speed. The journey was devoid of any incident 
worthy of record, and they arrived at the residence of 
James Griffis, an old friend, who had settled near Ed- 
wardsburg, about October 1. After a residence of 
two years in the town of Ontwa, he removed to Silver 
Creek and settled on lands purchased of John Bar- 
ney. They came into the township from the south, 
and at Indian Lake they found a track running in a 
northeasterly direction, winding around fallen trees 
and swamps. At the southeast corner of Section 16 j 
the road forked, one branch leading to Dewey's Lake, 
the other to their future home. Some disconsolate 
emigrant had preceded them, and evidently was not 
favorably impressed with the country to which they i 
were going, and with evident good intention he had 
erected a primitive guide-post by removing the bark 
from a tree on which he had written with red chalk 
the ominous inscription : " Turn to the left and go to 
the Devil." In 1837, a decided impetus was given to 
the development of the township by several arrivals, j 
Among the number was John Woolman, the first resi- \ 
dent surveyor, who took up land on Section 29, on 
which he built a cabin. lie returned to Ohio, from 
which State he emigrated the following year, as his . 
name is found on the records of 1888. Henry Dewey, 
one of the early settlers of Pokagon, entered land on Sec. 
8 in 1835. The date of his settlement is not known. 
Daniel Blish is positive that it was not until 1841. It 



may have been shortly before this time. Dewey was 
a man of energy and remarkable industry, and was an 
important accession. At the time of his settlement 
in Silver Creek, he owned a tract of land in Pokagon 
on which he had made substantial improvements, but 
the land in the vicinity of the lake which bears his 
name possessed many attractions, among others its 
proximity to the lake, which at the time was alive 
with fish. This fact is given as the principal reason 
for his change of location. 

Among other arrivals in this year were James 
Allen. Joseph and William Van Horn, Benjamin B. 
Dunning, Eli W. Veach, Patrick Hamilton, Harwood 
Sellick, James McOmber, Jabes Cady, Israel Sallee, 
George McCreary, James Hall, William Brooks and 
others. 

1837 was an eventful year for Silver Creek. In 
March of this year, the township was organized in ac- 
cordance with an act of the Legislature, approved 
March 20, 1887, which reads as follows : " That all 
that part of the county of Cass, designated by the 
United States survey as Township 5 south. Range 
16 west, be set off and organized into a separate 
township by the name of Silver Creek, and the first 
town meeting therein shall be held at the house of 
James McDaniel in said township." Previous to this 
time, it was a part of Pokagon, which also embraced, 
aside from its present territory, the north half of the 
township of Howard. The citizens were evidently in 
a hurry to assume the management of their own affairs, 
for the second Monday in April found them convened 
at the place appointed, for the purpose of electing 
township officials. Timothy Treat was elected Super- 
visor ; Benjamin Dunaing, Treasurer ; and James 
Allen, Township Clerk. No record is extant of the 
balance of the ticket. 

In the same month, an event is recorded that was of 
far more importance to the parties directly interested 
than the organization of the township, viz., the mar- 
riage of John McDaniel, son of James McDaniel, the 
first settler, to Miss Delilah Mendenhall, daughter of 
one of the prominent citizens of the township ; the 
facilities afforded for matrimonial speculation at this 
time were rather meager ; no minister had as yet taken 
up his residence in the township, and they were 
obliged to repair on horseback to the county seat where 
they were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock, 
April 21, 1837, by Squire Joseph Harper. After 
the ceremony was performed, the usual congratu- 
lations followed, and it is said that the happy groom 
returned in an exihilarated condition, whether caused 
by the successful termination of his matrimonial vent- 
ure or from other causes is not stated. This was the 
first marriage. 




ix^%m 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



857 



In accordance with the stipulations of the treaty 
at the Carey Mission in 1828, the Pottawatomie 
chief, Pokagon, and his band, were exempted from 
removal beyond the Mississippi with the other Indians 
of Southwestern Michigan, and in 1836 they pur- 
cha9ed from Government 914 acres of land in this 
township. In 1837, they took possession of the pur- 
chase, and, although the title was vested in Pokagon, 
many of his tribe had furnished funds, and to these 
were allotted tracts of a few acres each in proportion 
to the amount invested. On the advent of Pokagon's 
eldest son Pete, who succeeded the old chief, they were 
indiscriminately ousted. Through this high-handed 
treachery, and from othercauses, the original number, 
300, has dwindled down to a few families. Pokagon, 
the elder, was a devout Roman Catholic, and in 1838 
built the first church in the township. Its erection 
caused him much trouble, as a great deal of prejudice 
existed among the whites against this denomination, 
and they declined to render any assistance in raising 
the structure, the Indians not possessing sufficient 
ingenuity to do the work unaided. In this dilemma, 
Pokagon went to John G. A. Barney, to whom he 
related his troubles. Mr. Barney kindly offered his 
assistance and told him to get his logs together and 
that he would help him out of his difficulty. This 
pleased the old chief, and the material was soon in 
readiness, and Mr. Barney, accompanied by his three 
hired men, fulfilled his promise. For a complete his- 
tory of this church and Pokagon's identification with 
it, we refer the reader to the history of the church on 
another page. 

The first road constructed was surveyed by John 
Woolman, Sr., under the direction of John Barney. 
The northern part was a continuation of a road run- 
ning south from the Territorial road, in Keeler Town- 
ship, and entered Silver Creek at a point about 160 I 
rods east of Magician Lake, and running south 
through Section 2, thence east about three-quarters 
of a mile. From this point it took a southeasterly { 
course, leaving the township on the northeast corner I 
of Section 24, and from thence east, intersecting the 1 
Niles and Kalamazoo road at Twin Lakes in the town- | 
ship of Wayne. The road was built by the State, and i 
the survey was made in 1837 or 1838. The next road ! 
of which we have been able to obtain any definite 
knowledge was called the Pokagon road, Niles being 
the southern terminal point. It is probable that it 
was surveyed in 1839, and that work upon it was 
commenced in that year or the year following. This 
was an important road, as it opened communication 
with Niles on the south and the Territorial road on the 
north; it followed an Indian trail for its general 
direction. Among the township records tiie following 



agreement can be found which throws some light upon 
the date of its construction, and which is here given 
verbatim : 

For value received of the Commissioners of Highways of Silver 

Creek Township, I promise to clear out eighty rods in length and 

four rods in width, commencing where I left off last summer in 

the Pokagon road, which I promise to do by the Ist of June next. 

.Iamks Allkn. 

Silver Cheek, March 17, 1841. 

The attention of settlers was not wholly taken up 
by the building of roads and the improvement of their 
farms, and, although newspapers were not known, 
and their time, from early morn until late at night, 
was devoted to work, still they paid due attention to 
political matters, and from the records of the first 
election succeeding the first township meeting, we find 
that the Whig element largely predominated. The 
following is the poll list : 

First day— E. Shaw, W. W. Barney, Joseph Spen- 
cer, John McDaniel, Henry Dewey, John Barney, 
John Woolman, A. Barney, Samuel Stockwell. 

Second day — Jacob Suits, P. B. Dunning, William 
Brooks, James Allen, Timothy Treat, James Hall. 

In the November election of the next year, 1839, 
a slight accession was made to the voting population, 
and the following is the recorded list : Sullivan Treat, 
Elihu Shaw, William Brooks, William Earl, Henry 
Barney, John Woolman, Sr,, John Woolman, Jr., 
Orin Hungerford, W. W. Barney, Samuel Adams, 
0. C. Smith, William Mendenhall, John G. A, Bar- 
ney, James Allen, James Hall, Jonathan W, Robin- 
son, Jacob Suits, Alanson Parks. 

The following list embraces the names of all those 
who were assessed as resident taxpayers in the year 
1838, and the valuation of their lands, and shows the 
progress made up to this time. 

With the exception of Patrick Hamilton, James 
McOmber and a few others, it seems that no settle- 
ments had been made in the south half of the town- 
ship : 

William Brooks $452 

Jacob Suits 906 

George McCreary 240 

John Barney 1179 

James McUanicl.,,.. 672 

Simon Van Horn 622 

William Mendenhall 1262 

I'hilander B. Dunning 609 

Timothy Treat 396 

James Hall 730 

Israel Sallee 286 

Benj. B. Dunning 492 

Sullivan Treat 240 

Jabes Cady 24(1 

Henry Dewey 1571 

John Woolman 947 

James McOmber 52* 

Patrick Hamilton 1690 

Abagail Shumway 480 



358 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



W. W. Barney 175 

Neapon Pokagon 2602 

Jamea Allen 590 

Jason Howard 880 

James Raymond 480 

A. Middlebrook 720 

Lyman A. Spaulding 1407 

William McKay 12) 

The following is a list of the original land entries 
in Silver Creek, showing each section, number of 
acres, date of each entry and residence of the parties : 

Skction 1. 

James Raymond, Berrien County, Mich., Oct. 9, 1836 160 

Joseph Vanhorn, Marion County, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835 160 

William Mendenhall, Cass County Mich., July 21, 18.S6 324 

Section 2. 

Abram Middlebrook, Saratoga County, N. Y., Oct. 9, 1835... 160 

John Barney, Crawford County, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835 160 

Lyman A. Spaulding, Niagara County, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1835... 160 

Benjamin B. Dunning. Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1837 164 

Section 3. 

William McKay, Steuben County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1835 4 

Lyman A. Spaulding, Oct. 28, 1835.. 309 

Richard J. Wells. New York City, Feb. 23, 1836 173 

Section 4. 

Gardner Scott, Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1835 29 

Harriet Dresser, Livingston County, N. Y., Oct. 2, 1835 82 

Luther Guiteau, Jr., Oneida County, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1835 101 

Guiteau S: Keeler, Oneida County, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1835 10 

Richard J. Wells, New York City, Feb. 23, 1836 118 

Section a. 

Amos Dow, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 9, 1836 66 

William B. Wade, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 1836 80 

Samuel Fletcher, Livingston County, N. Y., July 9, 1836 128 

William B. Fowler, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 3, 1845 38 

Section 6. 

Davidson Gardner, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836 68 

Davidson Gardner, Cass County, Mich., May 2, 1830 65 

Bradford Wood, Albany County, N. Y., April 30, 1830 137 

Samuel Morton, April 29, 1836 123 

John R. Connine, Jan. 3. 1849 148 

Section 7. 

Erastus Corning, Albany, N. Y., April 19, 1836 289 

Randolph Brant, New York City, April 20, 1836 320 

Section 8. 

Henry Dewey, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31 and Nov. 9. 1835, 100 

Amos Dow, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 9, 1835 167 

Zadok Jarvia, Casa County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836 80 

Charles C, Glover, Kings County, N. Y., July 18, 1836 100 

Section 9. 

James Hall, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1835 80 

Zadok Jarvis, Caas County, Midi., Jan. 12, 1836 80 

Israel Sallee, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 6, 1830 (SO 

Richard J. Wells, Feb. 23, 1830 160 

Bradford R. Wood, April 30, 1830 80 



John Stark, Casa County, Mich., May 4, 1852 63 

.Tohn Cullinane, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 12, 1853 14 

Section 10. 

James Hall, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1835 80 

Philander B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 14, 1830 ... 80 

Richard J. Wells, New York City, Feb. 23, 1836 160 

Jason Harwood, Rutland County, Vt , April 20, 1836 80 

James Allen, Caas County, Mich., April 23, 1836 80 

William Brooks, Caas County, Mich., July 20, 1836 120 

William W. Barney, Cass County, Mich., .\pril 12, 1837 4(1 

Section- 11. 

John B. Riddok, Berrien County, Mich., Aug. 12, 1835 40 

Isaac S. Stone, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 9, 1835 160 

Pokagon, Berrien County, Mich.. Nov. 29, 1836 80 

Jacob A. Suits, Van Buren County, Nov. 30, 1836 80 

Pokagon, Berrien County, Mich., Dec. 7, 1830 210 

George McCreary, Wayne, Jan. 1, 1838 40 

Section 12. 

Jamea McDaniels, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1834 80 

John B. Riddok, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 29, 1835 40 

James McDaniel, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 3, 1835 80 

John McDaniel, Cass County, Mich., Sept 3, 1835 80 

William St. Clair, Crawford County, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1835 280 

Henry Harwood, Monroe County, Oct. 19, 1835 40 

Sullivan Treat, Cass County, Mich., May 17, 1836 40 

Section 13. 

Bernard McConnell, Rutland County, Vt., April 20, 1836 80 

Eleazer H. Keeler, Van Buren County, April 20, 1836 160 

Henry D. Bostwick, Van Buren County, Nov. 28, 1830 80 

Freeman M. Spencer, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 22, 1846 40 

Daniel Spencer, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 20, 1840 40 

Amos Thompson, Cass County, Mich., June 16, 1848 40 

Horatio Rider, Cass County, Mich., June 29, 1849 160 

Section 14. 

Baldwin Jenkins, Casa County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 160 

Jason Harwood, Rutland County, Vt., April 20, 1836 80 

Po-ka-gon, Berrien County, xMich., Nov. 29, 1836 218 

Po-ka-gon, Berrien, Van Buren County, May 30, 1838 40 

Joetah Nesten (Indian), Cass County, Mich,, Jan. 20, 1848... 40 
Joseph Wish-shaw-wess (Indian), and Lois Taga (Pty. In- 
dian), Cass County, Mich.. Jan. 3, 1849 40 

Section 16. 

John Barney, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 20, 1835 40 

Jamea Allen, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 9, 1835 80 

Jason Harwooi, April 20, 1830 80 

.\ndrew E. Jackaon,Caas County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837 80 

James Dickson, Caaa County, Mich., March 4, 1837 100 

Joseph Gardner, Cass County, Mich., March 7, 1837 80 

Timothy Moshier, Cass County, Mich., March 7, 1837 40 

Thomas Easton, Berrien County, Mich., Nov. 4, 1851 40 

Section 10. 
School Lauds. 

Section 17. 

Zadok Jarvis, Caas County, Mich., Jan. 12, 1836 40 

Randolph Brant, New York City, April 20, 1836 320 

Bradford R. Wood. .Albany County, N. Y., April 30, 1836 160 

"~" 1 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



359 



Section 18. 

AOBIS. I 

Joseph WelU, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 68 j 

Isaac W. Ducketl, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 183f, 160 i 

Erastus Corning. Albany, N. Y., April 19, 1836 227 

Bradford R. Wood, Albany, N. Y., April 30, 1836 160 

SECTroN 19. 

.Joseph Wells, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 120 

lirastus Corning, Albany, N. Y., April 19, 1836 297 

Isaac W. Duokett, Caes County, Mich., April 22 and May 12, 

18311 160 ! 

Timothy Mosher. Cass County, Mich., March 16, 1837 40 

Section 20. 

Joseph Rideuour, Portage County. Ohio, Aug. 29, 1835 160 i 

Abram Middlebrook, Saratoga County, N. ¥., Oct. 9, 1835.... 80 

Reuben Wright, Saratoga County, N. Y., Oct. 9, 1835 80 

Bradford R. Wood, Albany, N. Y., April 30, 1836 160 j 

Peabody Cook. Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1837 80 ! 

Joseph Gardner, Cass County, Mich 80 

Section 21. 

James L. I'arent, Berrien County, Oct. 9, 1835 80 

Po-ka-gon, Berrien County, Nov. 29, 1836 80 

Po-ka-gon, Berrien County, Jan. 31, 1837 80 

Isaac M. Avery, Kalamazoo County, March 16, 1837 80 i 

James Dixon, Cass County, Mich., March 28, 1836 160 ; 

Robert Morris, Kalamazoo County, Nov. 19, 1839 160 

Section 22. 

Baldwin Jenkins, Cass County, Mich., Jan. II, 1836 80 

Aaron Jenkins, Cass County, Mich., May 12, 1836 80 

Po-ka-gon, Berrien County, Jan. 31, 1837 160 

Stephen Curtis, Cass County, Mich., March 16, 1837 80 

Curtis Mosher, Cass County, Mich., March 25, 1837 120 

Section 23. 

Baldwin Jenkins, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 80 

Henry M. Boies, Lenawee County, Feb. 8, 1854 320 

Section 24 
Henry M. Boies, Feb. 8, 1854 640 

Section 25. 
Micajah B. McKenney, Cass County, Mich., March 25 and 30, 

1836 160 

Elias Gleason, Madison County, N. Y., April 28, 1836 160 

Joseph Caldwell, Cass County, Mich., May 5, 1837 40 

George Hamilton, Cass County, Mich. Feb. 5, 1838 40 

James Dixon, Cass County, Mich., July 16, 1836 80 

Daniel McOmber, Cass County, Mich., March 1, 1850 40 

Isaac S. Bull, Dowagiac, Dec. 23, 1853 40 

George H. House, lugham County, Nov. 1, 1862 80 

Section 26. 

Solomon Veach, Cass County, Mich., .March 21, 1837 40 

Jonathan Hartsell, Cass County, Mich., March 21, 1837 80 

Eli W. Veach, Cass County, Mich , March 2, 1837 40 

Joseph Caldwell, Cass County, Mich., May 26, 1837 40 

Stephen Maddox, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 23, 1837 160 

Robert Watson, Warren County, Ohio, Sept. 1. 1837 80 

Section 27. 

Eli W. Veach, Cass County, Mich., May 5, 1837 80 

John K. Hinchman, Cass County, .Mich., July 6, 1850 40 

William Smith, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 2, 1857 40 

Mitchell Robinson, Ca»s County, Mich., Sept. 8, 1852 40 



Section 28. 

William Davison, Butler County, Ohio, Feb. 13, 1837 ItiO 

Nancy Lybrook, Cass County, Mich., March 2, 1837 80 

George Bedford, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 2, 1841 80 

George Bedford, Cass County, Mich., May 15, 1848 80 

Rebecca Burk, Cass County, Mich., March 15, 1848 40 

B. & I. Lybrook, Berrien County, March 15, 1848 40 

Baltzer Lybrook, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1851 40 

William B. Gilbert, (^ass County, Mich., Nov. 4, 1851 80 

Section 29. 

Joseph Ridenour, Preble County, Ohio, Aug. 29, 1835 160 

John Woolman, Cass ("ounty, Mich., Oct. 14. 1835 80 

George Kimmel, Berrien County, July 18, 1836 400 

Section 30. 

Erastus Corning, Albany, N. Y., April 19, 1836 301 

Isaac W. Duckett, Cass County, Mich., April 22, 1836 80 

David True. Cass County, Mich., March 1 and 7, 1837 80 

Section 31. 

John Woolman, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 14, 1835 59 

Erastus Corning, Albany, N. V., April 19, 1836 47 

Thomas Lawrence, .New York City, .\pril 20, 1836 157 

Section 32. 

Isaac Ridenour, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 29, 1835 80 

John Woolman, Sr., Cass County, Mich., Oct. 20, 1836 80 

John Woolman, Sr., Cass County, Mich., Nov. 16, 1835 80 

Hiram Dodge, Lenawee County, March 14, 1836 160 

Joseph Bertrand, Jr., Berrien County, April 27, 1836 80 

George Kimmel Berrien County, July 18, 1836 160 

Section 33. 

Jedediah Perkins, New London, Conn., July 18, 1836 160 

William Davison, Butler County, Feb. 13, 1837 160 

Priest & Loomis, Berrien County, Feb. 21, 1837 160 

Daniel Blish, Cass County, Mich., March 15, 1848 40 

Section 34. 
Jedediah Perkins, New London, Conn., July 18, 1836 640 

Section 85. 

Fred Veeder, Monroe County, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1835 160 

Jedediah Perkins, July 18, 1836 160 

Patrick Hamilton, Cass County, Mich., April 7, 1837 160 

Ludwill Robinson, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 30, 1844 40 

Asa Dow, Cass County, Mich , Feb. 23, 1853 80 

Section 36. 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., .March 14, 1836 160 

Hiram Dodge, Lenawee County, .March 14, 1836 240 

Elias Gleason, Madison County, N. Y., April 28, 1836 80 

Titus Husted, Cass County, Mich., April 23, 1836 160 

Immediately west of the northern part of Indian 
Lake is a tract of land that in a state of nature must 
have offered many attractions to those in search of 
homes. It was covered with a magnificent growth of 
sugar maple. It had a rich and productive soil, and 
was but ten miles distant from Niles, then a thriving 
little hamlet. For some unexplained reason, no one 
fully appreciated the advantages offered until 1839, 
when William B. Gilbert, in search of a desirable lo- 



HISTORY OF CARS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cation, purchased 400 acres of the tract above referred 
to from John Woolman and George Kiramell, who had 
entered it in 1836. 

Mr. Gilbert came from Springfield, Otsego Co., 
N. Y., which place he left in the spring or summer of 
1838 for an extended tour of observation in the West. 
He made a short stop in the Township of Pokagon, 
and afterward continued his journey further west. 
Failing to find a locality that, in his judgment, offered 
80 many advantages to the permanent settler as 
did the county of Cass, he returned to Pokagon, 
and shortly afterward went back to Otsego County for 
his family. His description of the beauty of the 
country, the fertility of the soil, and the ultimate ad- 
vantages arising from settlement, induced two of his 
neighbors, Daniel Shaul and David Waltar, to accom- 
pany him. In the spring of 1839, they left the place 
of their nativity with their families and household 
goods loaded in wagons, for their future homes. They 
came by the way of Ohio, and arrived in Pokagon in 
June, after a long and tedious journey. In July, he 
made his purchase. He and Mr. Shaul immediately 
commenced the improvement of their purchases ; they 
built their cabins, into which they removed in the lat- 
ter part of the year. 

Like many others who availed themselves of the 
cheap and fertile lands of Michigan, Mr. Waltar had 
exhausted his resources in his removal, and had not 
the available funds for the purchase of lands. He 
took a job of clearing six acres of land, and with the 
amount thus earned purchased forty acres on Section 
33. The energy and pluck thus exhibited was pro- 
phetic of future success, and he ultimately acquired a 
large property, and became one of the successful men 
of the township. 

Mr. Gilbert entered into the affairs of the town- 
ship and the improvement of his estate with charac- 
teristic energy and zeal ; he dealt extensively in wild 
lands, and rendered material aid in the settling and 
development of the township. 

In 1840, in company with John Woolman, he took 
a contract of the State to construct four miles of road 
on what is now known as the town line road between 
Pokagon and Silver Creek. 

Mr. Gilbert, or " Uncle Tommy," as he was famil- 
iarly known, resided in Silver Creek until his decease, 
which occurred in his seventy-fourth year. His 
youngest son, Eugene B., one of the prominent 
farmers of the township, resides on the old home- 
stead, on the banks of Indian Lake. William resides 
on a part of the original purchase. He states that, 
on his farm there was, in the early days, an Indian 
Church, also several Indian sugar camps. 

The Indians seldom made their sugar into cakes. 



Their usual process was to stir it with a stick while 
cooling, thus graining it. They put this in quantities 
of one-half bushel or less into " Mococks," which 
were made of birch bark, sewed together with thongs 
made from slippery-elm bark. 

These mococks, filled with sugar, were strung in 
pairs over the pony's back, making him look like an 
Eastern donkey loaded with panniers of oranges. 
Thus loading the ponies, they would bestride them 
and go to the She-mo-ka-man's cabin to "swap " for 
quas-gun (bread), sara-mock (tobacco) or any other 
article they wanted. It is said that those witnessing 
its manufacture were not especially anxious to pur- 
chase for their own consumption. 

Anderson Gilbert resides in Keeler, Van Buren 
County. Julia A. married Daniel Blish, who, for 
many years, represented Silver Creek on the Board 
of Supervisors, and resides in Dowagiac. Jane, now 
Mrs. Dexter Gushing, lives about two miles north of 
the old home. The first marriage that occurred in 
this locality took place at the residence of Squire 
Blish, who performed the ceremony. The parties 
were a Miss Dewey and Joseph Waltar. The first 
death was a daughter of David Waltar. 

THE FIRST SCHOOL. 

" But 900Q they knocked the wigwam down. 

And pine tree trunk and limb 
Began to sprout among the leaves, 

In shape of steeple slim ; 
.4nd soon was heard the siw-mill's • clack ' 

Along the river's brim, 
And up the little schoolhouse shot. 

To keep the boys in trim." 

The first recorded evidence of a school is found in 
the report of the school inspectors for 1839. There 
were four organized districts, District No. 1 being the 
only one in which a school was taught. There were 
twenty-nine scholars in the district, twenty-six of 
whom were in attendance. One hundred and fifty 
dollars was raised for the purpose of building a school- 
house, and twenty dollars for library purposes. 

A terra of three months was taught, and the text- 
books used were Webster's Elementary Spelling Book, 
English Reader, Emerson's Juvenile Reader, Olney's 
Geography and Smiley's Arithmetic. J. B. Treat 
is' positive in his statement that the schoolhouse re- 
ferred to in the report was not built until the fall of 
1841. The probability, however, is that it was built 
in 1840, on the southwest quarter of Section 1. Nel- 
son Copley was undoubtedly the first teacher, and 
among the pupils were Martin Mendenhall, Jacob 
Suits, Joseph Suits, J. B. Treat, Lucinda Suits, Phil- 
lip Mendenhall, George McDaniels, David McDaniels, 
William Barney, Jane Van Houghton, Ira Treat, 






B/LTZEF^ L/Ef\OOK. 

BALTZER LYBROOK. 
Baltzer Lybrook was born in Giles County, Va., 
May 19, 1824. He was the son of Isaac and Nancy 
(Burk) Lybrook, who reared a family of two sons, 
Baltzer and Isaac, Jr. The elder Lybrook was a 
planter, and a gentleman of education In 1824, he 
removed to Preble County, Ohio, where he died in the 
spring of 1825, leaving his widow and two sons in 
limited circumstances. Mrs. Lybrook was a native of 
Giles County, where she was born Nov. 5th, 1795 ; 
her father, John Burk, also a native of the same 
county, was one of its first settlers, and in his day a 
man of prominence, occupying many positions of 
trust and emolument. In 1828, Mrs. Lybrook's fam- 
ily decided to remove to Michigan, and she resolved 
to follow their fortunes. She was illy supplied with 
the necessary means to enable her to establish herself 
and boys in a new country, but she resolutely faced 
all the dangers and privations incident to life in a 
new country, and in the autumn of 1828 settled in 
Pokagon. She was a woman of much force of cliar- 



fA?{S. B. L/BI^OOf^. 



acter, and endowed with more business ability than 
most women. With her needle she earned a sum suf- 
ficient to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, eighty of which were in Berrien County, to which 
she removed in 1840, and where she died in 1871, in 
her seventy-fifth year. Baltzer was four years of age 
at the time of their removal to Michigan. At the 
age of sixteen, he went to Berrien County, where he 
resided until 1851, at which time he returned to Cass 
County, settling in the township of Silver Creek on a 
new farm. In 1850, he was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Henry Miller, of Preble County. 
She was born in Montgomery County, in March of 
1832, and came to Michigan in 1849 ; four children 
have been born to them — Lewis C, Andrew L., Eliza 
B. and Anna B. Mr. Lybrook has always followed 
agricultural pursuits, and in his chosen vocation has 
been successful ; he has acquired a competency, and 
occupies a prominent position among the best citizens 
of the county. 



J 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Maria Van Houghton, Ruby Treat and Louisa 
Treat. 

In the south part of the township, the first school- 
house was erected in the center of Section 29, and 
the first school was taught by Miss Elizabeth Hall, 
now Mrs. Freeman Spencer. Among the pupils were 
Eli Ridenour, William Ridenour, Susan Ridenour, Me- 
rinda Shaul, Anderson Shaul, Elwood Wooiman, Jane 
Gilbert, Mary Jane Wooiman, Eugene B. Gilbert, 
George Knapp, Anderson Gilbert, Monroe Knapp, 
Melvina Knapp and Josephine Knapp. 

The first disciple of Esculapius who administered 
to the necessities of the people of Silver Creek was 
Dr. Jacob Allen, of Whitmanville, and the first resi- 
dent physician was Dr. William Fowler. 

The 'first storekeeper was John G. A. Barney. 
He carried on quite a trade with the Indians for 
several years, buying their furs and skins and fur- 
nishing them with provisions, etc. 

An Indian by the name of Topash also kept a store 
on Long Lake. His business was, of course, confined 
exclusively to the Indians, and evidently was not very 
profitable or congenial, as he remained but a short 
time. 

POSTMASTERS. 

Mail carrying has passed through several eras since 
the pioneer period. It was first carried by a man on 
foot; then came the post boy, the stagecoach, and 
then the railway train. The first paper used was the 
foolscap, then the small business sheet. The letter 
was at first folded, one side of the paper being left 
blank, so as to form its own envelope, and was sealed 
with wax or wafer. Then came the patent envelope, 
which was considered to be quite an innovation, and 
last, the stamped self-sealing envelope. 

The first post office was a very primitive aff'air. It 
was only used when there was no settler's house cen- 
tral enough to accommodate the inhabitants. It con- 
sisted of a small box, with two parts inside and lid on 
top, and nailed to a tree located as stated above. In 
this box the post boy left the mail and took the letters 
to be sent away as he passed by on his route ; and, 
as evidence of the good character of the people, steal- 
ing letters from or in any way interfering with this 
box was never heard of. 

Whether the people of Silver Creek ever availed 
themselves of this primitive post office is not known ; 
the probability is that they did not, as the earliest 
post office in the township was at the residence of 
James Allen, he being the first Postmaster. Cushing 
is the only office within the township at this time, and 
is located in the west central part of the township. 

The first architecture arose from the simplest needs 
of men. The earliest inhabitants of the earth dwelt 



in the woods or caves for shelter. The next step was 
the tent of the simplest shepherd or the rude hut of 
logs. In place of the latter, the early settler found 
here another type — the Indian, or the dwellers in 
wigwams. Improving somewiiat on the earliest style of 
architecture, the pioneer reared his log cabin in sight 
of his dusky neighbor's wigwam ; but in a short time 
the log house, with its huge fireplace, and stick chim- 
ney, and rude furniture, was superseded by the frame 
house. The first house of this character in Silver 
Creek was built by Henry Dewey, a carpenter by 
the name of Shaw doing the work. 

By reference to the original land entries, it will be 
seen that twenty-eight years elapsed between the first 
entry, made by McDaniels, in 1834, and that of 
George H. House, in 1862. In 1850, there were 
over 1,500 acres of Government land. The second 
decade did not witness a rapid development. The 
lands lying adjacent to the North Branch of 
Dowagiac Creek were for the most part low and 
swampy, and not adapted to agricultural purposes. 
Much of it, however, on being reclaimed, has 
proved to be very valuable. In 1854, B. W. Scher- 
merhorn was elected Supervisor, and, in making his 
assessment for that year, he states that he found the 
township comparatively new, and in the vicinity of 
the Roman Catholic Church there was still a remnant 
of Pokagon's band. 

There are many who, while they are not pioneers 
in the ordinary acceptation of the term, have done a 
great deal of pioneer work, and have endured many 
of the hardships. They may with propriety be called 
pioneers of the second class, and are in every way 
worthy of association with those who in the early 
days laid the corner-stone for the present wealth and 
development of the township. 

The State of Ohio is well represented. Among the 
number emigrating from that State was Arad Knapp. 
The precise date of his emigration is not known, but 
was about 1843. He came from the Township of 
York, Sandusky County, with his family, which con- 
sisted of his wife and eight children ; his worldly ef- 
fects aside from his land were his team, one cow, a wag- 
on, and $3.50 in money. For five weeks they lived in 
a house twelve by fourteen ; they then removed to the 
farm on which his widow now resides, and where his 
decease occurred in 1859. 

George Bedford was one of the early settlers in 
that portion of the township in which he resides. He 
was born in England, and emigrated to this country^ 
settling in Onondaga County, N. ¥.; from thence he 
removed to Silver Creek, where he arrived in October, 
1841. His family consisted of his wife and two 
children, George E., and Harriett, now Mrs. John B. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Williams. His brother-in-law, William Smith, had 
arrived the year previous, and had located on the farm 
now owned by Otis Gushing. With him Mr. Bedford 
remained until the following spring ; during the win- 
ter, he built a cabin upon the land he had located on 
Section 28. His neighbors were Jacob Ridenour, Da- 
vid Waltar, Daniel Blish and William B. Gilbert. 
Money at this time was a scarce article ; the tax col- 
lector was imperative in his demands, and to make 
provision for this expenditure, Mr. Bedford was obliged 
to go to Indiana during harvest time, where he worked 
for ^1 per day, and the money thus earned was saved 
for the purpose above mentioned. 

In 1835, Erastus White removed from Wayne 
County, N. Y., and settled near Adrian, Lenawee 
County, where he resided until 1847, when he came to 
Silver Creek. With him came his family, consisting 
of his wife and nine children ; he located upon the 
farm where he now resides, and which he has im- 
proved. At this time, game of all kinds was in 
abundance, especially deer. Mr. White, who was an 
excellent shot, is said to have killed the largest deer 
ever shot in this part of the county ; it dressed 300 
pounds, while the hide alone weighed fourteen. Three 
sons are the only members of his family now living in 
the township. 

Daniel Blish was one of the pioneers in the south- 
ern part of the township. He came from Orleans 
County, N. Y., and settled on Section 32. 

William Judd came from Fairfield, Conn., and set- 
tled in 181-}: ; he was a farmer and cooper, and died in 
Dowagiac at the advanced age of ninety-two years. 
He had nine children, four of whom — Mark, Eunice, 
Rhoda Ann and Fanny — reside in Dowagiac. 

In the autumn of 1850, Abraham Conklin, with 
his family, consisting of his wife and five children — 
Belinda, Gilbert, Simeon, Jane and Abram — emigrated 
from the town of Stark, Otsego Co., N. Y., to Silver 
Creek. His first purchase of land was in the town- 
ship of La Grange, to which he removed in August of 
1851. In 1853, he disposed of his property and re- 
turned to Silver Creek, where he purchased 270 acres 
on Sections 31 and 32. He resided in the township 
until his decease, which occurred December 2-1, 1876. 
Mr. Conklin was one of the prominent farmers of the 
county, and by his industry, amassed a large property ; 
he owned at one time 936 acres of the most valuable 
land in the township. His wife died in 1868. Six 
of his children reside in the township — Gilbert, Abram 
C, Simeon, Charles E., Jane and Lydia S. 

B. W. Schermerhorn settled in Silver Creek in 
March, 1852, on the southwest quarter of Section 30. 
He was a resident of the township up to 1866, when 
he removed to Dowagiac. i 



Horatio W. Rider was from Essex, Essex Co., N. 
Y. He settled on the farm where his widow now re- 
sides in 1850. In 1851, he was married to Miss 
Mary E. Amidon. Mr. Rider was prominent in 
educational matters, and for twenty-four years was 
School Director. 

Isaac Tice came to Silver Creek in 1852 from 
Albany, N. Y. He owned a large tract of land which 
he purchased from Erastus Corning, with whom he 
had intimate business relations. He died in Dowagiac 
in 1872. 

William Bilderback was originally from Warren 
County, Ohio, from whence he removed to Berrien 
County in the fall of 1845. After a residence of five 
years in Berrien, he purchased of Kingsbury and Red- 
field eighty acres of wild land, on Section 34, to 
which he removed with his wife and three sons — Peter 
J., William W. and John — in April of 1850. A resi- 
dence of over thirty years in Silver Creek entitles 
Mr. Bilderback to a conspicuous place on the pioneer 
roster. Peter J. and William W. were among the 
"brave boys in blue," who lost their lives in the 
defence of their county. Their names are to be found 
in the military history of the county. John resides 
near the old place. James H. Cushing emigrated 
from the State of New York and settled on Section 
29 in February, 1854. He was a native of Vermont, 
where he was born in 1792. He was a soldier in the 
war of 1812, and died in Silver Creek, June 14, 1873, 
in the eighty-first year of his age. The following are 
the names of his children : Otis, Minerva, Sarah, 
Gavina, James H., Dexter, Mary, George, Delia and 
David A. David A. and Dexter are residents of 
Silver Creek, the former residing on Seetion 29, the 
latter on Section 20. 

The location of the Roman Catholic Church un- 
doubtedly induced many of that belief to settle in its 
immediate vicinity. In 1849, Dennis Daly, in com- 
pany with his brothers Patrick and Cornelius, pur- 
chased one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, 
now owned by Cornelius. In the same year, they 
settled upon their purchase and have since been resi- 
dents of the township. The following year, 1850, 
was one of many trials and privations to the family 
of Dennis ; his means were limited, and in addition to 
the privations thus entailed, the family were all sick. 
Shortly after his arrival, Mr. Daly attended the 
Catholic Church, and aside from himself and one 
other white person, the audience was composed wholly 
of Indians. The priest, Rev. Father Baroaux, was 
extremely glad to meet Mr. Daly, as he was the only 
person in his congregation with whom he could con- 
verse. In 1865, Mr. Daly removed to the farm 
where he now resides. In a residence of thirty years, 



fl] 



History of cass county, Michigan. 



he has established an enviable reputation and gathered | 
about him many warm and sincere friends. He has 
been a successful farmer and is enjoying in the even- 
ing of his days the fruition of a well-spent life. In 
the fall of 1849 the Cullinanes — John, Michael and 
Daniel — settled on Section 7, where they now reside. 

George W. Allen bought the farm he now owns of 
John Barney ; his wife, whose maiden name was Mary 
Muncie, is a daughter of one of the pioneers of the 
Township of Volinia, where she was born; when she 
was two years of age, the family removed to La 
Grange, where Mr. Muncie died when Mrs. Allen 
was ten years of age. 

Lawrence A. Clapp came from- La Fayette, Onan- 
daga County, N. Y., with his wife and daughter, now 
Mrs. Samuel Frost, of Pokagon, and purchased the 
farm on which he now resides in 1854. Mr. Clapp 
was married to Miss Lavina Cushing, of Oneida 
County, New York, in 1849. Mr. Clapp improved 
his farm. 

Caiphas Dill came from Preble County in 1855, 
and settled on a new farm on Section 6, where he 
remained until 1864, when he removed to Van Buren 
County, from thence to Wayne, and came to where 
he now resides in 1869. 

John F. Swisher with his family, wife and seven 
children — Harriett, Ann Eliza, Mary, Sarah, William, 
Charlotte and Thomas — left Preble County in 1855, 
and came to Silver Creek, settling on Section 8. 

In 1844, Elijah Frost and his family came to Po- 
kagon Township from Otsego County, N. Y., and 
settled on Section 31, where they remained until 
1856, when they removed to Silver Creek, where 
they have since resided. William M. Frost, who for 
many years has represented the township upon the 
board of supervisors, is a son. He has identified 
himself with all the material interests of Silver 
Creek. 

THK CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART OF MARY. 

In order to understand the causes that resulted in 
the establishment of " The Church of the Sacred Heart 
of Mary " in the township of Silver Creek, many 
miles distant from a city or village, the historian must 
refer to the early history of Michigan, when devout 
teachers of the Catholic faith sailed around the lakes 
cotemporaneous with La Salle, the French explorer, 
penetrated the St. Joseph Valley, and set up the 
sacred cro.ss for the purpose of converting the Indians. 
They measurably succeeded in their desire, and estab- 
lished the Church'of Notre Dame, in Indiana, one at 
Bertrand, in this State, and in other places. 

The Pottawatomie Indians, who inhabited this re- 
gion, by a treaty made in 1828 surrendered their right 



and claim to all of the lands in Southwestern Michigan 
except a reservation in Berrien County, west of the 
St. Joseph River, containing approximately forty- nine 
square miles. This reservation was also ceded to the 
United States by a treaty concluded at Chicago upon 
the 27th of September, 1833, and the Indians fur- 
thermore agreed to remove three years later from the 
ceded lands to a reservation in Kansas.* The Chief, 
Paul (or Leopold)t Pokagon, only consented to sign 
the treaty on condition that he and the members of 
his band, numbering some three hundred and fifty 
souls at that time, it is said, should be exempted from 
removal to the West. Pokagon was a devout Catholic, 
and nearly all of the Indians in his band were con- 
verts and warmly attached to the church. Their op- 
position to the stipulation requiring removal arose 
almost entirely from an apprehension that, should 
they become residents of the far western country re- 
served for the tribe by the Government, they would 
lose the comforts and benefits of their religion. The 
treaty of 1833 was essentially a treaty of purchase. 
Pokagon and his followers received as their share of 
the remuneration for the relinquishment of the Ber- 
rien County tract about $2,000. 

With this money the chief purchased, January 31, 
1837 (and at earlier dates), lands in Silver Creek 
around Long Lake, aggregating over seven hundred 
acres, forty acres of which were deeded to the Bishop 
for church purposes. On this tract, the church edifice 
now stands. 

In the fall of this year, the Indians settled here to 
the number of about 250, and having constructed 
their bark wigwams and log houses they, in 1838, 
built a church of hewn logs, 20x30 feet, on the north 
bank of, and facing Long Lake. The roof was con- 
structed of shakes, it was destitute of a floor, and the 
seats consisted of benches made of split and hewn 
logs. In this rude structure, religious services were 
held for five or six years. The first priest who vis- 
ited them was Father De Salle, who came from Notre 
Dame in response to a sick call. 

They were accustomed to go to Notre Dame to 
celebrate Easter and other important festivals. Their 
spiritual wants were administered to by various priests 
from this place until they were given a stationary 
priest in 1844. Rev. Th. Marivault was the first one 
who was stationed here. 

A school had been established in 1843, which was 
conducted by Brother Joseph, and when Father Mari- 
vault was stationed here, the Sisters taught the school 
for five years from 1845. The Indians supported this 

* See Uio eiecuDd chapter on Indian Uialory, in this vutume, also chapter on 

t Paul was undoubtedly the Christian or baptismal name of Pokagon, but 
wherever the name of the chief appears in legal recorxls it is written Leopold 
Pokagon. 



364 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



school from annuities received from the Govern- 
ment. 

In 1847, Rey. L. Baroux assumed the pastorate, 
and immediately set about remodeling and improving 
the church, which was now for the first time supplied 
with pews, the Indians bearing the entire expense. 

The Church was blessed, January 24, 1847, by 
Very Rev. Edward Sorin, Father Superior, assisted 
by Father Th. Marivault. 

Not long after this the Irish, now so numerous, at- 
tracted by the church, began settling in this township, 
and being devout Catholics, have ever since assisted 
very materially in the support of the Gospel. 

While Chief Pokagon, who died July 8, 1840, 
was living, his people were united and happy ; but 
having deceased before dividing the land among the 
families of his tribe, the entire estate was claimed by 
his heirs, so that in 184'J and 1850, the entire tribe, 
with the exception of ten families, under the lead of 
William Sin-go-wah, moved to Rush Lake, in this 
State, where they built another church. 

In 1852, Father L. Baroux went to the East In- 
dies, and was succeeded by Father Fourmont, and he 
by Father Labeil, of Kalamazoo, who made a few 
visits in 1854. In 1855, Father John De Neve com- 
menced attending the mission from Niles, and he as- 
sisted in maturing the plans of Augustine J. Topash 
for the construction of a new church edifice, which 
was completed in 1858. 

In February, 1859, Father L. Baroux returned 
from the East Indies, enlarged the upright of the 
church and added two wings, and the new church was 
blessed by'Bishop Pet. P. Lefevre, D. D., of Detroit, 
September 29, 1861. 

Father Baroux having severed his connection with 
the church, October, 1870, he was succeeded by 
Father Richard^Sweeney, in December of this year, 
and he was | in turn succeeded by Father James 
Hebert, in October, 1873, and he by the present pas- 
tor. Father Christopher J. Roeper, January 15, 1875. 
Owing to the numerous changes in priests, which 
was occasioned by its being an undesirable charge, 
on account of its location in the country, the church 
had retrograded instead of progressed, and the build- 
ings were in a dilapidated condition when Father 
Roeper took charge ; but being possessed of great 
Christian zeal and almost boundless ambition to do 
good in the Master's vineyard, he has succeeded in 
advancing all the interests of the church, and in 
placing it in an enviable position among the other 
churches. In 1876, he added to the church a sacristy, 
and in the summer 1879 completed the work of res- 
toration ; late in the fall it was frescoed, then in 
1880 a grand altar was procured, and in 1881 new 



pews were put in, expending in so doing some $2,200. 
The society now numbers forty-five white and five In- 
dian families. On another page will be found a fine 
view of the church and grounds. The first baptisms, 
marriages, etc., were recorded in Notre Dame, and 
not until January 4, 1845, was the first baptism re- 
corded by Father Th. Marivault, an Indian maiden, 
Mary Ta-con-enbi then receiving this sacrament. In 
April, 1844, Joseph Ni-sik-ta was united in marriage 
to Nancy Cau-sha-wah, and this is the first marriage 
recorded here. 

Father Roeper, the present priest, was born in 
Belecke, Prussia, March 14, 1838, and pursued a 
course of study in the Gymnasium at Cologne before 
coming to this country in July, 1868. 

Having studied philosophy in Milwaukee, and the- 
ology in Mount St. Mary's Seminary, in Cincinnati, 
he was, after being ordained, sent to the mission of 
Silver Creek. In addition, he administers to the 
spiritual necessities of the Church of the Holy 
Maternity, in Dowagiac, which was built in 1872, 
and dedicated by Bishop C. H. Borgess, D. D., of 
Detroit, August 30, 1876. Father John Cappon, of 
Niles, was the first priest, and was succeeded by 
Father Roeper, January, 1877. The church has a 
membership of fifty, including two Indian families. 

SILVER CREEK M. E. CHURCH. 

Our readers are indebted to W. M. Frost for the 
following facts in regard to the early history of 
Methodism in Silver Creek : 

The first society was organized in the year 1843, 
with the following members : Leroy L. Curtis and 
wife, Erastus Stark and wife and Delonson Curtis and 
wife. Leroy L. Curtis was leader of the class. In 
1844, Rev. David Whitlock preached to the society, 
meetings being held at the home of Leroy L. Curtis. 
The second pastor was the Rev. Mr. Jones, who came 
in the year 1845. In 1846, there were two preachers 
in the work — Rev. Caleb Erkonbrach and Campbell. 
Meetings were held at the log schoolhouse at Indian 
Lake for several years. The society has prospered 
and now has a comfortable church and a flourishing 
Sabbath school. 

THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST. 

This society was organized in 1861, with the fol- 
lowing members : 

J. F. Swisher, Millie Swisher, David Dewey, 
Anna Dewey, Betsey Dewey, William Pray, Mrs. 
William Pray, Henry Moore and -wife, Alva Tuttle 
and wife, Andrew Barnhart and wife, Elias B. God- 
frey and wife, Avery Smith and wife, Henry Keeler 
and wife, Horace Grinnell and wife. 



4 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Rev. Henry B. Jackson was the first pastor. He 
commenced his pastoral duties in 1861. His suc- 
cessors have been : J. H. Reese, William Lane, J. B. 
Jackson, J. H. Reese, M. B. Rawson, H. F. Mor- 
rison and Levi Dewey. 

The present church edifice was erected in 1865, at 
a cost of $2,980. 

The following comprise the principal township 
ofiicers up to 1881 : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Timothy Treat, 1837; P. B. Dunning, 1838; 
County Commissioners, 1839, 1840, 1841 ; John 
Woolman, ^r., 1842; John Woolman, Jr., 1843; 
John G. A. Barney, 1844; John G. A. Barney, 
1845; Daniel Blish, from 1846 to 1853, inclusive ; 

B. W. Schermerhorn, 1854-56 ; Gilman C. Jones, 
1857-58; B. W. Schermerhorn, 1859-60; Justus 
Gage. 1861 ; Daniel Blish, 1862 ; Daniel Blish, 
1863; B. W. Schermerhorn, 1864; Gilman C. 
Jones, 1865; William M. Frost, 1866; William 
M. Frost, 1867; William K. Palmer, from 1868 
to 1872, inclusive; Gilbert Conkling, 1873; Arthur 
Smith, 1874 ; Arthur Smith, 1875 ; Arthur Smith, 
1876 ; William M. Frost, 1877 ; Adam Suits, 1878 ; 
William M. Frost, 1879; William M. Frost, 1880; 
William M.Frost, 1881. 

TREASURERS. 

Benjamin Dunning, 1837 ; John Barney, 1838 ; 
Benjamin Dunning, 1839 ; H. Sillick, 1842 ; John 

C. Herrington, 1843 ; W. W. Barney, 1844 ; W. W 
Barney, 1845 ; W. W. Barney, 1846 ; Eli W. Veach 
1847 ; Eli W. Veach, 1848 ; Eli W. Veach, 1849 
Patrick Hamilton, 1850 ; Patrick Hamilton, 1851 
Daniel W. Heazlit, 1852; D. M. Heazlit, 1853; E 
H. Foster, 1854; I. S. Becraft, 1855; B. F. Bell, 
1856; William Fowler, 1857 ; Nathan Dewey, 1858: 
L. R. Brown, 1859; L. R. Brown, 1860; M. Cory 
1861 ; M. Cory, 1862 ; R. Watson, 1863 ; R. Wat 
son, 1864 ; R. Watson, 1865 ; T. T. Stebbins, 1866 
M. Michael, 1867; T. T. Stebbins, 1868; D. Hen 
derson, 1869; J. D. Taylor, 1870; H. Michael 
1871 ; Myron Stark, 1872; Myron Stark, 1873; D, 
McOmber, 1874 ; Enoch Jessup, 1875, 1876, 1877 ; 

C. Curran, 1878 ; George W. Welch, 1879 ; George 
W. Welch, 1880 ; Gaylord Cory, 1881. 

CLERKS. 

1837-40, James Allen ; 1841, John Woolman, 
Jr.; 1842-43, James Allen ; 1844, E. W. Veach ; 
1845, James Allen ; 1846-48, J. C. Herrington ; 
1849, E. W. Veach; 1850-51, J. C. Herrington; 
1852, M. Bird; 1853, Eli W. Beach; 1854, William 

D. McCool; 1855, William Arbour; 1856-57, A. 
Harwood; 1858, N. B. Hollister; 1859-60, H. Mi- 



chael; 1861-63, H. C. Jones; 1864-65, H. Mi- 
chael; 1866-69, J. D. Taylor; 1870, H. Michael; 
1871, B. L. Dewey; 1872, H. Michael; 1873, E. E. 
Armstrong ; 1874, E. L. Jones ; 1875, Henry Mi- 
chael ; 1876, George W. Andrews; 1877-78, M. H. 
Daly; 1879, A. Knapp ; 1880, John M. Frost; 
1881, William Bunsbury. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



/. 



HORATIO W. RIDER, 
the subject of this biography, is spoken of by those 
who knew him intimately, as a man who in many ways \ 

colinected himself with the important interests of 
Silver Creek, and who left his name indelibly 
stamped on its history. He was born in Waitesfield, 
Vt., January 10, 1821, of which place his grand- 
father, Phenias Rider, was one of the pioneers. But 
little is known of his history further than that he was 
a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and subse- 
quently a captain of militia. His son, Horatio 
Rider, father of Horatio W., was a native of Waites- 
field, where he was born in September of 1792. He 
married Emily Joslin and reared a family of four 
children, Horatio W. being the youngest. In the war 
of 1812, he served as an officer in a regiment of Ver- 
mont volunteers. In 1836, he removed to Essex, 
Essex County, N. Y., with his family, where he re- 
sided until he removed to Michigan in 1849 ; he was 
an exemplary man in all respects, a consistent 
Christian and a prominent member of the Congrega- 
tional Church of Keeler ; he died in Wayne, April 
3, 1877, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Horatio 
W. spent his boyhood days in his native town ; his 
father was a man in medium circumstances, a farmer 
and carpenter, but appreciating the value of an edu- 
cation, assisted his son in obtaining an academical 
education, which he made practically useful to him- 
self and others by teaching ; his interests were con- 
nected with those of his father, and he came to Michi- 
gan at the same time, settling in Silver Creek, on 
the farm where he resided until his death, which oc- 
curred September 13, 1876. In 1851, Mr. Rider 
was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of Joseph B. 
and Emma (Morse) Amiden, who had a family of 
ten children, four of whom attained maturity. She 
was born in Bennington, Vt., May 12, 1829, and 
came to Michigan immediately after her marriage, 
where she has since resided ; her father emigrated to 
Minnesota in 1859, and from there to Dakota, where 
he and a son William were massacred by the Indians 
at Sioux Falls. Mr and Mrs. Rider reared a familv 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of two children — Chloe, now Mrs. Andrew B. 
Holmes, of Silver Creek, and Rosa B., wife of Clem- 
ent J. Strang, of Andover, Mass. This biography 
would not be complete without special mention of 
Mrs. Rider, who in many respects was the counter- 
part of her husband in all that pertains to true nobil- 
ity of character; she was a worthy wife, a devoted 
mother and friend, and is highly esteemed by all who 
knew her for her many estimable traits of character. 



CHAPTEE XXXV. 

JEFFERSON. 

Erection of Township— Water-Courses and Lakes— First Settlement- 
Economy of Pioneers— Pioneer Hospitality— Original Land En- 
tries—Initial Events— Dailey— Schools— Manufactures— Keligious 
Societies— Civil List— Biographical. 

"TTTHEN Cass County was erected by an act of the 
' ' Territorial government approved November 5, 
1829, the township of Jefferson was included in the 
north half in the township of Penn, and the south half 
in the township of Ontwa. It formed a part of these 
townships until 1833, when by an act of the territo- 
rial government, approved the 29th of that year, the 
present township of Jefferson was erected, the en- 
acting clause reading as follows : " That all that part 
of the county of Cass known and distinguished as 
Township 7 south of the base line, and in Range 15 
west of the principal meridian, compose a township 
by the name of Jefferson ; and that the first township 
meeting be held at the house of Moses Reams in said 
township." 

The legal boundaries of this township, as created 
by law, is La Grange on the north, Ontwa on the 
south, and Calvin and Howard on the east and west 
respectively. The surface of the township is consid- 
erably diversified, being in places quite level, and in 
others rolling and hilly, although nowhere does the 
land rise to any considerable height. The south and 
eastern portions are quite level ; while north and west 
of the lakes, which are found nearly in the center of 
the township, the surface is, as mentioned, quite roll- 
ing, and the soil quite sandy ; not so much so, how- 
ever, as not to be (juite productive. The soil through- 
out the greater portion of the township is sandy, but 
there also can be found considerable black loam, this 
being especially true in Section 28 ; and it was cul 
tivated in places by the Indians. Upon these fertile 
fields were found excellent specimens of the famous 
garden-beds of Southwestern Michigan, but of these 
no trace can now be discerned, they having long since 
been entirely obliterated by the plowman. 

There are no streams of any considerable imjior- 



tance that hardly more than touch the township; the 
Christiana Creek being the only one, this passing 
through a small portion of Sections 25 and 36, and has 
been utilized by various manufacturers in years gone 
by, that of milling being the only one now pursued. 
But numerous lakes dot the surface, from which, with 
springs, wells, and the use of modern wind-mills, 
ample supplies of water are obtained. Painter's 
Lake, found in Section 36, was so named in honor of 
Joseph Painter, one of the pioneers who figured quite 
prominently in the affairs of the township in days long 
since gone by, as well as being an important factor in 
its agricultural and manufacturing enterprises. 

Goose Lake, or lakes, there being in reality, two 
lakes joined together by a very small neck, located in 
Sections 15 and 16, is supposed to have received its 
name from the fact that thousands of wild geese fre- 
quented its waters when they quacked, dived, and 
swam to their heart's content until disturbed by the 
pioneers, who made many an excellent meal upon 
them. Crooked and Pine Lakes were named respectively, 
the first from its meandering contour, and the second 
from trees of that name upon an island in the lake. 
An early settler named Gray gave his name to a 
small lake in Sections 20 and 21, while others of less 
magnitude are not honored with a name. 

In 1827, before any settlements were made in the 
township, the boundary lines were surveyed by Will- 
iam Brookfield, D. S., and in theyear following, 1828, 
he surveyed the subdivisions, they being completed on 
the 11th day of July. Thus were the preliminary 
arrangements made for the advent of settlers, and 
they were not slow to avail themselves of it. 

FIRST SETTLEMENTS. 

The early autumn sun of 1828 dawned upon the 
broad acres of openings and timbered land in this 
township, and found it bedecked in all its pristine 
glory and natural loveliness. The foliage began to 
assume those handsome tints, so prized by lovers of 
the beautiful, and all presented a most enchanting and 
attractive scene. The smoke could be seen ascending 
from the wigwam of a few solitary Indian families 
who, with the wild beasts and birds of the forest, were 
its only occupants. 

Tis true Young's, Pokagon and Beardsley's Prairies 
had several occupants, while in La Grange and Ontwa 
could be found the adventurous pioneer, but as yet, 
the smoke from the first settler's log cabin offered no 
landmark to him who, in search of adventageous loca- 
tions, chanced to cross this fertile section. 

Following the natural course of events, however, 
such a condition of affairs could not long exist, for the 
tide of emigration which had set toward this county 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



367 



could not be stayed, and accordingly, October of this 
year, 1828, saw four families established as first comers 
in what is now a thickly-settled and very productive 
region. 

John Reed, who had, previous to this time, located 
on Young's Prairie, wrote back to liis brothers-in-law^ 
Abner Tharp and Nathan Norton — John Reed and 
Norton having married sisters of Abner Tharp — set- 
ting forth in glowing language the beauties and pro- 
ductiveness of this Western country, so that they were 
induced to come here to better their fortunes and 
grow up with the country, although, in their wildest 
moments, they did not imagine the wonderful trans- 
formations in the county and changes in inhabitants 
that would be wrought within their lifetime. In 
early October, 1828, could have been seen, in Jeffer- 
son Township, Logan County, Ohio, four families 
busily engaged in packing into cloth-covered lumber 
wagons- their entire household effects, with provisions 
enough to last them for a journey of many days 
toward the setting sun. The names of the heads of 
these families were Nathan Norton, Abner Tharp, 
Moses Reams and William Reams and their destina- 
tion, Cass County, Mich. Having gotten everything 
in readiness, a last long farewell look was given to 
familiar places, and tearful good-byes spoken to loved 
friends, and then the adventurous spirits started on 
their western journey, the men driving the cows and ! 
several swine. As a whole, the journey was quite 
pleasant, for there was no lack of companionship, and 
the weather was propitious. Having reached Elkhart, 
Ind., they stopped a few days with a friend, and while 
there were subjected to quite a fright, although nothing 
serious resulted. A hasty prairie fire came sweeping 
onward, and soon the cabin where the women were, 
and near which were standing their wagons, became 
enveloped in flames. One of the women, became 
so frightened that, seizing a gun, she ran out on 
a tree that had fallen into the river, where she was 
found convulsively grasping the gun and a friendly 
limb. Fortunately, no serious damage was done their 
household goods, but their stock scattered to the woods, 
and it re(iuircd some search to find them again. The 
attractions of that locality were lost upon them after 
this occurrence, and they hastened on their journey to 
their destination. 

Passing through Edwardsburg, they there found two 
families only, Thomas \l. Edwards and Mr. Beardsley, 
the latter living on the same place now occupied by 
Dr. Sweetland. They took a westerly course through 
Jefferson, crossed Beardsley's Prairie, and thence 
bore eastward to Young's Prairie, where they were 
heartily received and welcomed by John Reed, who 
was expecting them. They only remained here a few 



days to recuperate, and then made their way south of 
Diamond Lake, where they proceeded to erect their 
cabins and make preparation for the winter months. 
Then and there was erected the first habitation of a 
a white man in the township. These cabins were 
very primitive affairs, and viewed in the light of 
modern structures, would be considered simply unin- 
habitable. They were constructed of unhewed logs, 
ranged one above the other, with notches in the 
corners into which they interlocked, thus forming a 
solid wall on three sides, the front being open, and 
across which was hung a quilt in lieu of boards and a 
door. The earth formed the only floor of which the 
cabins could boast, while the roof was constructed of 
poles, over wliich was piled sods and earth, through 
the center of which was left an opening for the smoke 
to ascend. No bedstead graced the cabin ; a pile of 
hay in one corner, over which was laid coverlets, an- 
swering the purpose until nearly spring, when Labin 
Tharp, our informant, said his father, Abner, bored 
some holes into the logs, into which were driven poles, 
which were supported at the other end by upright 
stakes driven into the ground. This pioneer bedstead 
was used by his parents, the children occupying the 
place before described. When it was necessary to 
replenish the fire, huge logs were cut and drawn into 
the cabin with a horse, the ends being raised from 
the ground by logs placed crosswise. Once firing up 
lasted two or three days, and if the wind was in such 
direction as to blow the smoke to one side instead of 
its ascending upward, they shifted co the other side 
of the room. A bake kettle did service on all occa- 
sions, and was an indispensable article in the prepara- 
tion of food for the family. Two of these " half- 
faced shanties," as they were called, were built facing 
each other, with only a small space intervening, so 
that if neighbors were few, they had one within easy 
call. The stock was supplied with hay cut from the 
marsh land near Diamond Lake, and were protected 
from the inclemency of the weather by rail pens, 
covered with hay. While en route, their hogs strayed 
away and were lost, and some of them were not 
recovered for two years, consequently pork was a 
scarce article, but the woods and plains abounded in 
deer, which supplied plenty of fresh meat. Laben 
Tharp speaks of these as "happy times," and says he 
never enjoyed life more than at this period. 

In the spring, Abner Tharp went into the Township 
of Calvin, where he erected a shanty and plowed ten 
acres, which he planted to corn with some potatoes. 
This was the first settlement in Calvin and the first 
ground cultivated there. They made this change so 
as to be near water, of which there was a scarcity 
where thev settled in Section 1, Jefferson. The first 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



spring they went to Pokagon and purchased of two 
old bachelors, named Duckett and Davis, a quantity 
of corn, which was shelled by pounding it in a wooden 
trough. This they took to Paine's mill, below Niles, 
where it was ground together with some wheat they 
procured on the way. The flour they thus obtained 
had all to be sifted through a hand-sieve, the mill not 
being provided with machinery to do this part of the 
work. This was their home until 1830, when they 
sold out to a man named Charles, and with the pro- 
ceeds entered eighty acres of land in Section 27, 
Jefferson ; this was in tiirn disposed of, and with the 
money thus obtained he entered two hundred acres in 
Section 23. After a time, he embraced a good oppor- 
tunity to dispose of this, and returned to Ohio, and 
from there went to Illinois, but the attractions of 
Michigan proved too strong for him, and he returned 
and settled in Brownsville, where he remained until 
his death, which occurred in 1869. They were 
blessed with eight children, three of whom were girls; 
they are all dead except Nathan, who is in Colorado ; 
Nichodemas, in the Indian Territory, and Laben, who 
lives on Section 23. William Reams, familiarly 
known as " Uncle Billy," one of the original four 
men who first settled in this township is still alive and 
a resident of Section 10, where he lives in humble 
quietude, envying no one and envied by none. He 
never knew ambition for wealth or distinction and 
evidently believes that " sulBcient unto the day is the 
evil thereof," for he is evidently blessed with a con- 
tented mind. His seventy-four years bear lightly 
upon his shoulders, and many more are probably in 
store for him. 

When Nathan Norton reached this township, he 
was, in common with nearly all the settlers of that day, 
in very moderate circumstances, and being somewhat 
advanced in life, did not accomplish as much in this 
new country as his son, Pleasant Norton, who came 
in 1832, and purchased of Government the land on 
which his father resided, and presented him with forty 
acres of the same — an act of filial affection which 
could readily be expected of the donor. The elder 
Norton died on this place. He was the father of five 
children, two girls and three boys, viz.: Mahala, 
Pleasant, Levi, Jane and Richard. The first named 
became the wife of Moses Reams, now deceased. Jane 
became the wife of Maxwell Zane, and upon his death 
married Mr. Lumpkins, who is also dead. Levi died 
some time since, and Richard is a farmer in Jefferson. 
Pleasant Norton, now deceased, was, during his life- 
time, pne of the active, energetic men of the town- 
ship. He was born in Grayson County, Va., in 1806, 
removed with his parents to Champaign County, Ohio, 
and sub<<equently removed to Logan County in the 



same State, where he remained until coming to this 
county, with his wife, Rachel (Fukey) Norton, who is 
still a resident of the old place, and although in her 
seventy-third year, is in possession of all her faculties. 
It is a pleasure to converse with " Aunt Rachel," as 
she is affectionately termed, regarding early experi- 
ences. She points with pride to a stately oak, which 
when eighteen inches in height grew in an onion bed 
she was weeding out with a table-fork, and which was 
spared because of its thriftiness. While they were 
deprived of many of the luxuries, the necessities of 
life were always within reach, and wild honey could 
be frequently found upon their table. The township 
records show the name of Pleasant Norton there in- 
scribed year after year, he having filled the office of 
Supervisor for eight years, Township Treasurer for a 
number of years, besides various other offices in the 
gift of the township. He was not a stranger to leg- 
islative halls, having served in the State Legislature 
two terms. Although a man not physically strong, 
his mind and body woe particularly active, and be- 
fore his death he had accumulated a handsome compe- 
tency which he left to his family, he being the father 
of eight children, as follows : Jane (deceased), 
Amanda (Mrs. Charles G. Banks), Elizabeth (widow 
of William Peck), Hiram and Maxwell (in Cassopolis), 
James (deceased), Louisa (Mrs. Haywood, in Port- 
land, Maine), and John (who is a resident of the old 
homestead). 

Having learned of the new El Dorado in Michigan 
by way of his father-in-law, Nathan Norton, Maxwell 
Zane left his home in Champaign County, Ohio, in 
September. 1829, with his family and his household ef- 
fects, together with farm utensils and stock. They were 
accompanied by four young men, three of them named 
John Tracy, David Hildreth and Mr. Jacobs, who 
came to assist in driving stock and teams. They all 
returned except Tracy, who remained and became the 
husband of a Miss Hunter, he residing here until his 
death. The journey, which occupied eleven days, 
was accomplished with no particular mishap. Mrs. 
Zane, 7iee Jane Norton, riding a pony purchased, ex- 
pressly for her, carrying in her arms an eighteen- 
months' child, beside preparing the food for the men 
each day, which is a feat few could accomplish, when 
we consider that within six weeks after arrival she 
became the mother of the first white child born in the 
township — Nancy, now Mrs. Monroe, who resides on 
a portion of the old farm. Being of an energetic 
disposition, he immediately plowed the ground and 
sowed a crop of wheat, which yielded abundantly the 
year following, it being one of the first crops sown in 
the township. This was on section twelve. The land 
here is what is known as burr-oak openings, there 




S. C. TH/'F^P- 




VflLLIy5>[^ COjNlDOjsf. 



HISTORY OE CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



being only an occasional tree, 'all the smaller trees 
and shrubs being burned each year by fires started by 
the Indians for this especial purpose ; consequently 
the labor incident to clearing a heavily timbered 
country was obviated. But the ground plowed very 
hard, it being filled with innumerable roots of small 
trees and bushes, known as grubs, which formed a 
very considerable obstruction to the plow, and in 
order to overcome them a team of from four to twelve 
yoke of oxen were employed, known as " breaking-up 
teams," and some of the pioneers ran these teams, 
•' breaking-up " land at so much per acre, the usual 
price being from $3 to $4. The first season after 
they came here Mrs. Zane grubbed out the gar- 
den, which she attended herself. 

Having sold the first land he purchased — 150 
acres in section twelve — Mr. Zane removed to section 
twenty-one, in which section and Section 28) 
he purchased 200 acres, his death occurring on this 
place. The laws at that time were such that the 
children inherited all the property ; but, nothing 
daunted, Mrs. Zane set to work and by careful man- 
agement soon increased the eighty acres of clearing 
by as many more, erected a barn and purchased 
eighty acres additional. Being possessed of almost 
unbounded ambition, she was enabled to accomplish 
this. She is now a resident of tiie farm first pur- 
chased by her husband when coming here, the house 
standing nearly on the same spot where the log cabin 
was erected, and from the back door of which she had 
seen wolves coming to eat the crumbs shaken from 
her table-cloth. Although in her seventy-fourth year, 
she has within the past twelve months earned $200 
by weaving carpets. The Zane family are the lineal 
descendants of the Zanes who first settled Wheeling, 
W. Va., and erected a block-house, or fort, from 
which forays were made against the Indians, and 
to which the settlers would flee when pursued by 
the blood-thirsty savages. Pressing westward into 
Ohio, Zanesville and Zanesfield were named in honor 
of them, and finally we find them as residents of this 
county. 

Among those who emigrated from Logan County, 
Ohio — this particular county being the germ from 
whence sprang so many settlers in this township 
— was Nathan Tharp, whose wife, Lucinda, was a 
Zane. He first settled in Calvin, southeast of Dia- 
mond Lake, where he located eighty acres and re- 
mained until 1836, when he moved to the farm now 
owned Joseph Baldwin. S. C. Tharp is infatuated 
with the life of a hunter and trapper, and has made 
many trips to Iowa to satisfy his love of exploits and 
for his health. One journey there was made with an 
ox team iu 1853-5-i, and seventy-two nights of the 



365 were spent in camp. One day, while out hunt- 
ing, his young brother, aged ten, exclaimed : " Oh, 
there come some black hogs!" Glancing in that 
direction, he discovered a bear with two cubs. One 
bear was killed by a blow on the head, while trying 
to climb a tree, and the she bear shot where she was 
found held at bay by the dogs. When nineteen 
years of age he killed seven bears in one day, and be- 
came so noted as a bear hunter that if one was dis- 
covered he was sure to be called upon to dispatch 
him ; one day he was summoned to dispatch four 
bears that were feasting on acorns on the farm now 
owned by H. B. Shurter, and they all paid the penalty 
— death — for their intrusion. 

Entries of land were quite numerous at this period, 
1830-31, for in addition to those enumerated were 
Stephen and Peter Marmon, Aaron Brown, David T. 
Nicholson, Daniel Burnham, F. Smith, Richmond 
Marmon, John Pettigrew, Samuel Colyar, William 
Barton, William Mendenhall, Obediah Sawtell, Ezra 
Beardsley, Isaac Hultz. 

Samuel Colyar was raised in North Carolina, from 
which place he removed to Logan County, Ohio, and 
from there to Penn, in the spring of 1831, and made 
a crop on Young's Prairie. In the fall he went after 
his ftimily, which consisted of his wife and fourteen 
children, ten of whom came with him, and settled on 
Section 11. When en route the streams were so 
swollen that it was necessary to unload the goods and 
ferry them across and reload them again ; on one oc- 
casion the wagon-box floated off and was making rapid 
descent down the river when it was caught by them 
after a lively pursuit in a pirogue that was near at 
hand. In November, that year, long before farmers 
were ready for it, there came an immense fall of snow, 
burying everything beneath sight, and the cattle, as 
they wallowed through it, were encased up to their 
' sides ; it was finally dissipated by the sun. Mr. Col- 
yar helped very considerably in the development of 
the country, and was always ready to assist in every 
good cause. As a christian, he was a zealous ad- 
vocate of Christianity, and assisted very materially 
in establishing and maintaining the Baptist Churchj 
of which he was a member. He was esteemed by all 
his neighbors for his many good qualities of mind and 
heart, and passed away deeply lamented. Of his 
large family of children, but three remain in the 
county — Phoebe, Mrs. R. Reams, in Cassopolis ; 
Mary, Mrs. Reams, in Jefferson, and Jonathan, also 
in Jefferson, he being twenty-one years of age when 
coming into the county. 

In 1835, Relief A. Allen emigrated with her father, 
Reuben Allen, from Rutland County, Vt., and 
settled in Mason Township, where they purchased llie 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



first land sold by Hon. George Redfield, he having 
purchased quite largely for speculative purposes. At 
that time, only three families were in the township, 
but before the close of the year some sixty had taken 
up their abode there. Those coming from Vermont, 
were very appropriately termed Yankees by the other 
settlers, who were chiefly Southerners. Until they 
could erect a log cabin, they occupied one used as an 
office by Mr. Pells, of Edwardsburg. The year fol- 
lowing was what has been termed the sickly year, al- 
most every one being afflicted with the ague. Mr. 
Allen would always contend that he enjoyed the 
felicity of three hundred shakes. Miss Allen became 
the wife of A. M. Morse, who was born in On- 
tario County, New York State, came from there in 
1837 with his father, and settled near Redfield's saw- 
mill. About eleven years since, they removed to the 
farm now occupied by Mrs. Morse, he having died 
some years since. 

Among the early residents can be counted Daniel 
Vantuyl, who was born in New Jersey, and removed 
from there to Lake County, and from there here, 
his method of locomotion being by horse team. Ac- 
companied by his family of four children, July 26, 
he arrived in Edwardsburg, and occupied a school- 
house until he purchased eighty acres of Abner 
Tharp, in Section 27. He departed this life January 
20, 1880, aged eighty-four years. With him, his 
word was considered as good as his bond. One of his 
sons, Joseph M., owner of a farm in Section 36, 
recalls the wonderful changes that have transpired 
since coming here. Daniel Vantuyl, nephew of Jo- 
seph M., and for whom he works, is an enterprising 
young man aged twenty-six. 

In these early days it took a young man of con- 
siderable pluck to leave home and kindred and start 
without money and friend for the wilds of Michi- 
gan, there to carve out for himself a home ; but such 
a person was Harrison Adams, he coming into the 
county with Robert Crawford and commenced work- 
ing by the month for a livelihood. He soon purchased 
eighty acres of land of Hon. George Redfield, and 
now has a fine farm with the necessary accompani- 
ment of buildings, and possesses wisdom enough to 
enjoy the fruits of his labors. He recalls the econo- 
mies practiced by the people, and instances the fact 
that men and women would carry their boots and 
shoes in their hands while on their way to church, in 
order to save them, and just before entering would, 
on a friendly, log secreted from observation, encase 
their extremities and walk into church with as much 
sang-froid as if they could afford such things. The 
costumes of the ladies were singularly alike, they 
consisting of blue calico, with a bonnet made of the 



same material. The people were cosmopolitan in the 
strictest meaning of that word, aristocracy being a 
thing unknown. Stanbury Smith, father of Mrs. 
Adams, came from New Jersey in 1831, and settled 
in Milton Township, where she was born with her 
twin brother in 1832. They being the first twins 
born in that township, were naturally quite a curi- 
osity, the people for miles around calling to see 
them, while the merchant at Edwardsburg sent out 
the material for dresses for the diminutive pair. 
When she attained the age of five years, the whole 
family were prostrated with the ague, and she carried 
water for their use in a jug from a neighbor's. On 
one well-remembered occasion, the jug was by accident 
broken, and many bitter tears did she shed over what 
appeared to her infantile mind, a calamity. Mrs. 
Adams' twin brother now lives near Niles, in this 
State. 

Robert Salisbury was born in Scipio, Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., from which place he removed to Huron County, 
and after a stay there of twenty-one years, in the 
spring of 1833, removed to Howard Township, Sec- 
tion 1, where he unloaded his household effects in the 
midst of the solid woods, and went to a saw-mill on 
Pokagon Creek and purchased lumber, which was set 
slanting from the ground to a ridge-pole supported in 
crotches. This formed their first habitation, which 
answered this purpose until a more substantial log 
cabin was erected. Here he endured the trials inci- 
dent to pioneer life. At his house could frequently 
be heard the voice of worship, he being a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Under his roof 
many an itinerant minister of the Gospel found food 
and shelter after his arduous labors. But he has gone 
to his final reward, and William Salisbury, a repre- 
sentation of the family, now lives in Jefferson, on a 
farm purchased some sixteen years since. He recol- 
lects seeing in his boyhood days many people start 
for church, gun in hand, with which to dispatch a 
stray deer or strutting turkey that might cross their 
path. During service the guns could be seen ranged 
against the outside of the building, which presented 
more the appearance of an arsinal, from its external 
decorations, than a house of worship. 

Among the records of township ofiicers frequently 
appears the name of H. Carmichael. He was an 
early resident, but getting what is called in native 
parlance " the Western fever," be removed to Boons- 
boro, Iowa, and there died. He was from Ohio. 

The Quaker element was well represented by Rich- 
mond Marmon, who came from Logan County, Ohio, 
in the spring of 1830, and after making a crop went 
after his family, which consisted at that time of seven, 
but subsequently of nine children, four of whom are 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



371 



now living, and only one, Mrs. Nancy Stephenson, 
in this county, and at whose home her father died in 
November, 1865. Mrs. Stephenson recalls the time 
when for three weeks they subsisted on a vegetable 
and meat diet, having no flour whatever, pumpkins, 
squashes and potatoes, forming a goodly portion of 
their daily meals. Mr. Marmon was a most Orthodox 
Quaker, and disliked to have his children attend any 
but a Quaker meeting, even carrying it so far as to 
establi.9h a cemetery on his own farm — now owned by 
J. London — for the interment of his family. 

John Stephenson came from Logan County, Ohio, 
in 1833, and entered land in Section 6, and left his 
sons, William and Isaac Z., to till the soil (and they 
put in wheat in Calvin on rented land), while he went 
after the balance of his family, which consisted of 
nine children, one of whom, Rebecca, did not come. 
Their names were William, Rebecca, Isaac Z., Samuel, 
Seeley, John, Harvey, Ira and Eri. Ira was only 
nine years old when he came here, consequently does 
not remember the changes as well as those older. 
Isaac Z. purchased the old homestead. 

Jonathan Samson and his wife, Lois, came from 
Braintree, Vt., to Painesville, Ohio, when, after a 
sojourn of sixteen years, they moved to'Niles, Berrien 
County, and one year subsequently, or in 1835, came 
to Jefferson, where he died, and his widow, aged 
eighty-two, still resides with her son Lafayette, the 
youngest of nine children. The old lady informed us 
that, previous to learning how to cure the ague, she 
suflFered intensely with it. In response to inquiry, she 
cheerfully gave her prescription, which for brevity can 
hardly be excelled. It was " tie it up," and she assured 
us " that it never failed " in the almost numberless in- 
stances it had been trie<l. The modus operandi is as 
follows : The person afflicted must, in great secrecy, 
and with hands behind containing a string, walk 
backward to a tree, and, having encircled it with the 
string and tied the knot, repeat the mystical words, 
" Here I tie you and here I leave you," and if observed 
of no one, which would break the charm, a cure would 
be effected. 

Robert Painter, of wiiom mention has been made 
in connection with the manufacturing interests, was a 
very active business man. He came here' from Holmes 
County, Ohio, where he had been engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits, purchased a farm, and was soon 
elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held for 
a long time, and was noted for his good judgment in 
matters that came before him officially. For a time, 
he was proprietor of a store in Cassopolis, but ulti- 
mately drifted into manufacturing enterprises, which 
proved a sad failure and the ruination of one of his 
friends, Richmond Marmon, who loaned him money. 



mortgaging his farm to obtain it. Not being able to 
face his old friends under his adversity, he took his 
departure for Oregon, which is the last that can be 
learned concerning him. 

Horace Hunt started in the woods in Section 
25 in 1887, and, before his death, had accom- 
plished his task — that of clearing up and making 
productive the farm of his choice. He was a wagon - 
maker by trade, and after coming here would wood 
plows for the settlers. His home was formerly in 
Champaign County, Ohio. 

William Condon, as will be seen elsewhere, came 
to Cass County in 1838. 

In 1834-35, the tide of emigration swept westward, 
and there could be seen an almost never-breaking line 
of canvas-covered wagons, containing emigrants, 
with the usual accompaniments of numerous children, 
stock and a few rude agricultural implements. Many 
came, via the lakes, to Detroit, and then, making up 
their outfits, passed westward to and through Michi- 
gan Territory, which was one of the channels of emi- 
gration ; and they would pay extravagant prices for 
milch cows, $65 to $85 frequently being realized by 
those on the route who had them for sale. 

Taking a leap of sixteen years, we find ourselves 
in the midst of a people clothed in the habiliments of 
grief over the death of their children, who died by the 
scores of the bloody flux, which partook of the nature 
of an epidemic, and which baffled the skill of the 
physicians. In one school jurisdiction — the Stephen- 
son District — fifteen children were sacrificed to this 
Moloch before its ravages were stayed by the advent 
of cold weather. In a few instances, it attacked 
grown persons, and John Pettigrew and wife died 
from its effects, although but few adult persons were 
effected. 

Up to this place we have mentioned many of those 
who came into the townsiiip and struck the first blows 
in behalf of civilization. While their possessions 
were small, their wants were very much circumscribed, 
and they were as independent of the outside world as . 
any community of men to be found anywhere. From 
their land they raised enough cereals, fruits and vege- 
tables, not only to sustain life, but to barter with the 
Indians for maple sugar and exchange at their trading 
post for other necessary articles. Flax and wool was 
raised from which the thrifty housewife and helpmeet 
manufactured cloth for garments for the entire house- 
hold, with the exception of an occasional calico dress, 
which was carefully preserved for important occasions, 
such as places of social gatherings, church, weddings 
and funerals. Aristocracy was unknown, the latest 
Parisian fashions and styles possessed no attractions 
for them ; each was the peer of the other, and instead 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of a spirit of rivalry as regards external decorations 
and equipages was that of truly neighborly kindness 
and industry. The literal latch-string hung out to 
all comers, and the best the house afforded was ten- 
dered the passing guest, who was ever admonished to 
" call again " should they be in that vicinity again ; 
there was a heartiness of welcome and genuine hos- 
pitality exhibited that would* be truly refreshing now 
days, for it has passed away with the log cabin, the 
loom and the spinning-wheel, together with the white- 
capped spectacled old lady who graced the puncheon 
floors of a few decades ago. Occasionally can be 
found one of these venerable pioneers, and they al- 
most without exception claim to have enjoyed life and 
experienced more true happiness when they were 
pioneering than since fortune has smiled upon them. 
In order that none be neglected who are entitled to 
notice, we append a full list of original land entries 
which, aside from their historic interest, will be val- 
uable for future reference : 

ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES. 

Section 1 . 

Stephen Marmon, Logan County, Ohio, .lamiary 11, 1830,10**""^' 
Iowa and died HO 

Aaron Brown, Logan County, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1830, to Iowa 

and then California 94 

Peter Marmon, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 18, 1830 143 

David T. Nicholson, Indiana, March 13, 1830, went to Mis- 
souri and died 8q 

David T. Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 23, 1830, went 

to Missouri and died yg 

Daniel Burnham, New Hampshire, June 13, 1831 80 

F. Smith, New Hampshire, June 13, 1831 80 

Section 2. 

Richmon Marmon, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 12, 1831 80 

Richnion Marmon, Cass County, Mich., Pec. 22, 1835 40 

Harmon, Evelina, Amanda, Rebecca and Robert Painter, 

Holmes County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1832, went to Colorado... 80 

Robert Painter, Cass County, Mich., March 26, 1833 62 

Elizabeth Holmes, Dec. 24, 1833 80 

Elizabeth Holmes, Feb. 17, 1834 40 

Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. V June '>9 

1835 '. ' 144 

Carlos Baldwin, March 8, 1836 80 

Suction o. 

David Vanhouter, Cass ('ounty, Mich., Nov. 10, 1834— Ohio.. 65 

David Vanhouter, Cass County, Mich. June 29, 1835 80 

Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., Jan. 18,_£y 

1^86 303 

Carlos Baldwin, Kalamazoo County, Mich., March 8, 1836.... 40 

Andrew B. Sears, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 120 

Skction 4. 

Correll Messenger, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1834 67 

Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., July 15, 1836, and Feb. 16, 

18.'i6 22n 

Kivemus Messenger, Marion County, Ohio, Sept. 12 and lit, 

1835 200 

Lawrence, Imlay ^c B 120 



Section 5. 

Abram Loux, Berrien County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1833 71 

Abram Loux, Berrien County, Sept. 19, 1836 80 

Abram Loux, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1836 40 

Abram Loux, Jan. 13, 1837 40 

Henry P. Voorhees, June 29, 1835 310 

Harrison C. Long, St. Joseph's County, Ind , Oct. 27, 1836... 40 

N. B. & P. A. Lee, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 3, 1846 40 

Section 6. 

John Pettigrevf, Clark County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1831 152 

John Pettigrew, Jr., Clark County, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1831 72 

James Pettigrew, Jr., Montgomery County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 

1833 80 

John Stephenson, Logan County, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1833, Logan 

County 78 

John Stephenson, Logan County, Ohio, April 8, 1835, Cass 

County 80 

John Pettigrew, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 14, 1836 79 

Abram Loux, Cass County. Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 40 

John Hatfield, St. Joseph County, Ind., Feb. 21, 1835 40 

Section 7. 

Ira H. Putnam, Cass County, Mich., May 6, 1834 80 

Ira H. Putnam, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 11, 1835 40 

Benjamin ('ooper, Marion County, Ohio, June 17, 1834 160 

George Clark, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 30, 1834 40 

John Pettigrew, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1834 40 

Mason Lee, Ontario County, N. Y., July 11, 1835 40 

Mason Lee, Ontario County, N. Y., July 15, 1836 80 

Haynes, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 5, 1836 79 



Ukction 8. 

William H. Filley, Cass County, Mich., Aug 26, 1835 40 

Isaac Sears, Erie County, Penn., Sept. 11, 1835 320 

Richard Bosley, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 9, 1835 80 1 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 



200 



Section 9. 
Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 29, 

1835 160 

William S,alraon, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 18.35 59 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 160 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., May 14, 1836 41 

William A. Mills, Livingston County, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1836 59 

Section 10. 
Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 29, 

1835 307 

Samuel F. Anderson, Orleans County, N. Y., March 8, 1836.. 40 

Alauson Ward, Genesee County, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1836 40 

William A. Mills, Livingston County, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1836 122 

Elias B. Sherman, Cass County, Mich , Dec. 6, 1836 80 

Section 11. 

Samuel Colyar, Cass County, Mich., July 12, 1831 160 

Maxwell Zane, Cass County, Mich., Aug, 23, 1831 80 

Isaac Zane, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 17, 1834 40 

Squire B. Zane, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 21, 1835 40 

David Reams, Cass County, Mich., March 19, 1834 40 

David Keams, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 1, 1835 40 

Sarah Reams, (.'ass County, Mich., Dec. 21, 1835 40 

Nathan Norton, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 21, 1835 40 

L. D. and P. Norton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 6, 18.36 40 

Alanson Ward, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 6, 1836 80 

Ambrose .Marshall, Cass County, Mich., Jau. 25, 1847 40 




PLEy\SANT KOF^TOK- 



PLEASANT NORTON. 

The subject of this sketch, during his life one of 
the best known citizens of the county, was born in 
Grayson County, Va., in 1806. When two years of 
age, his parents moved to Champaign County, Ohio, 
and a short time afterward to Logan County, in the 
same State. He moved from there to Cass County, 
and settled in Jefferson Township in 1832, where he i 
resided until the day of his death, in 1877. He was 
married in 1826, to Rachel Fukery, who is still liv- 
ing. Mrs. Norton was born in Highland County, 
Ohio, in 1808, and is the mother of ten children, six 
of whom are living, viz., Amanda (Mrs. C. G. Banks), 
Elizabeth (Mrs. W. W. Peck), Louisa (Mrs. D. J. 
Hayward), Maxwell Z., Hiram and John C. Norton. 
Jane (Mrs. Nicholson), James L., Harriet and Mary 
Ann are deceased. The latter died in infancy. 

Mr. Norton was always a firm but consistent Demo- 
crat. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. So 
long as he would consent to serve the public, ho occu- 
pied prominent official positions. He was twice 
elected to the State Legislature ; was nine times 



elected Supervisor from Jefferson, and was for four 
terms the Treasurer of his township. His career was 
useful and varied. At his decease he left a large 
property, which had been accumulated by his persist- 
ent industry, and held by good management. 

Though of limited education, he was acknowledged 
to be a man of far more than ordinary native ability 
and force of character. In whatever public position 
he was placed, his friends and neighbors always looked 
to him with confidence as a safe and honest leader, 
nor were they ever disappointed. He was a man of 
kind and generous impulses, ever ready to help the 
suffering poor and to contribute from his means to the 
material well-being of his township and county. The 
deserving young who appealed to him for assistance 
in their first struggles for position in society always 
met with kind, fatherly counsel and not infrequently 
with more substantial evidence of his generous nature. 
Mr. Norton's popularity and the esteem in which he 
was held were attested by the remarkably large at- 
tendance at his funeral, over six hundred persons 
being present from all parts of the county. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY MICHIGAxN. 



373 



Section 12. 

Nathan Norton, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 20, 1830 80 

Maxwell Zane, Logan County, Ohio, March 12, 1830 80 

Maxwell Zane, Logan County, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1831 80 

William Zane, Logan County, Ottio, Sept. 16, 1830 IGO 

Pleasant Norton, Champaign County, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1831 160 

Daviil T. Nicholson, Oct. 18, 1834 36 

]'. Norton and William Zane, Dec. Irt, 1835 40 

Section 13. 

Pleasant Norton, July 10, 1835 40 

Pleasant Norton, Aug. '22, 1835 35 

Elizabeth Thomas, Aug. 27, 1835 80 

Giles Norton, Sept. 21, 1835 40 

Moses Reams, Oct. 19, 1835 40 

Henry Carmichael, Feb. 2, 1836 80 

George Redtield, April 21, 1836 80 

George ReJfield, Feb. 1, 1837 80 

Levi D. Norton, Dec. 5, 1836 80 

Moses MclWain, Dec. 6, 1836 40 

Moses Mcllvain, Feb. 9, 1837 40 

Section 14. 

.John P. Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 26, 1833 40 

William Zane, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 17, 1834 40 

William Zane, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 22, 1836 40 

William Zane, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1836 40 

Robert Painter, Cass County, Mich., July 7, 1835 40 

Elizabeth Thomas, Aug. 27, 1835 40 

Elizabeth Thomas, Dec. 7, 1835 40 

Elizabeth Thomas, Jan. 2, 1836 40 

Peter Smith, Clark County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1835 40 

Levi D. Norton, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 13, 1835 40 

Peter R. Reams, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 28, 1835 40 

Peter R. Reams, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 12, 1835 40 

Cynthia Hoag, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 6, 1836 80 

Moses Reams, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 21, 1836 40 

Moses Reams, Cass County, Mich., March 23, 183; 40 

Section 15. 

Aaron Reams, Feb. 17,1834 40 

Christian Smith, Clark County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1835 80 

Peter Smith, Clark County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1835 40 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 200 

George Redfield, May 14, 1836 42 

Alex H. Redfield, Dec. 6, 1836 114 

Cynthia Hoag, St. Joseph County, Dec. 6, 1830 33 



Section 16. 



School Lands. 



Section 17. 

Isaac Sears, Erie County, Penn., Sept. 11, 1835 160 

Lawrence, Imlay .S: Co., May 14, 1836 4011 

George Redfield, May 14, 183r, 80 

Section 18. 

Mason Lee, Ontario County, N. Y., Aug. 27, 1834 320 

Wm. H. Fluallen, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 7, 1835 80 

John T. Adams, Cass County, Mich., July 16, 1836 80 

Mason Lee, Dec. 5, 1836 160 

Section 19. 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 320 

A. H. Redfield, Dec. 6, 1836 161 

Asa Northam, Dec. 5, 1836 164 



Section 20. 

George Redfield, March 15, 1886 "i46 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 411 

Section 21. 

Adam Miller, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1832 40 

David Carmichael, Shelby County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1832 188 

John P. Miller, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 21, 1835 80 

Lawrence, Beach & I., May 14, 1836 103 

A. H. Redfield, Dec. 6, 1836 40 

Section 22. 

Calvin Colt, Monroe County, N. Y., June 29, 1835 200 

Maxwell Zane, June 29, 1836 40 

Henry P. Voorhees, June 29, 1835 400 

Section 23. 

John?. Miller, June 26, 1833 80 

John P. Miller, Jan. 25, 1836 ,S(| 

John P. Miller, July 15, 1836 40 

Noah Zane, Elkhart County, Ind., Jan. 8, 1834 40 

Charles Still, Sept. 13, 1834 40 

Josephus Baldwin, July 2, 1H35 80 

Elizabeth Thomas, Aug. 27, 1835 41) 

Abner Tharp, Sept. 23, 1835 200 

George B. Turner, Washington County, N. Y., April 29, 1836 40 

Section 24. 

Levi D. Norton, Feb. 6, 1834 40 

Levi D. Norton, Nov. 30, 1835 40 

Benajah Williams, Aug. 8, 1834 40 

James White, Aug. 26, 1835 40 

And. White, Oct. 6, 1835 40 

Elizabeth White, Oct. 6, 1835 80 

And. White, Oct. 9, 1835 40 

Alex. White, Dec. 22, 1835 80 

George White, Dec. 5, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 28, 1836 80 

.Marcus Sherrell, Feb. 1, 1837 40 

Horace Hunt, March 20, 1837 40 

George Redfield, April 3, 1847 40 

Section 25. 

Peter Shaffer, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 2, 1836 40 

Joseph Smith, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 23, 1836 40 

Moses Mcllvain, Champaign County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1835 120 

Elizabeth Thomas, Jan. 2, 1836 160 

Horace Hunt, Champaign County, Ohio, Feb. 2, Dec. 3, 1836 100 

Section 26. 

Joseph Smith, June 29, 1835 80 

Joseph Smith, Dec. 19, 1849 40 

Joseph Smith, Assignee, June 28, 1853 80 

^■Vbner Tharp, Sept. 23, 183' 40 

John Kosebraugh, Feb 23,1836 80 

Sterling A. Turner, Washington County, N. Y., April 29, 1836 120 

Isaac Williams, Jan. 17, 1837... 40 

Silas Hunt, Jan. 30, 1837 40 

Horace Hunt, March 20, 1837 40 

A. H. Redfield, March 29, 1837 80 

Section 27. 

Abner Tharp, June 25, 1831 80 

John Vaughn, June 29, 1833 40 

Joseph Smith, Nov. 2, 1838 160 

Joseph Smith, June 29, 1836 120 

George Redfield, Ontario County, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1834 160 

John Rosebraugh, Dec. 16, 1835 80 



374 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 28. 

William Barton, Berrien County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831 

William Barton, Berrien County, Mich., June 6, 1831 

.John 1'. Miller, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 13, 1832 

Henry D. Tharp, Hardin County, Ohio, March 5, 1834 

Geeorge Redtield, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21 and March 

16,1830 

George Redtield, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21 and March 



Jonathan Samson, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 5, 183K.. 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 

Silas Baldwin, Dec. 3, 1836 



Section 29. 
George Redtield, Cass County, Mich., March 15, 1836.. 



Lawrence, 



ilay & B., March 14, 1836.. 



Section 30. 
Ephraim Hanson, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 26, 1835.. 
George Redtield, Cass County, Mich., May 15, 1836.. 



Lav 



Imlay & B., May 14, 1836.. 



Section 31. 

William Mendenhall, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 1, 1831 

Myron Strong, Ontario County. N. Y., Nov. 5, 1834 

Barton B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 15, 1834 

Barton B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 28, 1835 

Barton B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 16,1837 

William Schenck, Herkimer County, N. Y., Nov? 10, 1835.. 
Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 14. 1836 



Section 32. 



Myron Strong, Nov. 5, 1834 

Myron Strong, Feb. 6, 1836 

Myron Strong, Dec. 5, 1836 

Daniel Farnham, Nov. 20, 1834 

Henry Dwight, Seneca County, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1835.. 

Mehitable Bogart, Oct. 20, 1835 , 

Thomas M. Adams, Jan. 6, 1836 

Joseph L. Jacks, March 5, 1836 

Jacob Price, May 7, 1836 

Jacob Price, April 33, 1836 

Robert Foster, Dec. 5, 1836 



Section 33. 

Obadiah Sawtell, Erie County, Penn., July 6, 1831 

Ezra Beardsley, July 16, 1831 

John McDaniels, Logan County, Ohio^ Junel2, 1834 

John McDaniels, Logan County, Ohio, June 12, 1834.... 

David Short. Ontario County, N. Y., July 21, 1834 

Horace B. Dunning, Cass County, Mich., July 29, 1834.. 

Samuel Noyes, Jan. 14, 1835 

Henry Uwight, Seneca County, N. Y., June 10, 1835 

Edwin Morse, Seneca County, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1835 



Section i 

Isaac llultz, June 24, 1831 

Isaac Dunning, Nov. 5, 1834 

Joseph Smith, June 9, 1835 

Henry Dwight, June 10, 1835 

Henry Smith, Aug. 17, 1835 

Baruk Mead, Oct. 16, 1835 

Horace B. Dunning, Nov. 28, 1835. 
Silas Baldwin, Dec. 3, 1836 



Henry P. Voorhees, June 29, 1835 605 

Joseph Smith, July 8, 1836 42 



Section 36. 

Henry P. Voorhees, June 29, 1835 

William Sherwood, Oct. 16, 1835 

Joseph Smith, .A^pril 3, 1848 



Aside from those who came and settled in an early 
day, are others who came in later and contributed 
largely to the development of the township, and are 
entitled to notice. In this connection, we refer to 
R. B. Davis, a native Virginian, who reached this 
county in 1840, after a five years' stay in Clark 
County, Ohio, and purchased a quarter-section of 
land, which he still retains. At that time, but thirty 
acres had been cleared. Mr. Davis has not been an 
aspirant for civic honors, he devoting his energies 
almost exclusively to agriculture, his chosen occupa- 
tion, but has ever taken a deep interest in religious 
matters ; and it was through his instrumentality that 
the Christian Church of Jefferson was organized, he 
being one of the original nine members. He has now 
retired from active business, the farm being conducted 
by his son, H. C. Davis, who is a member of the 
Executive Committee of the County Pioneer Society, 
and has filled several township oflices. 

The most trivial circumstances frequently change 
the location a person selects for a home, and this was 
the case with Matthias Weaver, who came here from 
Montgomery County, N. Y., and, not finding land that 
suited him, was about to start for Berrien County, 
this State, when accosted by Asa Kingsbury, who, 
learning the state of affairs, took him to Section 
35, where he purchased the farm on which he 
died in November, 1869, his wife Catharine following 
him in June, 1876. Being a carpenter by trade, he 
at once erected a frame house, it being among the 
first in the township, and was erected on a farm where 
not a stick of timber was amiss. The old homestead 
is now occupied by his son, William Weaver. Will- 
iam Hanson came from i.\lbany, N. Y., when eleven 
years of age, with bis father, and by persistent effort, 
since arriving at the age of maturity, has acquired a 
competency and now resides in Edwardsburg, his two 
sons, Charles and H. A. (Hanson) Hanson, occupy- 
ing two of his farms in Jefferson. 

The father of George S. Parker (Haines) came 
from Logan County, Ohio, in 1848, and settled in 
Calvin. His death occurred in Jefferson. Mrs. Par- 
ker is a daughter of Rev. B. H. Kenneston, one of the 
first pastors of the Christian Church. 

Among those quiet ones who go about their daily 
labor, which in the aggregate expands and develops 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



375 



the county, is M. A. Thayer, who, when he first com- 
menced laboring on his present farm in 1855, found 
but thirty acres under cultivation. 

Mr. Thayer has an exemplar in the person of 
William E. Morse, who came from Onondaga County, 
N. Y., in 1858, and is now a resident in Section 24. 
And still another of these quiet workers can be found 
in the person of Smith Wooden, a son of Zaccheus 
Wooden, who trapped in this county in 1813, Smith 
becoming a resident of the county in 1853. 

This township has always been irrevocably Dem- 
ocratic in politics, but through the indefatigable eflbrts 
of J. J. Higgins — Republican — and some others, this 
majority was cut down one half at the last election. 
Mr. Higgins takes great interest in anything that per- 
tains to the general weal of his township and county, 
he being a resident since 1858. 

Among the prominent grangers of the county is 
W. E. Peck, who came from Onondaga County, N.Y., 
in 1866. Cassopolis Grange, No. 162, includes in its 
jurisdiction Penn, La Grange, Calvin and Jefferson 
Towniships, and was organized December 18, 1873. 
Mr. Peck is Master of the Grange, and his wife, 
Sarah E. Peck, is Secretary. A record of the society 
will be found in the general history. Mr. Peck has 
been appointed by the Secretary of the State as re- 
porter of the agricultural products and resources of 
his township. 

Since the advent of J. A. Reynolds into the coun- 
ty, from Chenango County, N. Y., he has been iden- 
tified with many of its public interests. First settling 
in Howard, he acted as one of the Commissioners to 
reconstruct the roads and have them surveyed as at 
present. Since 1850, he has been a resident of 
Jefferson, and has served as Justice of the Peace and 
in various other public offices. On his farm can be 
found fine farm buildings, while from an orchard of 
eight hundred trees, the largest in the township, he 
derives a fine income. 

The County Infirmary, located in this township, is 
a rather imposing looking building, and the manner 
in which it is kept by A. J. Tallerday reflects credit 
upon him. Mr. Tallerday has been a resident of the 
county since 1846. 

Lester Graham possesses one of the oldest farms in 
the township, it being located in Section 2. Mrs. 
Graham is a daughter of the pioneer Maj. Smith, 
whose record appears elsewhere. 

Although an Englishman by birth, no more patri- 
otic Republican can be found than D. Rose, who has 
been a resident since 1876. 

William A. Runkle, a representative young farmer, 
is a son of one of the pioneers noticed elsewhere, 
while Frank Fox, also a forehanded young farmer. 



sought after the mystical pot of gold to be found by 
the setting sun, and returned from the Pacific Slope 
well compensated for his search. 

The name of Frank Hayden should not be omitted 
as among the later agriculturists, and thus have we 
traced the records from the first tillers of the soil, 
who performed the initial labors among many dis- 
couragements, down to the time when improved 
farms with modern machinery for tilling are in pos- 
session of young men who start life under far more 
auspicuous circumstances than did their predecessors. 
Fifty-four years, during which time many momentous 
events have occurred in nations as well as communi- 
ties, have passed into eternity since the first settlers 
located in this township, and now we find it teeming 
with a population of 1,014 individuals who possess 
in the aggregate 19,721 acres of land, divided into 
160 farms. On these farms, in 1869, they raised 69,- 
437 bushels of wheat, 104,225 bushels of corn in the 
ear, 633 bushels of clover seed, 6,055 bushels of po- 
tatoes, 1,700 tons of hay. In 1880, they possessed 
550 horses, 482 head of cattle, 1,996 hogs and 2,300 
sheep; 418 acres are occupied by orchards, while 
lesser fruits can be found in great abundance. There 
can still be seen quite a number of log houses, but 
these are fast being replaced by more elegant and 
commodious buildings. 

INITIAL EVENTS. 

When the early settlers came into the county, those 
who went north from Edwardsburg made a detour 
along the western side of Jefferson, and thea eastward 
through La Grange, following an old trail as marked 
out by some one unknown. Isaac Hulse, who came 
from Clark County, Ohio, changed the road by first 
staking it out with burnt sticks, and then drawing an 
immense log the entire distance several times, to give 
it the appearance of an old traveled road, and when, 
in 1837, David Crane, Jacob Silver and George 
Rogers, Road Commissioners, instructed H. P. Bar- 
num. Surveyor, where to survey the road — that ex- 
tends from Edwardsburg to Cassopolis — they followed, 
with hardly any variation, the road as laid out by Mr. 
Hulse, and which, by the way, had been traveled up 
to this time. This was the first road laid through 
the township, and to that row of burnt and blackened 
sticks in the hands of one who wanted " a short cut " 
is this diagonal road attributable. 

The next road that was projected extended west 

from the present farm of L. Graham. Many roads 

I were laid out by the Commissioners crossing in all 

j directions through the land, the accommodation of those 

' making the petitions being the principal consideration. 

Many of these were never worked, and eventually 



376 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



taken up, so that unless lakes interfere, the roads are 
now principally on section lines. 

The Grand Trunk Railroad runs diagonally from 
nearly the northeast to the southwest corners, while 
the Michigan Central Air Line runs through three 
sections in the northwest corner, and on which is 
located Dailey, the only railroad station in the town- 
ship. 

In the " estray book," under the date of December 
8, 1835, we find the following, signed by Benjamin 
Cooper : " Taken up by the subscriber in Jefferson 
Township and county of Cass, M. T., a steer one year 
old last spring, colored read and with white star on 
his forehead, marked with a half crop off' the side of 
the left ear." 

This shows a custom then existing among settlers 
of cropping and otherwise disfiguring the ears of their 
stock, so that when lost they could be identified by 
means of these "marks" as they were designated. 

The first frame barn was erected by Maj. Smith, 
on the farm now owned by James Lowman, in 1838, 
and that season, or the one following, he constructed 
the first frame house. Deacon Sherrel was among 
the first to erect a frame building. 

Orchards, now so plentiful as to elicit no comment, 
were once considered almost invaluable. In 1832, 
Peter Marmon, Richmond Marmon and D. T. Nichol- 
son, set out orchards, the first in the township. 

The first marriage bells rung in the township was 
in honor of the marriage of Mary Colyar to Peter 
Reams, in the winter of 1831. 

The stern messenger of death is ever with us, and 
first made his appearance in the family of D. T. Nich- 
olson, who lost a child. 

DAILEY. 

The only place in Jefferson that can be dignified 
by the name of village, is Dailey. It is located in 
Sections 5 and 6 on the Air Line Railroad, to which 
it owes its existence. After the completion of the 
road, in 1871, the citizens, desiring a station, pur- 
chased three acres of land and donated it to the rail- 
road company, who erected thereon a freight and 
passenger house. The names of the donors of the 
land as far as can be ascertained, are : I. A. Shin- 
gledecker, H. Kimmerle, William Hain, H. C. West- 
fall, William Sailesbury, T. T. Higgins and S. Ste- 
phenson. In 1872, a post ofiice was established, with 
M. T. Garvey as Postmaster. The business is done 
at two stores, one machine shop and one blacksmith 
shop. 

In March, 1881, the Dailey Cornet Band was or- 
ganized, with Schuyler Hain as President ; William 
Brewer, Secretary ; H. D. Giiford, Treasurer, and has 
a membership of tjiirteen ; is now officered as follows : 



Ralph Hain, President ; A. J. Gilford, Vice-President ; 
Schuyler Hain, Secretary, and W. T.Very, Treasurer. 

A post office has been established at Redfield's 
Mills, where also can be found a small country store. 

Jefferson Post Office is numbered among the things 
that were. It never was a necessity and has ever had 
an uncertain existence. 

SCHOOLS. 

Knowledge is power, and that those who early in- 
habited this township realized this fact is evinced 
from the interest taken in educational affairs ; the 
young being instructed, before a schoolhouse could be 
erected for them, in private houses. The first school 
was taught by Martha Mcllvaine (now Norton), in the 
smokehouse of Maxwell Zane, in 1833. Mother 
earth smoothed and patted down constituted the floor, 
and the scholars sat on benches made of slabs split from 
logs, the legs to the seats consisting of four roughly- 
hewn sticks inserted in auger holes. The school was 
maintained by subscription. The first schoolhouse 
was constructed of logs, on the corner, near the pres- 
ent residence of Lester Graham, and afterward moved 
south to the forks in the road, on the same place 
where stands the brick schoolhouse. M. Hunter 
taught the first school in this house. The second 
schoolhouse was built on the farm now owned by John 
Condon, also of logs. 

With other things, the school interests have ad- 
vanced, until now it comprises seven school districts, 
with one brick and six frame schoolhouses, having a 
seating capacity of 379. There are 106 volumes in 
the school libraries. During the school year ending 
in 1880, there were twenty-two and one-half months 
taught by male teachers, who were paid $716.50, and 
by female teachers thirty months, and they received 
as compensation $522.90. The districts are free 
from bonded debts, and have a school population, that 
is, children between the ages of five and twenty years, 
of 306. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

The location of this township in the interior, with 
no water communication, no streams of any consider- 
able size, and until of late years no railroad communi- 
cation, would naturally prevent very extensive manu- 
facturing establishments being erected. It is not, 
however, destitute of them. To John Pettigrew, Jr., 
belongs the honor of building the first saw-mill in the 
township. He came from Clark County, Ohio, in 
1830, and in the spring of 1831 or 1832 erected on 
the South Branch of the Pokagon, in Section 6, a saw- 
mill containing an old-fashioned upright saw, the 
irons and saw for which were brought from Ohio in 
wagons drawn by oxen. This mill played an impor- 



I 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tant part in the early settlement of that section, and, 
in fact, it helped very materially in the advancement 
of the country many miles distant, for lumber was 
sold at Niles, this State, and Mishawaka, South 
Bend and Elkhart, Ind. When worn out, it was 
replaced by another located farther down the stream; 
to which was dug a race, thereby increasing its motive 
power. This mill has also had its day of usefulness, 
and is now numbered among the things that were. 
The next record we have concerning mills was one 
erected hy Peter Shaffer, of Calvin, and Dr. Beards- 
ley, of Elkhart, Ind., on the Christiana Creek, in 
1836. This soon passed into the hands of Hon. 
George Redfield, who ran it for a number of years; 
but this, too, has succumbed to the ravages of time, 
and in its place, or nearly so, stands a grist-mill of 
three run of stone built by Mr. Redfield in 1867. 
This is now run very successfully by Mr. W. B. Hay- 
den, under the firm name of Redfield & Hayden, and 
is used for custom work almost exclusively. 

About 1840, Robert Painter built a grist-mill, 
with two run of stone, just below the Shaffer-Beards- 
ley mill, and commenced the manufacture of flour. 
His mill pond, when flooded so as to give suSicient 
water, interfered with the saw-mill just above, and he 
therefore clianged its site further down the stream, 
nearly on the bank of Painter's Lake, cutting a mill- 
race from his dam first built, which, passing through a 
small pond, afforded ample water-power. With his in- 
creased power, his ambition to manufacture increased. 
Therefore, a saw and woolen-mill were added to the 
grist-mill. The outlay necessarily made exceeded his 
means, and recourse was made to his friends. The 
property did not pay, however, and his creditors were 
forced to foreclose their mortgages, and take the 
property, which was hard upon those who had be- 
friended him; From this time on, it changed hands 
rapidly — the machinery to the woolen factory having 
been removed, it not being a paying investment — until 
all was closed up, and the grist-mill machinery taken 
to Edwardsburg, where it now does duty. 

In 1876, Mr. John McPherson, son of Joseph 
McPherson, whose early record can be found in La 
Grange Township history — built a grist-mill with two 
run of stone, on the site occupied by the John Petti- 
grew saw-mill, and is now engaged in manufacturing 
Hour, which is branded " Centennial," in honor of our 
national anniversary, which occurred the year the 
mill was erected. This mill turns out 2,700 barrels 
of flour per year, besides grinding over fifteen thou- 
sand bushels of feed per annum. 

In 1875, Benjamin Field established a machine shop 
in Dailey, after a two years' trial in Jones, this county, 
and since that time by diligence and industry, has suc- 



ceeded in building up a very fine business. VVhen first 
locating here, he only possessed some blacksmith tools 
and a small four-horse portable engine. He now has an 
eight-horse engine, two lathes, one planer — the first 
in the county — and an upright drill-press, all valued 
at $3,000, all of which shows what results can be ac- 
complished if efforts are properly directed, for the 
fame of this little machine shop is extending every 
day, a molding department having been recently added. 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

A colored preacher who proclaimed the Gospel in 
the house of Maxwell Zane was, according to all 
accounts, the first one who proclaimed the Gospel of 
" Peace on earth, good will to men," in Jefferson. 

The First Christian Church of Jefli'erson was or 
ganized at the house of R. B. Davis, November 20 
1847, by Elders Joseph Roberts and James Atkinson 
with a membership of nine, as follows: Henry W 
Smith, Sabrina Smith, Peter Smith, Sarah A. Smith 
Edmond Thatcher, Phoebe Thatcher, Reuben B. Davis 
Susanah Davis and Mary Cooper. It now has, ac 
cording to the records, a membership of ninety-six 
The first Deacon was Henry Smith ; first clerk, Peter 
Smith. In 1851, Rev. Jeremiah B. H. Kenaston 
came from Vermont and went to the schoolhouse, 
where seVvices were then held, to preach, but found 
his congregation outside, one of the school oSicers, who 
shall be nameless, having locked it and refused them 
admission. Nothing daunted. Rev. Kenaston mounted 
a friendly stump and delivered a most powerful ser- 
mon, after which he baptized four persons. He was 
immediately employed as their pastor at a salary of 
$60 per annum, his contract calling for sermons one 
Saturday each month, every first and third Sunday of 
each month, and " generally a meeting in the after- 
noon and evening of same day," besides protracted 
meetings. 

May 31, 1851, a resolution was passed to construct 
a frame church, 30x45, with twelve feet post, and the 
contract was awarded to L. Painter, for $550. The 
church was constructed this year, and the dedicatory 
sermon was preached by Rev. Whitman. The deed 
for the land on which it now stands was obtained by 
Leonard Goodrich, in October, 1859. The present 
officers are: Deacons Oscar Bishop, Elias B. Lowman; 
Elder, Adam Miller ; Clerk, Levi Weaver. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHUKCH. 

July 10, 1830, a meeting, called by Rev. Adam 
Miller, was held in the barn of John Reed, for the 
purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. Andrew 
Grubb was elected Moderator and Isaac Hulse Clerk, 
and after some preliminary work an adjournment was 



378 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



made to August 7, when a " constitution'.' was 
adopted, and Adam Miller engaged as pastor for one 
year, the second Saturday and Sunday of each month 
being designated as the time for holding services. 
The first offices elected were : Andrew Grubb, Dea- 
con ; Adam Miller, Moderator ; Isaac Hulse, Clerk 
and Treasurer. 

The first house of worship was constructed of logs 
in Section 12, where their cemetery still remains. 
For a time no stove or fire-place was provided and a 
fire was built on the floorless ground, from which the 
smoke ascended heavenward through the " shakes," 
then used in lieu of shingles. 

Church etiquette has undergone many changes and 
innovations since then, for what was at that time ad- 
missible would now be considered a grave offense, if 
not sacrilegious. It was not then considered a breach 
of decorum to smoke during services, and many 
availed themselves of the opportunity afforded, and, 
should occasion require, would repair to a stump out- 
side where a fire had been kindled — in warm weather 
— to obtain a light, and thpn resume their position 
among the worshipers. The gravity of the most se- 
date would surely be overcome to see these honest 
Christian people seated in long solemn rows, drawing 
in spiritual nourishment and knowledge, as they 
sedately pufted forth into the atmosphere clouds of 
fleecy smoke. The present church edifice was con- 
structed in 1844, at an expense of $1,500, and is a 
substantial building. The Rev. Mr. Stephenson, pas- 
tor of the Baptist Church at Cassopolis, supplies their 
pulpit at present. The present officers are : Jonathan 
Colyar, Deacon and Clerk ; Levi Reams, J. Colyar 
and R. B. Williams, Trustees. 

About three years since, a Christian Church was 
organized at Dailey after a revival, and it has now 
about twenty-five members. Services are held every 
other week in the schoolhouse, the present pastor being 
Rev. Mr. Terwilliger. The officers are : Elder, Jo- 
stph Cook; Deacons, Horace Cooper and H. C. 
Westfall. 

The following comprises the principal township offi- 
cers up to 1881 : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1833, Robert Painter; 1834-40, Pleasant Norton ; 
1841, Maxwell Zane ; 1842, Joseph Smith; 1843, 
Marcus Peck ; 1844-45, Joseph Smith ; 1846, Bar- 
ton B. Dunning; 1847, Joseph Smith; 1848-50, 
Pleasant Norton ; 1851, N. Aldrich ; 1852, Pleasant 
Norton; 1853, Henry W. Smith; 1854, Nathaniel 
Monroe ; 1855-56, J. N. Marshall ; 1857-58, Mar- 
cus Peck ; 1859-60, Joseph Hess ; 1861, Hiram R. 
Schutt; 1862-63, Marcus Marsh; 1864, C. S. Swan ; 
1865-66, G. W. Westfall; 1867, Andrew Wood; 



1868, Marcus Marsh; 1869, S. C. Tharp ; 1870-72, 
John S. Jacks; 1873, S. W. Breece; 1874-76, An- 
drew Wood; 1877-80, Harley R. Bement ; 1881, 
Heman B. Shurter. 

TREASURERS. 

1833-35, Levi Norton; 1836-37, David Reams; 
1838-39, David Carmichael ; 1840, Lorenzo Painter: 
1841, William B. Reams ; 1842-45, Pleasant Nor- 
ton ; 1846, P. F. Carmichael ; 1847-48, Henry Car- 
michael ; 1849, Samuel Patrick; 1850-52, Henry 
Carmichael; 1853-56, L. Goodrich; 1857, G. W. 
Westfall; 1858, S. E. Davis: 18.59-60, Henry Car- 
michael; 1861, CorkiQ Hays; 1862, A. W. Zane; 
1863, N. Hedger; 1864, H. C. Shurter; 1865, 
Samuel Hess; 1866-67, H. R. Schutt; 1868-70, A. 
Tietsort; 1871-72, P. F. Carmichael; 187-3-74, N. 

B. Farnsworth ; 1875, Samuel W. Breece ; 1876-77, 
Robert Snyder; 1878, Heary C. Westfall; 1879- 
80, Almanza Tietsort; 1881, John Condon. 

CLERKS. 

1833-34, William Zane; 1835, D. T. Nicholson; 
1836-39, William Zane; 1840, William Bosley ; 1841, 
Marcus Sherrell ; 1842, William Bosley ; 1843, Mar- 
cus Peck; 1844-45, Marcus Sherrell; 1846, Robert 
Crawford; 1847, S. L. Higinbotham; 1848-50, 
Charles Amy; 1851-53, A. C. Carmichael; 1854, 
N. C. Beach; 1855, A. C. Carmichael; 1856-57, 
George Tichnor; 1858, Charles Sherrell; 1859, H. 

C. Holdin; 1860-64, J. C. Carmichael; 1865, Na- 
than Marr; 1866-68, C. L. Neff^; 1869, S. W. 
Breece; 1870, N. B. Farnsworth; 1871-72, S. W. 
Breece; 1873-81, Nelson Hedger. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

S. C. THARP. 
Nathan Tharp was a native of Virginia and moved 
with his father to Logan County, Ohio, in an early 
day, and here married Lucinda, daughter of Isaac 
Zane, who was born March, 1766. Mr. Zane was 
one of the heroes of the war of 1812, in which he 
participated as a soldier. He removed to Cass County 
in 1833, and settled in Jefferson Township, where he 
died, February 19, 1839, in his seventy-fourth year. 
S. C. Tharp, son of Nathan, was born in Logan 
County, Ohio, June 26, 1828, and came to Cass 
County, in 1830, with his parents, who had a family 
of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Of 
the other children, Hale is in California ; Helen, de- 
ceased ; Fanny, now Mrs. H. R. Cooper ; Zane and 
S. C, both of whom are residents of this township. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Nathan Tharp died February 19, 1839, while his 
widow still survives, and although in her eighty-third 
year, in the full enjoyment of all her faculties, and is 
a fine representative of the brave pioneer women who 
have done their full share in the developing of this 
county. Having lost his father at the youthful age 
of eleven years, the necessities of the family were 
such that S. C. Tharp was obliged to add the results 
of his daily labor toward the maintenance of himself 
and the family, and he has nobly performed his part, 
and as a consequence is conversant with the methods 
and expedients adopted by pioneers to succeed under 
adverse circumstances. His opportunities for obtain- 
ing an education were confined to the common schools. 
By industry and economy he has acquired a com- 
petency, and now possesses a farm of 12B acres, and ! 
is accounted among the successful farmers of his 
township. : 

Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been honored 
with nearly all the township offices, including Justice 
of the Peace, Supervisor, etc. 

He has been for many years an honored member of 
the Masonic fraternity. 

December 19, 1848, he was united in marriage to 
Christinia, daughter of Ephraim Maxon. Mrs. Tharp 
was born in Clark County, Ohio, September 17, 1827. 
Two children have blessed their union — 'Nathan P. and 
Mary A., now Mrs. J. D. Williams, all residents of 
Jefferson. 

WILLIAM CONDON. 
William Condon was born in the county of Cork, 
Ireland, October 17, 1815, and is a son of Thomas 
and Ellen (Sheeley) Condon. His father having 
deceased when he was a small boy, and his mother 
having married again, he, in company with a brother 
and sister, when fourteen years of age, accompanied 
an uncle and about twenty of his relatives to Quebec, 
Canada. He made Peterburg his home for about 
four years and then went to Buffalo, N. Y., and about 
three years later to Cleveland, Ohio. While residing 
here, the Patriot war broke out and he went to 
Canada to join the insurgents, but, becoming unfavor- 
ably impressed with the embryo army, he returned to 
Cleveland and engaged to drive two yoke of oxen to 
Elkhart, Ind., for an emigrant, and reached there 
March 18, 1838. Here he put in a crop of wheat, 
which was exchanged for ninety-one acres of wild 
land in La Grange, to which he made an additional 
purchase of forty acres, working by the month at the 
low wages then received to pay for it. He worked 
extremely hard in clearing this land, often chopping 
through the entire night, if moonlight, for he was a 
man of unusual powers of endurance. In 1840, he 
erected a log cabin, which, in a measure, com- 



memorated his identification with the Whig party. 
While clearing his farm, he kept bachelor's hall until 
his marriage, June 16, 1844, to Rosana, daughter of. 
John Hain, a pioneer of La Grange, who was born 
June 22, 1827. By perseverance, economy and hard 
labor, Mr. Condon has succeeded in accumulating a 
handsome competency and is numbered among the 
successful farmers of Jefferson Township, for before 
bequeathing a portion to his son he possessed a farm 
of 440 acres. 

He has been identified with the Democratic party 
since 1856, and, although elected to the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace, never served, for, having an aversion 
for public or official life, he refused to qualify. 

He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity 
many years, and as a Chapter member held the office of 
Treasurer for many years. Of his family of ten chil- 
dren, John, Mary, Joseph and Samuel are living, 
while David, Ellen, Nora, William, James and 
Thomas are deceased. 

ISHMAEL LEE. 
Ishmael Lee, who was born in Blount County, 
Tenn., May 22, 1815, moved to Wayne County, Ind., 
and from there, in 1834, to this county, where he 
lived for many years in Section 1, about one-half mile 
south of the Air Line depot of Cassopolis. In 1852, 
he removed to Iowa, where he died near Mitchellville, 
April 22, 1879. He was twice married, first to Miss 
Sallie East, daughter of William East, who died 
April 22, 1840 ; and then to Miss Marion Marmon, 
daughter of Peter Marmon. 

We extract the following from the pioneer necrol- 
ogy regarding him : Mr. Lee was " one of the most 
faithful and successful conductors on the Underground 
Railroad, and many a wagon-load of fugitive slaves 
have been piloted by him through the woods of Michi- 
gan on their way to Canada and freedom. He was a 
prominent actor in the well-known Kentucky slave 
cases of 1848 (see general history), which occurred 
here in that year, and was one of those sued by the 
Kentuckians for the value- of the escaped fugitives, 
and he paid a large sum of money to compromise the 
litigation. 

NATII.VN KOHIN.SON. 
The subject of this sketch, Nathan Robinson, was 
born in the State of New York November 15, 1820. 
He commenced life as a farm hand, but soon developed 
an aptitude for speculation, for, after coming to Michi- 
gan, he purchased several farms, which were each 
disposed of on advantageous terms. 

In 1852, he, in common with many others, went to 
California, where he remained for two years, and then 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



returned to his home in Cass County, well compen- 
sated for his journey. 

• Some fifteen years since, he purchased the farm 
in the southern part of Jefferson Township, where his 
widow and son, Fremont, now reside, and where he 
died September 3, 1879. 

He was eminently successful in his business, that 
of farming, and possessed some 690 acres of land at 
the time of his death. 

He was a quiet, unostentatious man, and took no 
prominent part in political or other public affairs, but 
a man of upright character and sterling worth, who 
devoted himself exclusively to his own affairs. 

He was married, March 27, 1845, to Margaret, 
daughter of John and Nancy (Salsbury) Hanson, and 
the fruits of their union have been three children, viz. : 
Myron, who is a farmer in Volinia ; James, a farmer 
in Calvin ; and Fremont, who, as before stated, is a 
farmer in Jefferson — all of whom are enterprising 
young farmers, and own farms bequeathed them by 
their father. 



ship, erected a log cabin, plowed ten acres on the 
opening, which he planted to corn and potatoes, and 
to him belongs the credit of having struck the first 
i blow and plowed the first furrow in behalf of civili- 
zation in this township. He was the sole occupant of 
the township until the fall of the year, and remained 
here until 1830, when Jefferson township presented 
attractions that allured him there, where he remained 
until removing to the far West, but love for the fa- 
miliar scenes and faces where he first started in Cal- 
vin proved so strong that he returned and settled in 
Brownsville, where his remaining days were passed.* 
In 1827 or 1828, John Reed' moved from Logan 
County, Ohio, to Young's Prairie, where he remained 
until disposing of his squatter's right to David 
Mcintosh for $210 in the fall of 1829, when he re- 
moved to Calvin and settled on the farm now owned 
by Thomas Smith, where he remained for many years 
engaged in the arduous labor of carving out for him- 
self a farm, but subsequently moved to Indiana, but 
his love for frontier life led him to the then Territory 
of Iowa, where the remaining years of his life were 



CHAPTER XXXYI. 

CALVIN. 
Unexpected Results of Kindness— Abner Tharp and John Reed the 
First Settlers — Early Settlers — A Pioneer Cabin — The Shaffer 
Family— The East Settlement— Land Entries — Negro Settlement 
—Saw Mill and Distillery — Sauk War Scare— Schools— Religious 
Organizations— Civil List— Biographical. 

THE history of the settlement of Calvin presents 
a marked contrast when compared with the other 
townships of the county, and shows what small cir- 
cumstances sometimes tend to shape the entire destiny 
of a community. 

Little did the pioneers of this township, who were 
endowed by nature with a love for the whole human 
race, suppose, when they extended a helping hand to 
the trembling fugitive slave fleeing from a heartless 
task-master, that hundreds of this race would event- 
ually become their neighbors and co-workers in sub- 
duing and cultivating the soil, and take an active part 
in township affairs. ' 

Many of these pioneers, in their integrity of char- 
acter, their kindness of heart, their contempt of dan- 
ger, and their cheerful endurance of toil, privations 
and hardships, in an isolated situation, and under the 
most discouraging circumstances, rank with the men 
who have assumed a national, if not a world-wide 
reputation. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

In the spring of 1829, long before Calvin had an 
existence, Abner Tharp, who had emigrated from 
Ohio in the fall of 1828, and spent the winter in 
Jefferson, moved into what now constitutes this town- 



Logan County, Ohio, paid generous tribute to this 
county by many persons who came to Cass in an early 
day, and some of them settled in Calvin. On October 
16, 1830, could have been seen a load of emigrants 
starting from Logan County, Ohio, composed of 
William Grubb, his wife Elizabeth (Mclllvain), and 
two children, G. Scott, his wife Mary, and one child, 
all drawn by two yoke of oxen attached to one wagon, 
into which was also packed all their worldly posses- 
sions, which were conspicuous only by reason of their 
m eagerness. 

This journey occupied until November 2, at which 
time the house of Andrew Grubb, father of William, 
who had only preceded them the spring before, was 
reached, it being the farm now owned by Finley 
Chess. Here they remained until a log cabin had 
been erected on a farm purchased close by. This 
cabin was destitute of windows, and when the weather 
was mild enough to admit, the rude door, ornament- 
ed with a latch and string, which served as a fasten- 
ing, was thrown open to admit the light which other- 
wise must come down the capacious chimney, unless, 
as was frequently the case, the clay "daubing" which 
filled the intertices of the logs was removed for the 
same purpose, but it was necessary to close even this 
small crevice in cold weather, so that the semi-dark 
room presented anything but a cheerful appearance, 
especially as the puncheon floor was destitute of a car- 
pet, and the rude home-made furniture void of paint 




F(ESIDE^(CE OF T.T. HIGGI^S, J E F F E f^SO^ , M I CH ■ 



^^ ^ 



J f 






T I B'i ■■•:i''»#~-sW-'- 







■.*i;^jvjj_,. W 



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F^ESIDE^CE OF CMAF^LES C.F^ICKEF^T, C/^LV'iK, |V1 I C H . 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



and ornamentation ; still the bedstead, constructed of 
tamarack poles, and the packing box, which answered 
for a table, served well their time, and were the pre- 
cursors of elegant furniture and better times, as the con- 
dition of the pioneers became improved. The elder 
Grubb raised an ample crop of buckwheat, which 
served as a substitute for flour for both families, the 
first winter, while with the flint-lock gun they pro- 
cured plenty of venison and turkeys, so that while the 
cuisine was limited, the supply was suiBcient to 
satiate their hearty appetites. After a time, Mr. 
Grubb removed to Section 4, where his widow still re- 
sides, his death occurring in 1872. 

David Shaffer was among those who came in 1830, 
and commenced the life of a pioneer on the farm now 
owned by B. F. Beeson, in Section 29. At this early 
period, almost the entire township was one wilderness, 
in which vast numbers of deer roamed at pleasure 
and being a disciple of Nimrod, ample scope was af- 
forded him to indulge in the pleasures of the chase to 
the fullest extent, and, while thus engaged, from two 
or three hundred deer were annually slain by him. 
Ill 1853, he removed to Hardin County, Iowa, where 
he deceased. 

Harvey Reed, a citizen of Cassopolis since 1878, 
came to Cass County as early as 1828, from Logan 
County, Ohio, and stopped first on Young's Prairie 
for a short time, and then removed to the home of his 
uncle, John Reed, Sr., in Calvin, near Brownsville. 
He came to Michigan a very poor man, but soon suc- 
ceeded by industry and economy in gaining a suffi- 
cient sum of money to buy a small piece of land to 
which he afterward added from time to time until he 
had a large farm. His first purchase was in the 
northeast corner of Section 29. He married C. 
Bowen, whose widowed mother settled in Jefferson in 
1844. Mr. Reed was a great trapper of fur-bearing 
animals, from which he derived quite an income. 

By referring to the history of Jefferson, it will be 
seen that Nathan Norton came to that township in 
1828, and accompanying him was his son, L. D. Nor- 
ton, and he, with Stephen Mormon, plowed the first 
furrow in Jefferson. He first purchased land in that 
township, but in 1838 purchased the farm in Sections 
5 and 5, on which still resides his widow, his death 
occurring November 9, 1872. He suffered quite 
severely by loss of wild- cat money, as the money of 
that period was termed, and not inappropriately, as 
will be seen by referring to a chapter on this subject 
in the general history, for it was as uncertain, and as 
liable to injure the person who handled it, as one who 
vainly attempted to fondle the veritable wild cat from 
whom it was named. His farm, when purchased, 
contained a small log house and very small clearing. 



I and he is one of those men who helped subdue the 
wilderness, and to whose energy and toil the culti- 
vated fields and fruitful orchards now to be found are, 
to a large extent, due. His widow, Martha H. (Mc- 
Illvain) came from Champaign County, Ohio, with 
her brother-in-law. Pleasant Norton, and family, and 
Isaac Zane, in the fall of 1832, the journey with an 
ox team occupying over three weeks. Her home 
was with William Grubb until her marriage with Mr. 
Norton, some four years later. Five children blessed 
their marital life as follows — Mary Ann, now Mrs. 
Adamson ; Leonard, in Chicago ; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
Shaw, at Cheboygan ; Jane, Mrs. Baldwin, on the old 
homestead, and Samuel, who resides in Kansas. 

Peter Shaffer was born in Rockingham County, 
Va., and when twenty years of age went to Clark 
County, Ohio, and one year subsequent assisted his 
father in moving there, where his father, Abraham, 
died. In 1828, having disposed of his farm, he came 
to the St. Joseph Valley, as this region was then 
denominated, accompanied by Jacob Wagner, a deaf 
and dumb person, and in company with Ezra Beards- 
ley, then a resident of Ontwa, rowed down the St. 
Joseph River to the lake, and critically examined a 
large scope of territory. Arriving on Young's Prairie, 
he purchased of John Reed his betterments on the 
farm, now owned by Daniel Mcintosh, made a partial 
payment and then returned home, intending to remove 
his family, but owing to an accident which befell his 
son George T., who broke his limb, was detained until 
John Reed made him a visit and gladly released him 
from the obligation, as he had opportunity to sell the 
land for a larger amount. Mr. Shaffer then made 
several journeys to the West, at one time purchas- 
ing a tract of land near Elkhart, Ind., which was dis- 
posed of, and in the winter of 1831-32, he purchased 
the farm in southwestern portion of Calvin, now 
possessed by his son George T., and brought his 
family through in the spring of 1832, ai riving on May 
10. While en route in crossing the St. Mary's 
River, canoes were used to transport the family and 
household goods, while the stock was made to swim, 
the river being destitute of a bridge. The huge 
Pennsylvania wagon was pulled across by means of a 
rope, it being at times entirely submerged in the water. 
When near the shore, the rope broke and the wagon 
started down stream in the swift current, and would 
have been lost but for Mrs. Shaffer, who, knowing 
full well how indispensable it would be in their new 
home, boldly rushed into the foaming waters, shoulder 
deep, grasped the rope and valiantly held the wagon 
until relieved by the men ; such metal were the pio- 
neer mothers composed, who did their full share in 
redeeming this land from a state of wilderness. Cour- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



age, endurance and indomitable pluck marked their 
course, and they erected on the tablets of the memory 
of their posterity, a love and veneration that will not 
perish, but be in turn transmitted to their descend- 
ants. 

When Mr. Shaffer settled on his farm, it was all cov- 
ered with a dense forest, except about thirty acres, 
which had evidently been cultivated by the pre-his- 
toric race who occupied this country previous to the 
Indians, for there were large ''garden beds," so called, 
running north and south from ten to forty rods in 
length. In the general chapters of this history will 
be found a chapter on these famous relics of a once 
numerous race. 

Peter Shaffer, who resided here until his death, 
July 13, 1880, while in his ninetieth year, early iden- 
tified himself with public affairs and served as Justice 
of the Peace for twenty years, and filled other impor- 
tant oflBces as will be seen elsewhere. During the war 
of 1812, he was member of a militia company that 
saw much active service, and was for five years Cap- 
tain of a militia company in Clark County, Ohio, 
having served a similar length of time as First Lieu- 
tenant. 

His wife was Sarah (Thoraa.s), deceased in Sep- 
tember, 1851, and they were the parents of seven 
children, as follows : Alcy, Mrs. Keen, in Calvin ; 
Mary, who died on November 23, 1834 ; Henry, who 
died in Colorado, April 24, 1854; Nancy, Mrs. William 
Reed, who died December 13, 1834; Sarah S., Mrs. 
John Keen, in Cassopolis ; and Abraham, also in 
Cassopolis ; and George T., the fifth child, who resides 
on the old farm, and is the father of three children — 
Sarah S., Florence G. and William T. S. 

Mr. Shaffer's wife, Alice G. (Garmichael), is a 
daughter of David and Susannah (Peck) Carraichael, 
who were native Virginians, who emigrated from Ohio 
in 1835 and settled in Jefferson on the farm now 
owned by Mr. Ht^ss, and resided there until their 
deaths. Of their twelve children, but three reside in 
the county, aside from Mrs. Shaffer, viz.: Henry, in 
La Grange ; John, in Jefferson ; and Sarah A., now 
Mrs. Coleman, in Ontwa. 

By referring to the military record, it will be seen 
that Mr. Shaffer has a record inferior to no man in 
the county, and the rolls show the following promo- 
tions : Enlisted July 28, 1862, as First Lieutenant; 
Captain, May 15,. 1864, wounded in action June 22, 
1864 ; Major, Twenty-eighth Infantry, August 15, 
1864 ; Lieutenant Colonel, December 10, 1864 ; 
Brevet Colonel and Brigadier General United States 
Volunteers, March 13, 1865. Affiliation with the 
Democratic party prevented his elevation to office in 
Calvin. 



The northeastern portion of Calvin has been known 
as the East settlement since 1833, and the appellation 
is quite appropriate, for this year witnessed the advent 
of a large number of people bearing this name who 
have ever reflected credit upon the township which 
they chose as a place of permanent residence, and 
they have by energy, perseverance, economy, coupled 
with hard labor, amid the many discouraging circum- 
stances that ever attend the first settlers in any county, 
converted the wild but not unattractive land into fine 
farms, which challenge the admiration of those who 
appreciate a productive and well-tilled soil. 

William East and his wife Rachel, the progenitors 
of the particular family bearing their name, to which 
reference has been made, accompanied by his son 
John and his wife Ann — who settled in Porter — James 
East and his wife Ann (Jones) and their four children 
— Jacob, Isom, William, and their daughters Polly, 
Susanah, Rebecca and Martha, all started from Wayne 
County, Ind., with one horse and two ox-teams at- 
tached to the ponderous lumber wagons of that time, 
into which was loaded their household effects, and 
arrived at their destination November 13, 1833. 
William East located 170 acres of land on which he 
lived until his death, in 1864, his wife Rachel passing 
over the mystic river many years previous. James 
East purchased the land on which he and his venera- 
ble wife still reside, in Sections 1 and 12. He first 
put up a half-faced pole shanty and there lived 
until between Christmas and New Year's, when they 
moved into a more commodious and comfortable log 
house. It was nothing uncommon for them to wake 
up in the morning, while living in the shanty, and 
find in addition to their bedding an additional cover- 
ing of two inches of snow. William East had been 
here during the summer months, and raised a crop of 
j corn on Young's Prairie, and plowed and caused to be 
sown twelve acres of wheat, and both crops proved 
good, so they had sufficient subsistence at this time. 
Mr. East brought with him eighteen head of hogs, 
and he and his father twenty-eight head of cattle and 
100 sheep. Owing to exposure and the ravages of 
the wolves, then to be found in large numbers, their 
flock of sheep were depleted so that but five remained 
the succeeding spring. 

In 1835, the year made memorable by reason of 
the great frost, this colony were sadly in need of food 
and, in the language of Mrs. East, they " hardly 
knew where the next meal was to come from," pro- 
visions were so scarce. Their wheat and corn were a 
failure, and they, in common with many others, then 
experienced their hardest time. Mr. East "is the 
father of ten children, eight of whom are living, 
of whom James M., Calvin K. and Armstrong reside 



the ; 
ide 1 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



in Calvin; John H., in Cassopolis ; Jesse, in Niles; 
Martha Jane, Mrs. Amos Smith, in Penn ; Alfred J., 
in Vandalia ; and Mary L., now Mrs. S. K. Merritt, 
in Porter. 

Joel East, another son of William, had preceded 
him one year and purchased land where his son 
Elwood now lives, another son, James W., also occu- 
pying part of the old farm ; Susanah, the wife of 
Jefferson Osborn, in Calvin. The other children are 
Clarkson and Enos, who reside in Calvin; William, 
Edom and Caroline, now Mi-s. Elliott, reside in Por- 
ter ; Martha, is deceased ; and Thomas J., who resides 
in Van Buren County. The Easts belong to the 
Society of Friends, and assisted in establishing and 
maintaining a church of their faith in this township. 

Probably no one family in this township, if in the 
county, is more extensively or favorably known than 
the Osborns, whose names became prominently asso- 
ciated with those who not only advocated, but put in 
practice, in a small way, the sovereign principle of 
universal liberty by assisting those fleeing from bond- 
age in obtaining.their freedom from the slavery that 
once disgraced our national existence, and they formed 
no unimportant factor in bringing the issue to a suc- 
cessful and favorable termination by assisting in start- 
ing the leaven which molded the public sentiment of 
the people on this great question by bringing slavery 
prominently before them in all its hideous deformity. 

The Osborns are descendents of the Barnards, who 
came from England at a very early day and settled 
on the island of Nantucket and were known as whalers. 
Josiah Osborn, who was born in Knox County, Tenn., 
is a son of the well-known Quaker preacher and abol- 
itionist, Charles Osborn, whose record appears else- 
where. Josiah went with his parents to Wayne 
County, Ind., whither they removed to avoid the pain 
of witnessing the concomitant evils of slavery. In 
the spring of 183.5, Josiah accompanied by his son ; 
Jefferson, then a lad twelve years of age, came to | 
Calvin Township and purchased the northeast quarter 
of Section 24, and chopped between three and four 
acres of the dense forest and set out 100 fruit trees, 
four years old, and between four and five thousand 
seedlings, brought with them from Indiana. A sim- 
ple log house, descriptions of similar ones will be 
found in this work, had been erected on the place by 
a man named John Zeek, so that having performed the 
objects of their journey they returnedafter the family. 
The trip to their new home, which was uneventful, 
occupying sixteen days. Here they settled on a new 
farm, surrounded by a large scope of unimproved ter- 
ritory, neighbors few and far between, and they very 
poor, not possessing even an ox team with which to do 
thelogging and necessary work on a farm, and still, amid 



all these obstacles they did not become discouraged until 
a failure of crops rendered food almost unprocurable — 
they subsisting one week on potatoes and venison — 
when they, in common with many others, would have 
fled the country had they the means to do so with. 
The labors of the farm coupled with the attempt to es- 
tablish a nursery entailed double work, especially as the 
trees were planted before the logs, stumps, roots or brush 
had been removed, so that it entailed almost double 
labor, but success crowned their efforts, and this and 
Van Buren Counties are deeply indebted to Mr. Os- 
born and his son Jefferson, who was associated with 
him in the business, for their early orchards, which 
produced fine fruit, they being the only ones engaged 
in this industry for many years, when Elijah Os- 
born, brother of Josiah, of Calvin, started a nursery, 
and still later, after Mr. Osborn abandoned the busi- 
ness, Benjamin Hathaway, of Volinia, engaged in it. 

By referring to the chapter on the Kentucky Raid> 
it will be seen that Mr. Osborn and his son Jefferson 
bore a conspicuous part, and the expense thus entailed 
was so great that it took ten years of hard labor to 
meet obligations then incurred. 

Josiah Osborn died in June, 1862 ; his wife, Mary 
(Barnard), passing away in August, 1853. They were 
the parents of seven children, as follows : Ellison 
and Charles, now in Jasper County, Mo.; Jefferson, 
who resides in Calvin and owns part of the old farm ; 
Leander, a physician in Vandalia ; Obed, who resides 
near Paw Paw ; Louisa, Mrs. Evans, at Constantine, 
and Angeline, deceased. Mr. Jeff"erson Osborn has 
Been twice married, first to Frances Tharp, who de- 
ceased in 1851, and by whom he had two children — 
Leroy and Clara — both residents of Calvin, the form- 
er a farmer, while the latter is under the parental 
roof; and next to Susannah East, and two children 
have blessed their union, as follows : Mary, Mrs. 
Mitchell, at Grand Rapids ; and Frank, a school 
teacher. Mr. Osborn and his son Leroy have fijled 
various township offices in the gift of the people, and 
are numbered among the best and most enterprising 
citizens. 

Hiram Lee came to Calvin with his father, Nathan, 
in 1835, located on Section 12 and commenced the 
life of a pioneer, which was cut short, as he died in 
1836, leaving a family of six children to cope with 
such tremendous odds that a true pen picture of 
their struggles to obtain a livelihood on a new and 
unimproved farm would discourage many men of stern 
resolve, but they succeeded in surmounting the obsta- 
cles that opposed them. Nathan recalls the time when 
the fierce wolves attacked their dog, who sought pro- 
tection by plunging into the cabin through the quilt, 
which was utilized in the capacity uf a door, although 



1^84 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



it was midwinter. Mr. Hiram Lee was a man of 
remarkable memory, and while pursuing his avocation 
as cooper, in Brownsville, kept all his accounts in his 
mind, and when asked how he managed with those 
who had paid their accounts, answered : " I rub 
them out of my memory, and they do not trouble me 
at all." .^A stroke of paralysis has injured his mem- 
ory so he now resorts to the ordinary methods of 
book-keeping. 

Hiram "Smith, a/esident of Section 20, is the oldest 
child of a Samuel Smith, who came to Calvin in 1838. 
He>nlisted August 29, 1864, in the Twelfth Michi- 
igan Infantry, and was discharged September 9, 1865. 
His wife, Mrs. H. S. (Hayden), is a daughter of Sam- 
uel J. Lincoln, who came to the county in 1834, and 
stopped on the farm now owned by William Jones, in 
Penn. 

Among the early settlers was James Girt, who came 
here when very poor, and worked on Young's Prairie, 
until purchasing forty acres in Section 32, to which 
was added from time to time, until he possessed a i 
large farm, on which he died, and on which his widow, ; 
Catharine Girt, now resides. \ 

Among those coming into the county at a later date, 
who have been quite largely identified with public af- 
fairs, and who have a well deserved popularity, because 
of admirable personal traits, as well as readiness to 
farther the interests of the community and county in 
which he resides, is Levi J. Reynolds, who came into 
the county in 1847, from Steuben County, Ind., with 
his brother, Edward M., when a young man seventee^^ i 
years of age. For the first five years after his arrival, 1 
he labored as a farm-hand, having to depend entirely 
upon his own exertions to further his interests, when 
he commenced farming for himself, and has been very 
successful. Since 1862, he has been engaged quite 
largely as an auctioneer, in which he has also made j 
a success, this business taking him many times to j 
Indiana, whither his fame as an auctioneer, has extend- 
ed. The farm on which he resides, in Section 2, 
was purchased seventeen years since, and now contains 
good farm buildings he has erected. His name ap- 
pears frequently in the civil list of the township. 

James Melling, who moved into the county in 1865, j 
was prominently engaged in civil affairs in his former 
home, in South Bend, Ind., and assisted in making ] 
some hazardous arrests, and even kidnaped a horse 
thief at Bertrand, who was convicted, and he, in turn, 
was apprehended for illegal arrests, but public senti- 
ment would not admit his prosecution. 

Beniah Tharp came from Logan County, Ohio, in 
1843, and in 1844 purchased 160 acres of wild land, 
in Section 15, which was subdued and brought to a 
state of cultivation by patient, laborious toil. He has 



been a resident of Brownsville since 1867, and 
succeeded in acquiring a competency. 



has 



ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES. 
Section 1. 

Henry H. Fowler, Cass County, Mich , Oct. o, 1832 80 

.loel EaM, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 16,1832 160 

.Tames East, Wayne County, Ind., April 18, 183.3 80 

William East, Wayne County, Ind., April 18, 1833 80 

William East, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 29, 1833 96 

Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, Onondaga County, N. Y^ May 14, 

1836 80 

Peter Beisel, St. Joseph County, May 7, 1833 99 

Section 2. 

Pleasant Grubb, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1836..'. 86 

Zadoc Dark, Cass County, Mich., bee. 12, 18.36 .53 

Elijah Reynolds, Cass County, Mich , Dec. 14, 1836 40 

Thomas E. O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., April 11, 187.3 62 

Ira Warren, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 24, 1844 67 

Robert Roane, Cass County, .Mich., Oct. 11, 18-53 66 

Section 3. 

Andrew T. Grubb, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 40 

Aaron Brown, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 30, 1835 80 

Peier Marmon, Cass County, Mich., .Ian. 4, 1836 40 

Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 14, 1836 240 

Jeremiah Rudd, Rutland County, Vt., July 6, 1836 80 

Daniel Mcintosh, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1836 74 

Madison Frazer, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 25, 1849 61 

Section 4. 

Elizabeth White, Cass County, .Mich., Jan. 20, 1835 160 

Elizabeth White, Feb. 24, 1835 160 

Truman Kilbourn, Otsego County, X. Y., .Tuly 25, 1836 15T 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 13, 1837 80 

Section 5. 

Nathan Young, Lenawee County, June 17, 1829 160 

John Reid, Lenawee County, June 17, 1829 160 

George Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 1, 1831 80 

David T. Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 18, 1834 40 

William Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., July 27, 1835 40 

Jacob Rosebrook, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 29, 1835 60 

Amos Northrop, Rutland County, Vt., April 8, 1837 72 

Section 6. 

John Reid, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1830..... 160 

Levi F. Arnold, St. Joteph County, Not. 9, 1830 64 

Burnham & Smith, New Hampshire, June 13, 1831 149 

John McDonald. Cass County, Mich., Sept. 11, 1836 81 

Section 7. 

John Reid, Lenawee County, June 17, 1829 160 

Giles Norton, Logan County, Ohio, Jan. 11, 1830 57 

Giles Norton, Aug. 18, 18.36 56 

Gile^ Norton, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 22, 1835 40 

Jacob (Charles, June 6, 1831 80 

Hiram Richardson, April 7, 1832 80 

Hiram Richardson, Nov. 30, 1835 40 

John Reid, Dec. 12, 18.36 40 

.■Section 8. 

(Jeorge Jones, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 14, 1830 80 

Andrew Gnibb, Feb. 12, 1831 80 




A^a^e.^e4^Jl^ 






LEVI D.j^OF(TOJ^ 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



385 



ACRES. 

Andrew Urubb. Oct. 24, 183.5 40 

Maxwell Zane, Sept. 14, 1«31 80 

Maxwell Zane, Feb. 23, 1836 40 

Maxwell Zane, Feb. H, 1837 40 

William Grubb, June 25, 1833 40 

.lohn Reiil, March 3, 1835 40 

,lohn Reid, Dec. 11, 1835 40 

Hiram Richardson, Feb. 23, 1836 40 

•John V. Whinrey, Dec. 14, 1836 40 

L. D. & P. Norton, March 4, 1837 40 

Findley Chess, Nov. 12, 1845 40 

.-^ECTIO.N 9. 

William Zane, Cass County, Mich., June 4, 1833 80 

Lyman A.Spalding, Niagara County, N. Y., April 23, 1836... 240 
Lawrence, Imlay & Co., Onondaga County, N. Y., May 14, 

1836 80 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 1, 1837 80 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Nov. 10, 1837 80 

Hoagland Hulse, Cass County, Mich., July 28. 1847 40 

Johnson I'atrick, Cass County, Mich., March 25, 1852 40 

Section 10. 

Ldwrence, Imlay & Co., May 16, 1836 320 

Lawrence, Imlay & Co., June 7, 18.36 ;. 160 

George Redfield. Feb. 1, 1837 80 

George Redfield, .lune 11. 1838 80 

Section 11. 

Walter Mills, Wayne County, Ind.. April 21, 1835 40 

John Maulsby, La Porte County, Ind., April 28, 1836 80 

Lawrsnce, Imlay & B., May 14, 18.36 280 

Azariah Williams, Cass County, Mich,, May 24, 1837 80 

John Roberts, Cass County, Mich., April 2, 1852 40 

Section 12. 

Thomas Bulla, Wayne County, Ind., Nov. 8, 1832 240 

James East, Wayne County, Ind., April 18, 1833 80 

Nathan Lee, Wayne County, Ind., Oct. 29, 1833 80 

Benjamin Elliott, Wayne County, Ind., Dec. 5, 1835 160 

Samuel Pickering, La Porte County, Ind., April 28, 1836 80 

Section 13. 

Nathan Williams, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 7, 1833 80 

.^amuel Pickering, La Porte County, Ind., April 28, 1836 160 

Lemuel Maulsby, La Porte County, Ind , F. b. 29, 1836 80 

George Redfield. Cass County, Mich., March 29, 1837 80 

Lawson Howell, Aug. 25, 1845 40 

Turner Bird, March 17, 1849 66 

Jesse B. Williams, Oct. 29, 1849 40 

David M. Howell, July 22, 1853 40 

Section 14. 

Lemuel .Maulsby, La Porte County, Ind., Feb. 29, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1H36 549 

Section 15. 

Levi D. Tharp, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 26, 1836 40 

Jonathan Osborn, La Porte County, Ind., Feb. 29, 1836 160 

Henly C. Lybrook. Cass County, Mich., March 23, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 360 

Section 16. 



Section 17 

AOBES. 

Jesse Hutchinson, Cass County, Mich., March 3, 1835 40 

Harvey Reed, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 26, 1835 40 

John Reed, Cass County, Mich , Dec. 11, 1835 80 

Giles Norton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 80 

Richards Ji Russell, Washington County, N. Y., July 18, 

1836 80 

Benjamin Richards, Washington County, N. Y., July 5, 1837, 40 

Duncan Mcintosh, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 9, 1837 80 

James Cross, St. Joseph County, Mich., March 16, 1837 .' 160 

Peter Shafler, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 21, 18-52 40 

Section 18. 

Moses Mcllvaiu, Champaign County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1835 66 

Jesse Hutchinson Cass County, Mich., Nov. 30, 1835 65 

Jesse Hutchinson, Dec. 12, 1836 40 

Giles Norton, Dec. 11, 1835 31 

Pleasant Norton, Dec. 16, 1835 48 

Pleasant Norton, Nov. 12, 1845 56 

Henry P. Voorhees, Montgomery County, N. Y., July 8, 

1836 119 

Peter ShafTer, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 3, 1837 40 

Section 19. 

Daniel Mcintosh, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Nov. 3, 1830 80 

Joseph Smith, Jan. 27, 1835 40 

Harvey Reed, Oct. 26, 1835 80 

Moses .Mcllvain, Champaign County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1835.. .. 133 

William T. Noel, Berrien County, Mich., July 8, 1836 80 

Richards & Russell, Washington County, N. Y., July 18, 

1836 93 

William Hannahs, Otsego County, N. Y., July 25, 1836 80 

Section 20. 

William T. Noel, Wayne County, Aug. 15, 1831 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 28, 1836 320 

George White, Cass County, Mich., June 6, 1836 120 

Richards & Russell, July 16, 1836 80 

William Hannahs, July 25, 1836 40 



George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 



3, 1835, entire. 



Section 22. 

Barry & Fowler, March 21, 1833 53 

George Redfield, Oct. 13, 1835 160 

George Redfield, Dec. 12, 1835 .• 126 

George Redfield, Dec. 10, 1836 70 

Harley Redfield, Ontario County, N. Y., Oct. 13, 18.35 160 

Section 23. 

Georg* Redfield, Cass County, Mich.. Dec. 12, 1835 160 

Richard Williams, Wayne County, Ind., Feb. 1 and 29, 1836 160 

Lawrence, Imlay & Co., May 14, 1836 105 

William Hannahs, July 25, 1836 133 

Section 24. 

Josiah Osborn, Wayne County, Ind., October 28, 1834 160 

Elijah Osborn, Wayne County, Ind., October 28, 1834 80 

Elijah Osboin, Cass County, Mich., July 16, 1836 80 

Elijah Osborn, Cass County, Mich., December 12, 1836 80 

Charles Williams, Wayne County, Ind 79 

Richard Williams, Wayne County, Ind 228 



386 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAxV. 

Section 25. ' Section 35. 

ACHBfl. ACRES. 

Elihu Osborn, Madison County, Ind., September 9, 1835 40 Harley Redfield, Ontario County, N. Y., Dec, 12, 1835 80 

Elihu Osborn, Cass County, Mich.. April 28, 18-36 120 Richards & Russell, Washington County, N. Y., July 18, 1836. 660 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14. 1836 480 

Section 36. 

Section 26. grove Lawrence, William H. Imlay and George Beach, Onon- 

fieorge Redfield, Dec. 12, 1835 320 daga County, N. Y., May 14, 1836, entire 640 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 160 

Alexander H. Redfield, Feb. 1, 1837 80 COLORED SETTLEMENT. 

Samuel H. Saulspaugh, Feb. 1, 1837 80 ; ™, . ,■ e . .. i_ i . />i i • 

I I here is a peculiar feature attached to Calvin, not to 

Section 27. | be found in any other township in the State. Should 

George Redfield, Sept. 7, 1835 80 a Stranger be placed in its center, he wonld at once 

George Redfield, Oct. 13. 1835 160 conclude that he was in a Southern State, owing to 

George Redfield, Dec. 12, 183-5 160 ^^^ ^ preponderance of the colored people, who far 

George Redfield, Dec. 10, 1836 40 , • , , ,- , . 

Harley Redfield, Dec. 12, 1835 160 Outrank, in number, the white population. 

Luther Chapin, April 23, 1836 40 There are a Variety of causes that conspired to 

form this isolated colony of colored people, surrounded 
Section 28. i ^g jj^^y ^^j.^ ^^ every side with a white population. 
Peter Shafifer, Jan. 31, 18-32 80 rpj^^ -^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ residence, in the northeast- 
George Redfield, Sept. 7, 1835 560 '^ . , , ,. „ ' p. , 

ern portion oi tlie township, ot numerous iriends to 

Section 29. this unfortunate race among the Society of Friends, 

David Shaffer, Cass County, Mich., June 14, 1831 80 who then formed a larger portion of the population, 

Peter Shaffer, Clark County, Ohio, Oct. 29, 1831 160 and, as will be seen elsewhere, some of them were ac- 

.lohnIreland,CassCounty, Mich., July 12,1831 80 ^-^^ ^^^j^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ Underground Railroad, and all 

Thompson Smith, Cass County, .Mich., Feb. 2, 1832 80 ,. . , * 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 28, 1826 160 ^ere sympathizers in the movement. 

Richards & Russell, July 16, 18.86 80 A Quaker preacher, named Henry H. Way, brought 

with him, in 1836, a fugitive slave, named Lawson, 

Section .30. ^jjp ^^g jj^g gj,gj colored resident in the township. 

Havilah Beardsley, Elkhart County, Ind., Jan. 2, 1835 -52 o„ „^ •„„j f„_ „ . i _„ „A ■ ^A r ~-i 

T,. I , o „ ,, .„ ,. „•" „ ,^ , ' ,„ ,„„ ,„„ He remained tor several years, and raised a larailv. 

Richards & Russell Washington County, N.Y., July 16, 1836. .532 ,^.„ .„ , , ,. r -.nnn"' 

Willis Brown was also among the first. In 1838, a 

Section 31. Guinea negro, named Jesse Scott, who was a fugitive 

Leonard Keen, Cass County, Mich., July 3, 1835 40 slave, settled on the farm now owned by Andrew 

WiUiam T. Noel, Berrien County, Mich.. July 8. 1836 92 Hostler, and gained a livelihood by raising tobacco. 

Richards & Russell -July 16,1836... 282 j^ ^j^^ ^^^^ ^f ^^^^ j^e served as waiter for Gen. 

SylvadorT. Reed, Cass County, Dec. 31, 1846 64 .^ ' 

Pinkney. 

Section 32. A large portion of this town was purchased by spec- 
Peter Shaffer, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 21, 1832 80 ulators, who, by reason of high prices asked, practi- 

Peter Shaffer, Cass County, Mich., .Aug. 2, 1836 160 ^aWj kept it out of the market, which retarded its 

James Girt, Feb. 4. 1833 40 .,,./• i n r. jc u i- 

I r.- . T ,r ,uor .^ settlement tor several years. George Kedbeld, oi 

James Girt, June 15, 1835 40 J o ' 

James Girt. March 17, 1836 40 Ontwa, and Imley & Beach, of New York, were the 

Harris Winslow, Monroe County, Mich., April 26, 1836 160 principal Owners of this land. It was finally placed 

Lawrence, Imlay & c;o.. May 28. 1836 80 in the market by them, on the most advantageous 

Jacob Lambert, Berrien County, Mich., July 8, 1836 40 , .i , - . - c oi * oc 

•" ■ ' terms, the usual prices being from ^i to $5 per acre, 

Section 33. *'•''* "* ^^"""^ of ten years' credit. In 1845 or 1846, a 

Peter Shaffer, Jan. 31, 1832 80 colored colony, composed of Harvey Wade, Eusom 

John S. Mcintosh, April 10, 1835 40 Tare, Nathaniel Boon, Turner and Crawfird Bird, 

G.& A. H. Redfield, July 9, 183.5 80 K. Artist and Harrison Ash, came from Logan 

George Redfield, March 15, 1836 V20 r< ^ r\\ ■ 3 u j ii <• * i .^ 

r. D jc u . -, o, ,oo^ „ County, Ohio, and purchased small farms. A planter, 

George Redfield, April 21, 1836 80 J' ' f ... 

Harley Redfield, Sept. 7,1835 160 n!i™ed SampsoB Saunders, who died at his residence 

Hams Winslow, ApriI26, 1836 80 Cabul County, Va., liberated his slaves, by the provis- 
ions of his will, and appropriated $15,000 with which 
his administrators were instructed to purchase farms 

Harley Redfield, Sept. 7. 1835 80 r .l ■ i;i cj. . .t, • i. i. • u ,. 

Harley Redfield, Dec. 12, 1835 240 ^"^ ^^^'^ '° '"'"" ^'^' ^'^^^' ^^''' """^^' ^""^ ^^""^ 

George Redfield, April 21, 18-^6 80 ^^^^J- '^^^ cheapness of lands in Calvin, coupled with 

Richards & Russell, July 18, 1H36 240 the friendliness of the whites, caused him to make all 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



387 



his purchases here, in 1849, except a small tract pur- 
chased in Porter, adjoining, and from this time onward 
a stream of colored emigrants poured into the township, 
until all the land was occupied. There are now about 
1,000 colored out of a population of 1,693, and, out 
of a population of 400 voters, about 250 are colored. 
Calvin is, therefore, one of the Republican strong- 
holds of the county, and did the colored people desire, 
they could elect one of their number to represent 
them and the township on the Board of Supervisors. 
In purely local matters, they hold quite a number of 
township offices, such as Town Clerk, Justice of the 
Peace, etc. 

But a small proportion of these people have ever 
been in bondage, the major portion being the descend- 
ants of free colored people, emigrants from other 
Northern States. 

When coming here they were, except in very ex- 
ceptional cases, in a destitute condition, and obtained 
by contract possession of the land which they have 



cleared and improved, and many are now as prosper- 
ous as their white neighbors, having fine fiirms. They 
take justifiable pride in their churches, of which they 
have three, and schools which reflect great credit upon 
them. Some of the schools are even now taught by 
colored teachers, and are attended by a greater or 
lesser number of white children. 

At the centennial exhibition pictures of the school- 
houses of this township were exhibited, and provoked 
much favorable comment on the apparent enterprise of 
the people. 

Among the colored men can be mentioned Isaac P. 
Stewart, who came from Gallia County, Ohio, in 1854, 
and purchased eighty acres of land which he has in- 
creased to 240, and on which can be found fine farm 
buildings. In this connection can also be mentioned 
Samuel Hawks, who emigrated from the same county 
five years later. His buildings on his farm of 156 
acres are a credit to the township. 

William Lawson, who came in the county in 1853, 
in addition to conducting his farm of 120 acres, is en- 
gaged in merchandising, he keeping the only store at 
Calvin Center, where a post office is established. A 
colored lady named Lucinda Stewart, whose husband 
died in the army, carries on a farm of 150 acres, while 
C. W. Bunn owns and runs a saw-mill on Section 22, 
thus taking their part in all the enterprises of the 
township. 

As before stated, they hold a number of township 
offices, one representative being Cornelius Lawson, 
who fills the office of Justice of the Peace, while 
Bishop E. Curtis acts in the capacity of Township 
Olerk. 

During the rebellion they responded nobly to the 



call for soldiers, over one-half of those liable to do 
military duty, taking up arms in defense of their coun- 
try, which was a record worthy of emulation, it being 
I unequaled by any other nationality. 

I 

1 SAW-MILL AND DISTILLERY. 

In 1831, Daniel Mcintosh and Samuel Crossen 
built the first saw-mill in 1832, in Section 19, on the 
Christiana Creek. It passed into the hands of Mc- 
intosh, who disposed of it to two brothers, John and 
Joseph Smith, and their father, who came from Ohio 
with their father, who soon returned as did John, leav- 
ing Joseph to conduct the business alone. In 1833, he 
erected a distillery and conducted it for several years. 
He manufactured pure whisky, which was sold 
at 25 cents per gallon. One of the amusements 
among some of the settlers was horse-racing on the 
farm now owned by Harvey Reed and Mr. Robison, 
no heavy stakes changing hands, whisky at the dis- 
tillery often being the only prize raced for. The dis- 
tillery passed into the hands of Jacob Long in 1835, 
but long since ceased to exist. 

Peter Shaffer built a saw-mill near this location, 
which he ran for many years, sawing the lumber for 
the court house at Cassopolis. In 1831, Pleasant 
Grubb built a grist-mill where Brownsville now stand, 
which supplied a long-felt want ; the capacity of the 
O'Dell mill in Penn being entirely inadequate to 
meet the demands of the settlers upon it. At this 
time mill-stones were difficult to obtain, and accord- 
ingly some hard-heads dug from the ground near the 
Mcintosh saw-mill were made to do duty in this ca- 
pacity, the men of this time being fertile in expedi- 
ents, or substitutes to meet the exigencies of the case. 

After a time the mill passed into the possession of 
David and William Brown,' brothers, and native 
Scotchmen, from whom Brownsville derived its name. 
With the advent of the Browns, business took a new 
impetus and several minor enterprises started up, but 
it never assumed much importance as a business cen- 
ter, and the records fail to show that it was platted. 
At one time, Tillman Longfellow conducted a tannery 
here. It now contains a population of eighty-nine, 
and contains one grist-mill, one general store, two 
blacksmith shops, a cooper and a shoe shop, millinery 
store, pump factory, harness shop, two carpenters and 
two physicians. 

SAUK WAR SCARK. 

In 1832, at the time of the Sauk war, the men 
started for the scene of action on a few hours' notice, 
leaving their families in terrible suspense. Rumors 
of carnage to follow filled the air, and sleep wiis 
hardly known in the community of which Brownsville 
was the center. A tailor, nanied William Bricc, who 



HISTOEY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



had remained at home went from house to house in 
the dead hour of night, aroused the women and chil- 
dren and warned them to flee to his house for a place 
of safety, as he was fortifying against the bloodthirsty 
savages. Soon his house was filled with frightened 
women and children, who momentarily expected to 
hear the war-whoop of their dusky enemy, aud fear 
was depicted on every countenance, but they were 
resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 
They were armed with billets of wood, case-knives 
and pitchforks, the men having taken their guns with 
them to the front. At last morning broke upon the 
scene, and during the day information was received 
which allayed their fears — the enemy being west of 
Chicago. 

In 1865, a woolen factory was erected in Section 3 
by Isaac and Vincent Wright. The machinery was 
removed several years since, and it is now used as a 
heading factory and planing mill. 

Elihu Osborn was the first one interred in the 
Friends' Cemetery, the year being 1836, the next 
one was Mrs. Bonine, grandmother of James B. 
Bonine. 

Elenor J. Keen, daughter of Leonard and Elsie 
Keen, was born in May, 18-32, and was probably the 
first white child born in the township. She married 
Samuel H. Bellnow, and died July 31, 1873, Leon- 
ard Keen's death occurring May 24, 1879. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Calvin was organized by an act of the Territorial 
Government, approved March 17, 18-55, which reads 
as follows : "All that part of the county of Cass, com- 
prised in surveyed Township 7 south. Range 14 
west, be a township by the name of Calvin, and the 
first township meeting sliall be held at the dwelling- 
house of John Reed in said township." 

The soil of this township is very productive, and 
while it is sandy in small portions a clayey loam pre- 
dominates. A chain of seven lakes extend through 
the center of the township, east and west, and the 
land near them is quite rolling. 

There is in the township 237 farms, embracing 16,- 
640 acres, 10,686 of which are improved. In 1879, 
3,775 acres sown to wheat produced 64,745 bushels, 
being an average of 17.15 bushels per acre; 2,919 
acres planted to corn yielded 107,145 bushels of ears, 
and from 875 acres sown to oats, 27,352 bushels were 
threshed.' There were also produced 343 bushels of 
clover seed, 10,346 bushels of potatoes, and 1,383 
tons of hay. From 1,467 sheep were sheared 6,879 
pounds of wool, while there are possessed in the town- 
ship 621 horses, 773 head of cattle, and 2,288 hogs, 
being a greated number of hogs and horses than any 



other township in the county. Apples and small 
fruits are raised in great abundance, and to the frugal 
and industrious, ample returns are made from the 
productive soil. 

The township has two bands, one known as Hen- 
derson's Cornet Band, with A. T. Henderson as leader, 
and the Clipper Band, of which Green Allen is leader. 



The opportunities for obtaining an education were, 
in the early history of the township, very meager as 
compared with the present time. In 1834, John V. 
Whinnery taught school in the log house occupied by 
Leonard Keen, on the farm of his father-in-law. Peter 
Shaffer. During school hours, Mrs. Keen went to her 
father's, so as not to disturb the school while perform- 
ing her household duties. In 1835, he taught school 
in Peter Shaffer's kitchen, and it was distinctly stipu- 
lated that he should not be required to teach anything 
but reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic, as far as 
the rule of three, which embraced his qualifications for 
the position, and when the rule of three was reached, 
the scholars were turned back to the front of the 
arithmetic, no matter how well versed they might be 
in it, and again traversed the ground up to the rule of 
three, only to again repeat the operation. Schools 
were taught by subscription, the teacher receiving from 
$10 to $15 per month, which was divided up among 
the scholars according to the number of days of at- 
tendance. Greased paper was sometimes used in lieu 
of window glass, glass being an expensive and difficult 
commodity to obtain. 

The township is now divided into nine school 
districts, of which No. 6 is fractional. District 
No. 1 has a schoolhouse valued at $1,500, seating 
capacity, 100 ; No. 2, value $700, seating capacity : 
70 ; No. 3, value $1,200, seating capacity : 75 ; No. 
4, value $2,000, seating capacity: 120; No. 5, value 
$900, seating capacity : 48 ; No. 6, value $800, seat- 
ing capacity : 65 ; No. 7, value $1,200, seating 
capacity : 60 ; No. 8, value $500, seating capacity : 
70; No. 9, value $600, seating capacity : 50. There 
are 615 school children between the ages of five and 
twenty years. For the fiscal year ending August 31, 
1881, there was paid $464 for female and $1,356 for 
male teachers in the township. 

friends' meeting. 
A Friends' Meeting was organized, in 1836, with 
Nathan Lee, Nathan Williams, William East, Stephen 
Bogue, Joel East, James East, as trustees, and pre- 
vious to the erection of a log house of worship in 1837, 
meetings were held at the house of William East. 
The log meeting-house has long since been super- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



389 



seded by a suitable frame structure. For many years 
the Friends of Penn worshiped in this house, but they 
now have a church building in their township. The 
present membership is about thirty-five. 

BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH. 

The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 
was organized in 1856, and is on what is known as 
the Brownsville Circuit of Ca.ss County. They 
erected a church edifice in 1870, now valued at $800. 
The present membership is sixty-four. A flourishing 
Sunday school, with forty scholars, who draw books 
from a library of 103 volumes, is attached to the 
church. The trustees are: Peter Day, Alexander 
Mathews and George Scott. Stewards, Peter Day, ' 
Gilbert Brown, Solomon Griffon. 

THE CHAIN LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH 

(Colored) was organized by Elder David Lett, Jan- 
uary 4, 1848, with eight members, and Harrison Ash 
and Turner Byrd elected as officers. About two 
years subsequent to their organization, they erected a 
log church, and this, in 1860, gave place to a substan- 
tial frame building, costing $1,200. The church has 
flourished finely, and now has a membership of 150 
and an interesting Sunday school of sixty scholars, 
who have access to a library of 100 volumes. Pres- 
ent officers: M. D. and William Ash, Milton Calla- 
way, Green Allen, E. Keith, Samuel Hawks and W. 
Madry. 

MOUNT ZION M. E. CHURCH. 

Mount Zion M. E. Church (Colored) was organized 
in 1849, by Mathew T. Newson, which was only one 
year subsequent to the first emigration of colored peo- 
ple, of any considerable numbers, to this township. 
They first held meetings in private houses, but before 
one year had elapsed purchased one and a half acres 
of land of Hardy Wade for building purposes and for 
a cemetery, and erected thereon a log church, which 
is still standing, which, with the land, cost $200. The 
society increased rapidly in numbers, and after a time 
they abandoned their log house for a neat frame build- 
ing, 30x40. The first trustees were Richard Woods, 
Benjamin Hawley, L. Archer, Lawson Howell, Will- 
iam Scott, Joseph Alien. The present officers are 
Henry Cannady, Peter Day, Joseph Allen, William 
Alien, James Monroe, Joseph Scott. This is called 
the mother church of the county, as one at Calvin 
Center and one in Volinia sprang from it, and they 
now have a total membership of 200, with property 
valued at 3,000, including a parsonage at Calvin 
Center. 

SUPERVISORS. 

1835-36, Pleasant Grubb ; 1837-38, William T. 



Reed; 1841, Joel East ; 1842-43, John V. Whin- 
nery; 1844, Peter Shaffer; 1845, Elijah Osborn ; 
1846-47, Jesse Hutchinson ; 1848, S. T.Reed ; 1849, 
Johnson Patrick; 1850, Leander Osborn; 1851-54, 
Jefferson Osborn; 1855, Daniel W. Gray; 1856, 
Johnson Patrick ; 1857, Elijah Osborn ; 1858-59, 
Beniah Tharp ; 1860-61, James Oren : 1862-66, 
B. A. Tharp ; 1867-70, Levi J. Reynolds ; 1871- 
72, B. A. Tharp ; 1873-75, Leroy Osborn; 1876-77, 
B. F. Beeson; 1878-79, Levi J. Reynolds; 1880, 
Levi J. Reynolds; 1881, B. F. Bee.son. 

TREASURERS. 

1835, William T. Reed ; 1836, Andrew White; 
1837, Andrew Grubb ; 1838, Thomas O'Dell; 1839, 
Alexander White; 1840-41, Charles Dennison ; 
1842-45, L. D. Norton; 1846-48, Finley Chess; 
1849, William H. Jones ; 1850, Jefferson Osborn ; 
1851-53, Jesse Hutchinson ; 1854-55, B. F. Har- 
rison ; 1856-58, Levi J. Reynolds; 1859-60, Moses 
Brown; 1861-62, William Clark; 1863, J. F. Lemon; 
1864-65, T. J. Osborn ; 1866-68, S. S. Davis ; 1869, 
James Rivers ; 1870-74, James H. Gregg ; 1875-77, 
John Allen ; 1878-79, L. S. Tharp ; 1880-81, Jacob 
Horn. 

CLERKS. 

1835, W. T. Reed; 1837-37, J. V. Whinnery; 
1838-39, William Brown; 1840-41, J. V. Whin- 
nery ; 1842, William Brown ; 1843, A. Northup ; 
1844, William Brown; 1845, J. C. Blair; 1846, 
S. T. Reed ; 1847, Henry Shaffer ; 1848-54, A! E. 
Peck ; 1855-57, B. A. Tharp ; 1858-59, James 
Oren ; 1860-61, Lewis Cowgill ; 1862, John Lee ; 
1863-64, J. N. Osborn ; 1865, John Lee ; 1866-69, 
James Rivers ; 1870, Leroy Osborn ; 1871, S. K. 
G. Wright ; 1872, A. K. Wright ; 1873-78, James 
Rivers ; 1879, James H. Gregg ; 1880-81, Bishop 
E. Curtis. 



BrOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

LKVI I). NORTON. 
Among the early settlers of Champaign County, 
Ohio, was Nathan Norton, the father of the imme- 
diate subject of this biography. He came from Vir- 
ginia, which was the place of his nativity. He resid- 
ed in Ohio until 1828, when with his family, which 
consisted of his wife and five children — Mahala, 
Pleasant, Jane, Levi D. and Richard. He started 
for that El Dorado of the pioneers, Cass County. They 
arrived safely after a journey devoid of particular in- 
cident, and settled in township of Jefferson, where 
they were the first settlers in the section of the town 



390 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



in which they located. Here the elder Norton resided 
until his decease. Levi D. resided in Jefferson until 
1839, when he removed to Calvin ; his name is stamped 
on many of the initial events in Jefferson's history. 
He plowed the first furrow ever turned in the town- 
ship, and assisted in the production of the first crop. 
In Calvin, he was also a pioneer, and in addition to 
the many privations and hardships that he was called 
upon to pass through, he was crippled by the loss of 
a considerable amount of the irredeemable currency 
of that day, but his energy and industry overcame all 
obstacles, and he not only regained what he had lost, 
but ultimately became one of the most successful and 
prosperous farmers of the township. His death oc- 
curred November 7, 1872, at his home in Calvin. He 
identified himself closely with the township, and his 
name is frequently found in the civil list. He dis- 
charged his duties concientiously and faithfully, and he 
endeared himself to tlTe community in which he lived 
by generosity and liberality. He was married, in Sep- 
tember, 1814, to Miss Martha, daughter of Samuel 
and Elizabeth Mcllvain. Mrs. Norton was born in 
Logan County, Ohio, in 1812. and came to Cass in 
1832. She was the counterpart of her husband in 
many things, and is now living on the old homestead 
with her daughter Jane, now Mrs. C. L. Baldwin. 
Their other children are: Mary A. (now Mrs 
Adamson); Leonard, who is in Chicago; Elizabeth, 
(now Mrs. Shaw), in Cheboygan ; and Samuel, who 
resides in Kansas. 

IS.VAC HULL. 

Isaac Hull, son of Elijah and Sarah Hull, was 
born in Pennsylvania July 3, 1807. He removed to 
Ohio with his parents when a small child, and re- 
mained there until mature manhood. He was mar- 
ried, February 21, 1828, to Miss Mariah Grubb, and 
six children were born to them in Ohio. In 1835, 
Mr. Hull made a trip to Cass County, purchased 
land in Calvin, near Brownsville, and in the fall of 
1837, the family located upon it, moving into a log 
house. The family passed through the usual expe- 
rience of the pioneers, and in time had a pleasant home. 
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hull after 
they came to Michigan, making in aJl eleven, all of 
whom arrived at the age of maturity. Five have 
since died, viz.: Isaiah, Pleasant G., John F., Ama- 
ziah G. and Mary A. The only surviving son, F. 
McK. Hull, is doing an extensive wholesale and re- 
tail grocery business in Jackson, where his sister 
Libbie A. also lives. Minerva J., resides in Calhoun 
County, Iowa. Martha E., Sarah J. and Olive M. 
are living upon the old homestead. 

The subject of this sketch led an upright, admirable 



life, and although beginning his career in poverty, by 
his industry accumulated a large property. He died 
upon the 19th of December, 1878, after an illness of 
but three days, and the funeral was largely attended 
upon the following Sunday. A friend, writing of 
Isaac Hull, says : " With no advantages of early edu- 
cation, and with none of the adventitious aids to ad- 
vancement that many of his compeers enjoyed in their 
youth, he achieved both fortune and reputation by his 
own inherent force of character, untiring industry, 
indomitable energy and frugality. An intellect quick 
to apprehend and a judgment reraarka;bly acute to 
apply the knowledge he acquired in his intercourse 
with men, were the elements that combined to make 
his life in a worldly point of view a success. He 
leaves a wife and four children to mourn his sudden 
death. The results of his provident care surround 
them, and their sorrow is alleviated by the confident 
assurance that he who was so fondly devoted to them 
has entered upon the rewards of a well-spent life. 
Though we lament his death, we cannot be unconscious 
that our loss is his gain. * * * fjjg 

peculiar and prominent characteristics of the deceased 
were his simplicity, sincerity and earnestness. His 
convictions were clear and strong, because he adhered 
to his cpnvictions and those who supported them ; but 
he was an honest and generous partisan. With the 
best opportunities to judge during the most exciting 
period of our recent political history, I never observed 
in him the slightest tinge of malignity, of selfishness, 
or envy. There is no character of the heated period 
of which I speak that I recall with more unmixed 
satisfaction or higher respect. He was ever ready to 
give ' honor to whom honor was due.' " 

Mrs. Hull is still living and in the seventy-fifth 
year of her age. She was born October 13, 1806, 
in Loudoun County, Va., and removed with her par- 
ents, Andrew and Martha Grubb, to Clark County, 
Ohio, when she was seven years old, and from there 
to Bellefontaine, Logan County, of the same State, 
where she remained until after her marriage. 

CHARLES ('. KirKP:RT. 
Abraham Rickert was born in Lancaster County, 
Penn., in 1782, and married Mary M. Engle in 1810. 
They became the parents of seven children, viz. : 
Leonard, who was born in 1811 ; Catharine, Abra- 
ham, Mary, Samuel and Jacob. The two latter chil- 
dren were born near Wooster, Ohio, to which State 
the family removed in 1823. Having disposed of a 
farm purchased near Wooster, they, in the spring of 
1829, purchased three yoke of oxen and as many 
wagons, and, in company with a family named 
Mclntaffer, came to Michigan. While en route they 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



overtook a family named Bowers and they then pur- 
sued their journey together. They came by the way 
of the Maumee or Black Swamp, which was so nearly 
impassable that sometimes not more than two or three 
miles progress would be made in a day, and at night 
huge logs were cut and rolled together and brush piled 
on them, on which the beds were placed to keep them 
out of the water. This same year, Mr. Rickert pur- 
chased land opposite Mottville, in the counties of Cass 
and St. Joseph, where their son Abner was born in 
1829. In the winter of 1829-30, they subsisted on 
beans, hominy and corn meal. The hominy was 
manufactured by pounding with the poll of an ax 
corn placed in a hole burned in the top of a stump. A 
Mr. Cutler possessed a hand-mill with which two men 
could grind one bushel per hour and here a portion of 
their meal was ground. Before leaving Ohio, Mr. 
Rickert shipped a quantity of flour around the lakes 
and up the St. Joseph River to Mottville; but it was 
80 delayed that it did not reach its destination until 
the summer of 1830, for it became frozen up in the 
lake, which caused the family great inconvenience. 

In 1841, Leonard Rickert purchased land in Cal- 
vin Township, on which he moved with his wife, 
Margaret A. (Crawford), to whom he was married 
December 15, 1842. His death occurred May 10, 
1854, and hia widow and family of six children named 
Mary E., Charles C, George A., Olive L., Ambrose 
R. and Celestie L., lived on the farm until her death, 
which occurred May 31, 1877. Mrs. Rickert came 
with her parents from Lake County, Ohio, in 1886, 
and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Hanson. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Rickert were honored mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, and were highly esteemed 
by the community with whom they spent so many 
years. 

Charles C. Rickert, who was born January, 1846, 
now owns and farms it on the old homestead in Cal- 
vin, and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
He was married May 24, 1877, to Susanah, daughter 
of Nathan Shaw, who was born October 29, 1845. 
They have but one child, Ellen Sophronia, who was 
born June 3, 1878. George Rickert lives on a farm 
adjoining the paternal estate. Ambrose and Celestie 
are deceased, while Mary E. and Olive L. still re- 
side on the old homestead. 



A 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

MARCELLUS. 
A Ketrospectlon— View of the Township--" Ye Oldeu " aud Present 
Tune Contrasted— Early Settlements— Unexecuted Threats of Tah- 
Wah , an Indian— Land Entries— Civil Organization— Post Offices- 
Early Events-Marcellus Village-Village of Wakelee— Keligious- 
Secret Societies— Schools— Civil List— Biographical. 

RETROSPECTION of little more than two. 
score years carries us back to the time of the 
first settlement of what now constitutes the township 

] of Marcellus. Fifty-two years, with their momentous 
events and changing vicissitudes, have passed into the 
silent night of eternity since the first white settler 
made his permanent location within the borders of the 
township. Consequently, in the preparation of a brief 
historical sketch of Marcellus, our labors only require 
a record of events transpiring in and subsequent to 
the year 1836. 

Happily there are a few living yet whose memories 
antedate the time of the settlement of the township 
by several years, and there are a few whose memories 
extend back to the time when not a semblance of the 

] present progress and development existed. Notwith- 
standing the recent settlement of this portion of the 
county, it being the last township organized in Cass 
County, the early settlers had to endure many of the 
trials and privations of those who first erected the 
standard of civilization in these Western wilds. Yet 
blended with the recollections of their troubles and 
adventures are memories of the broad hospitality, the 

I Christian fortitude, the kindness and cheerfulness 
which those who have been reared in the land of plenty 
know nothing of. 

•'Though we charge to-day with fleelness, 
I ' Though we dread to-morrow's sky, 

There's a melancholy sweetness 
In the name of day's gone by." 

' Geographically, Marcellus is located in the extreme 
northeast corner of the county, and its surroundings 
are Porter Township, of Van Buren County, on the 
north ; Flowerfield Township, of St. Joseph County, on 
the east, and the townships of Newberg and Volinia, 

j on the south and west respectively. Its bounderies 
were surveyed by William Brookfield, and its subdivis- 
ions by John MuUett, Deputy Surveyors, as per con- 
tract with William Lytle, Surveyor General of the 
United States. 

The only marks in this region that gave any evi- 
dence that the foot of civilized man had trod the soil 
of this unbroken wilderness previous to the year 
1836 were the blazed trees that denoted an indefinite 
pathway made by the land speculator. The actual 
settler had avoided it because of its dense forests and 
heavv timber, its marshes and malaria, and in its stead 

I had sought out the inviting prairies or the oak open- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ings of the county. The prairie portion of the coun- 
ty was settled first. All that was required to bring it ' 
under subjection was to have a good strong team and 
a plow. The farmer could commence operations here 
with almost the same facility that he could had he 
been in an old settled country. The openings pre- 
sented the appearance of an immense plain. The 
practice of the Indians was to burn the land over 
every fall, which had the effect of keeping not only 
the annual vegetation burned off, but the grubs also. 
After breaking, it was comparatively alight matter to 
bring the land under cultivation. 

But not so with the timbered land. The labor of 
clearing up the primeval forests was immense, the 
timber requiring to be felled, cut up, logged and 
burned — a job much easier said than executed. And 
then the stumps and roots continued to be a perpetual 
annoyance for many years after. These obstacles, 
and the great distance to market, were some of the i 
cogent reasons wliy Marcellus was the last-settled 
township in the county. The possession of large 
tracts by speculators, who refused to dispose of the 
land except at extravagant prices, tended still more to 
retard its settlement and improvement. 

The surface of Marcellus in the northwestern quar- 
ter of the township, is quite broken in many places ; 
especially is this so in the region of Saddle Bag and 
Fish Lakes. To the westward of Fish Lake, the sur- 
face is more regular and the soil fertile. In the 
northwestern quarter, the surface is level, and much 
of it low and marshy. But at the present time there I 
are beautiful farms in this section, even where once 
were marshes. The farmer points with pride to many 
acres which were, when he first came in, covered with ; 
several feet of water a gi-eater portion of the year, 
but now afford abundant pasturage and even produce 
many of the cereals. Ditching, clearing off the for- 
est, and removing the flood-wood from the streams, 
was all that was necessary to make the lowlands the 
best of farms. Right well has this been done. The 
southeastern quarter of the township is gently undu- 
lating, or somewhat hilly. It is well watered by what 
the citizens call Big Creek, but the stream is marked 
Little Rocky River on the map of Cass County. The 
southeastern quarter is, perhaps, the most uneven por- 
tion of the county, but is not bluffy. The hill slopes 
are tillable, and although the surface soil contains a 
large proportion of sand and gravel, there is a suflS- 
cient amount of limestone in it to make it arable. 
The township is dotted over with numerous small 
lakes, some of which abound in fish, and the pisca- 
torian with his rod and bait is a frequent visitor of 
these sequestered spots. The lakes of the northwest 
part of the township give rise to the south branch of 



the Dowagiac River, and those of the south and 
southwest are drained by Little Rocky Creek, which 
flows across the southern portion of the township, in 
an easterly direction, and, on leaving it, it continues 
its course to the east side of Flowerfield Township, in 
St. .Joseph County, under the name of Big Stone 
River, and then it takes a southerly course and emp- 
ties into the St. Joseph River at Three Rivers. Big 
Creek, as it is called, is quite a rapid stream, and it 
and its branches have furnished the power for several' 
mills which have been built upon its banks at different 
times — some of them were erected at an early day, 
and are no longer in operation, while others are of 
more recent construction and are running at this time. 
We will speak of these mills more at length further 
on. As has been intimated above, this township was 
heavily timbered. Many portions of it were covered 
with the more valuable kinds of timber, such as the 
walnut, white wood, large white oak, ash and maple. 
In the lowlands and marshes black ash and swamp 
elm and tamarack abounded. 

The principal lakes are Saddle Bag and Fish, in 
the northwest, Hemlock and Pine Lakes in the north. 
Miller and Cranberry in the southeast, and Goff's and 
Huyck's in the southwest. Pickerel, in the southern 
portion, must not be omitted from the list. It was so 
named on account of the abundance of pickerel which 
inhabited its waters in the early history of the town- 
ship. These lakes were the frequent resort of the 
hunter and trapper, including both the Indian and 
white man, and many a camp-fire was built upon their 
banks by hunters, who had mother earth for a couch 
and the blue canopy of heaven for a covering. 

The attachments that existed between some of the 
early settlers and Indians were very strong, and the 
hardships of the pioneer would, many times, have been 
much greater had not the Indian shared with him his 
scanty supply of corn and venison. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The first entries of land were made in Marcellus, 
October 19, 1835, by Delevan Duncan and Joel Clark, 
in Sections 11 and 12, but neither of them made a 
settlement. The following year, entries were made by 
Joseph Bair, Joel Goff, Josephus Gard, Joseph Haight, 
John Goff, John Beebe, John Huyck and others, and 
of these but one made a settlement at this time. 
According to the record, Joseph Haight entered his 
land July 13, 1886. He, accompanied by his family, 
came from Orleans County, N. Y., in the spring 
of this year, and after spending a short time in look- 
ing up an available location, made choice of 139 acres 
on Section 18. During the summer, he chopped off a 
little spot of ground and built a log cabin. The 





H. v/, blY, 



JVIF(S- LOLiisyv blV, 



. „*«ft" :»s£5j3. 



A 





f^osv/ell F(. BEEBE 



f^FxSM/K^V BEEBE 





G.\//. JO^I ES, 



J. C. BRADT. 





JOHH SyvVAGE. 



v/AF^F(E:/sf O-MATHEW'S. 



I 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



sound of Ills ax was the first to resound throughout 
the dense forest and arouse its denizens in their peace- 
ful possession. The smoke from this cabin was the 
first to curl above the tops of the tall trees, the har- 
binger of civilization. The cabin completed, he, with 
his family, moved into the midst of the forest in the 
autumn of 1836, and here, by indefatigable toil he 
carved out for himself a home. Here he continued 
to live until his death, and his widow, Ann C. Haight, 
whose maiden name was Comstock, still lives here 
with her daughter. 

Mother Haight, as she is familiarly known, often 
recounts the incidents of pioneer life to a circle of 
young listeners. Her graphic descriptions of the ex- 
temporized furniture and fixtures, the cooking utensils, 
th^ domestic manufactures, etc., are intensely interest- 
ing to her young friends, whom she loves to thus 
entertain. Her mind is clear an active, and her eye 
kindles with enthusiasm as she, in her memory, lives 
over the days of her early womanhood, when the little 
spinning wheel, with its flyers and distaff, furnished 
the evening music instead of the piano forte ; and the 
one-posted bedstead, the wooden stool, the sap- trough 
cradle, and the shallow iron dish with a pitcher nose 
on one side, filled with wood-chuck's fat, in which was 
placed a cotton rag for a wick, constituted the lamp. 
These crude fixtures took the place of the elegant 
parlor suits of to-day. If it were not, that in the 
general chapters of this work, log cabins and all that 
appertains thereto had adready been described so 
minutely, we would here reiterate many of her ac- 
counts. Suffice it that we refer the reader to this 
portion of the work for their full description, and 
other subjects not here treated of. 

The next to join the vanguard of pioneers of Mar- 
cellus were Fredrick Gofi" and Joseph Bair, with their 
families. Mr. Goff came from Cayuga County, N. 
Y., and settled on land entered by his brother John, 
on Section 20, in the vicinity of what is now called 
Golf's Lake. The date of his settlement is 1837. 
Fredrick. Goff being a carpenter and joiner by trade, 
and lumber, at this time, being within hauling dis- 
tance, he built, in the outset, a small frame house, 
which was the first frame building in the township. 
In about two years after his settlement he died, and 
his widow, Malinda Goff, whose maiden name was 
Curtis, and her two sons, A. and Silas, continued 
to improve the farm and make for themselves a com- 
fortable home. Ephraim and Eben, sons of John Goff, 
came to the county about 1839, and settled in the 
Goff neighborhood, and John finally came and spent 
his last years here. The representatives of the Gofi" 
family have been very numerous in this township, and 
her citizens are indebted to them for many of the 



early improvements. Nearly all of them are now 
sleeping in the family burial-ground on the west side 
of the lake which bears their name. 

Joseph Bair, with his wife Elizabeth (Rigley) and 
one child, Westell, came from Crawford County, Ohio, 
to Michigan in 1828. They came accompanied by a 
Mr. dinger and family to White Pigeon, St. Josseph 
County. Mr. dinger had, prior to this, visited White 
Pigeon and taken up a large tract of land, and re- 
turned to Ohio for his family. In consideration of 
Mrs. Bair's assisting in the household labors, and Mr. 
Bair, who was a noted hunter, supplying them with 
venison while en route., they were given a " free 
passage" to the " new world." In addition to house- 
hold effects, Mr. Clinger brought some stock, includ- 
ing a span of four-year-old colts, and being a good 
horsewoman, they had not proceeded far on the 
journey before Mrs. Bair broke one of them to ride, 
and rode him most of the way. 

Joseph Bair lived at White Pigeon and Gourdneck 
Prairies till coming to Marcellus Township, in 1837. 
While living on Gourd Neck Prairie Mr. Bair built 
what Mrs. Bair facetiously called her " elm-log 
cabin." He chopped shelves in the side of a very 
large elm log for her dishes. He then drove into the 
ground two crotched poles and placed in each of the 
crotches one end of a pole, the other ends resting on 
the elm log. This constituted the frame work of the 
cabin which was roofed with shakes. It was inclosed 
by setting one tier of shakes on end around two sides 
of it, the front remaining open. No windows or doors 
were needed, and as for floor it had none. In this 
rude structure, more like school children's playhouse, 
than a place to live in, they remained about nine 
months. By the time winter had set in, he had built 
another and better cabin. But this "better" cabin 
was minus a floor. Mrs. Bair was quite proud of her 
dirt floor, and took great pains in pounding it down 
solid with a heavy maul Mr. Bair used for splitting 
wood, and sweeping it with a hickory splint broom 
manufactured by her husband. While living here 
they experienced some hard times, once, for a period 
of six weeks, having no corn or other bread in the 
house, their only food being vegetables and venison. 

She also relates a thrilling adventure with an 
Indian named Tah- Wall. 

One beautiful autumnal day during the Indian sum- 
mer, and there were Indian summers in those days, 
Mr. Bair took his rifle and went into the woods in 
pursuit of game, leaving Mrs. Bair and her children 
alone. About the middle of the day, while she was 
preparing dinner, Tah wah, accompanied by an old 
squaw, came into the cabin unbidden, in a state of 
intoxication. She sat down in the door while he sat, 



394 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



or rather fell, into a chair, and commenced expectorat- 
ing on the cleanly kept floor, and making himself very 
obnoxious. About this time a neighbor called, and 
as Tah-wah commenced taking undue liberties, he was 
told several times to ' marches," but refused to go, 
and she took hold of him and, pointing to the door, 
said repeatedly "Tah-wah marchee," which so incensed 
him that he sprang up, drew his scalping knife from 
his belt and made a desperate eflbrt to inflict a mortal 
wound, but was prevented by the timely interference 
of the neighbor, and they managed together to thrust 
him outside, and he retired muttering vengeance. After 
the family had retired that evening, Tah-wah returned, 
and, pushing one side the blanket which was used as a 
substitute for a door, called out ■' Muchway," this 
being the appellation he had given Mr. Bair. At 
first, no response was given to his repeated interroga- 
tories, when Mr. Bair inquired his business. Thus 
encouraged, he stalked into the room, came close to the 
bed, and demanded that Mr. Bair should severely 
punish his wife for the unceremonious manner in which 
she had treated him during the day, he contending 
that great indignities had been heaped upon him by the 
" white squaw," and that if his request was not com- 
plied with, he would himself whip her within an inch 
of her life. Mr. Bair paid no attention to his threats, 
but sternly commanded him to leave the cabin, or he 
would arise and whip him into subjection. These 
counterthreats appeared ineffective until he essayed 
to arise to put them into execution, when Tah-wah 
slunk away apparently in a great rage. 

Not long subsequent to this event, Mr. Bair returned 
home from work he had been engaged on for several 
days, to find nothing but some potatoes in the house 
to eat. Fortunately, they possessed a little money, 
and Mrs. Bair, in view of his not being well, consented 
to go to a mill some three miles distant and procure 
so/ne meal. While on the way, on turning a point in 
the Indian trail, she beheld in the distance a man ap- 
proaching, and, as he drew near, she suddenlji discov- 
ered that it was Tah-wah with a gun on his shoulder, 
a tomahawk in his hand and scalping knife in his belt. 
She became almost paralyzed with fear, but did not 
dare run for fear he would shoot her, as they were on 
the open prairie. There were several trails threading 
the tall prairie grass, and she essayed to avoid him by 
taking a side trail. Tah-wah discovered her plans, 
crossed over the other trails and approached her 
until they stood face to face, where he stood for a 
moment as motionless and impenetrable as a monu- 
ment, carefully scrutinizing the trembling woman, and 
then extending his hand saying, " bus-you-macon," 
which means " how do you do my friend." He thought 
she had been sufficiently punished, and proposed being 



friends in the future, and she gladly consented to his 
proposition. 

Mr. Bair sold his betterments on Gourd Neck Prai- 
rie, and moved to Marcellus in the spring of 1837, 
having previously entered 80 acres in Section 24, July 
21, 1836. He spent much of his time in hunting 
and trapping, and in this way familiarized himself 
with every locality, and could point out the bound- 
aries of every section in the township. He was 
therefore of very great assistance to those who wished 
to locate land. He was frequently employed by men 
living in other sections of the country to select lands 
and make purchases for them, they never coming to 
see the land. Although Joseph Bair deceased many 
years ago, his widow carried on the farm for a long 
time, and there was no outdoor work she could not 
do. During the war of the rebellion, her sons hav- 
ing all left her, except one who was about fourteen 
years of age, she plowed the ground, fitted it, and 
sowed eight acres of wheat. Of Joseph Bair"s family, 
there were nine children, all of whom are living at 
this time. Westell, John. lantha and Marion are 
living in the township of Marcellus ; Almira is in 
Wisconsin ; Clinton and William in Newberg Town- 
ship ; Anna and Alfrona are in Van Buren County. 
Mrs. Bair is making her home with her son Marion, 
who lives on a part of the old homestead. 

John Huyck with his family moved into Marcellus 
Township in 1837. Their record will be found else- 
where. 

William L. Wolf came to Michigan in 1832 with 
his parents, who settled in Volinia Township, where 
he lived until 1845. October 5, 1844, he entered 80 
acres of land on Section 80, erected a frame house, 
and has made other improvements, and still resides on 
this place. His first wife, Perces (Goff), having de- 
ceased, he married Martha Goff. Of his children, 
Mary A. and Franklin J. are in Nebraska ; Edgar W., 
Florence A., Evine L. and Joseph G. are in Marcel- 
lus, while Henry J., Martha A. and William are de- 
ceased. 

William P. Bennett, who came into the township in 
1852, is now a resident of Cassopolis, and Probate 
Judge of the county. Among other prominent citi- 
zens are George Grifiin, Reuben Booth, Uri Burnham 
and Leander Bridge, who are deceased ; H. H. Poor- 
man, John S. Curtis, A. J. Shannon, Ambrose 
Wiltsie, B. F. Higgins and others came into the 
township twenty and thirty years ago, and but a few 
more years will elapse before they and many others 
will be accorded the position of pioneers in the town- 
ship in its then advanced age. 

The only male representative of those who moved 
into Marcellus Township with a family, and that may 



IIISTORV OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



395 



be included among the first settlers (188<S) now living, 
is G. R. Beebe. Mr. Beebe was born in Penn- 
sylvania, but his parents moved to Ohio when he was 
but a boy. He remained in Huron County, Ohio, 
till he reached manhood's estate, and then came to 
Kalamazoo County, where he was married to Marga- 
ret Hanson. 

Mrs. Beebe's parents settled on Prairie Ronde 
when there were but two other families ; and she re- 
calls the time when her mother divided a peck of 
corn into three equal parts, giving two-thirds to-two 
other families. This corn and a scanty supply of po- 
tatoes were all they had to subsist on, while Mr. Han- 
son went to Ohio after some wheat. In due time he 
returned, bringing a quantity of wheat flour, and the 
family had a feast of white bread, which was a great 
luxury to them. 

Mrs. Beebe, in common with other pioneer women, 
was in mortal fear of the notorious Indian, Shavehead, 
and recalls the time when he came to their cabin in 
Marcellus, sat down on the threshold, and with his 
hatchet commenced hacking the door step in a most 
significant manner. He appeared out of humor and 
complained bitterly of the manner in which he had 
been treated by the whites. In answer to inquiry, he 
was told that Mr. Beebe was in the woods chopping, 
and he listened attentively for a long time, but failed 
to hear the sound of his ax, and no wonder, for he 
was many miles away from home. Although in con- 
stant fear, not knowing what moment he might con- 
clude to put in execution his oft repeated threat, to 
capture one more scalp before his death, she coolly pro- 
ceeded to get the noonday meal, and made preparation 
as if expecting her husband home, and, although they 
possessed a limited supply of provisions, she in com- 
pliance to his demands gave Shavehead nearly all 
they had, and also several trinkets, including a piece 
of a broken mirror that was tacked up against the 
side of the cabin, but still he remained and showed 
not the slightest disposition to depart, and her alarm 
increased so that she did not relinquish hold of her 
two children, but carried them in her arms around the 
room while getting dinner, of which, when ready, she 
invited him to partake, and he, Indian fashion, ate to 
repletion, while she feigned to wait for her husband. 
He tlien proceeded to smoke his pipe, and after what 
seemed an interminable space of time gathered up 
the articles he had become possessed of, and as his 
dark form was seen retreating througii the forest a 
great relief was felt by the household he had so bur- 
dened by his presence. Notwithstanding the frights 
to which they were subject, on account of the Indians, 
they always lived at peace with them, and, although 
frequently camping in large numbers near their corn- 



fields, were never detected in taking an ear of corn 
without permission. 

Of their four children, two are living — David L., 
in Van Buren County, and Gideon, in St. Joseph 
County. 

In 1842, David Snyder, with his family, and his 
father and mother, three sisters 'and a brother-in-law, 
came irom Oswego County. N. Y., via Detroit to 
Michigan. The journey from Detroit was performed 
with a team, and they pressed forward' until Marcel- 
lus was reached, when land was purchased on Section 
22, and to which he was obliged to cut roads^^th rough 
the woods, in this township. He states that the 
greatest obstacle they were obliged to contend with 

j during their first settlement was the ague, with which 

I the whole family at times were prostrated. The very 
air seemed impregnated with this miasmatic disease, 

j which attacked a favorite horse named " Bill," brought 
with them from the East. He appeared to have a 

j genuine case of the ague, for he would shake, have a 
high fever, and then sweat till the water ran in drops 
from his body. This region was peculiarly adapted 
to this disease, and the sufferings of the settlers in 
consequence was intense at times. Mr. Snyder has 
done his full share of pioneer work, and has made his 
impress on the township in many ways. 

Moses P. Blanchard should be included among the 
pioneers of Marcellus. He came from Kalamazoo 
County, and entered two quarter-sections of land, one 

j on Sections 13 and 14. The date of his entries is 
July 22, 1836. He was an old bachelor, and had 
no permanent place of abode, but spent much of his 
time in the township, residing with other settlers, in 
the meantime making improvements on his lands. 
After a few years, two of his brothers, Allen and 
Orvill, moved in from Kalamazoo County, settled on 
his lands and improved them. 

Daniel G. Rouse was an early settler and took an 
active part in the civil affairs of the township at the 
time of its organization. Mr. Rouse circulated the 
petition for the organization of the township, and the 
first election was held at his house. He was the first 
Supervisor, and filled this office at various times after- 
ward. He also assisted in building the first school- 
house in the township, donating the site for the 
same. 

John Savage and his wife, Hannah (Skinner), were 
among the early settlers in this township, for they lo- 
cated here about the year 1842, and of their numer- 
ous family of fifteen children many of them left their 
impress on the physical aspect of the township. The 
progenitor of this family deceased in 1878, at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-one years; his consort is also 
deceased. Of their children, Lewis, Laura A., Henry, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Thankful, Benedict, Elizabeth and Mary B. have 
passed away. Of those living, Harrison is in Kansas, 
Harvey in Minnesota, Harriet M. and Julia in Ore- j 
gon, Amelia J. in Van Buren County, while George, 
Francis and Frank reside in this township. 

Thomas Burney, who now resides in Marcellus 
Village, came to Michigan in 1841. His boyhood 
days were spent upon the banks of the beautiful Sus- 
quehanna. He emigrated from his native State, 
Pennsylvania, to Ohio, Medina County, and thence 
to Newberg Township, Cass County, Mich. The date 
of his settlement in Newberg is 1841 ; thence he re- 
moved to Cassopolis and remained until 1868, when 
he returned to Marcellus, and located where the village 
now stands. At that time, there were only two 
farm houses within the present limits of the village. 
To him belongs the honor of erecting the first busi- 
ness building in the village, in 1868, where he and 
his son, Levi, kept a general stock of goods, and did '^ 
a profitable business for several years. At the time 
of the construction of the Peninsular Railroad, he 
sold a great many goods to the laborers on the same, 
taking orders on the company, which were never paid. 
He thus suffered a heavy loss, from which he never 
recovered. He is to-day, financially speaking, poor, 
but is rich in the kindly regards of his fellow-citizens. 
Levi C. is still in business in the village of Marcellus, 
and Myron F. is a farmer in Newberg Township. 
These two sons and one daughter, Sophronia, are all 
that are living of the six children. The names of 
those that are dead are Philena L., Mianda A. and 
Syrenus E. 

Frederick Patrick came from the State of New 
York, in 1845, purchased a farm on Section 29. He 
first moved in a cooper shop on Section 28, built by 
John Savage, where he continued to live until erect- 
ing a house on his own farm. His first buildings were 
frame, and Mr. Patrick claims that his were the first 
large and substantial frame buildings in the township. 
To Mr. Patrick belongs the honor of being the first 
merchant of Marcellus Township. He opened up a 
general store in the upright of the house in which 
be now lives, and did quite an extensive business for 
a few years. His brother, a merchant in Saratoga, 
N. Y., furnished him with very many goods. Mr. 
Rouse, a few years previous to this, while running an 
ashery, kept a few groceries, which he exchanged for 
ashes, and it is claimed by some that he that was the 
first merchant. The ashery was established about 
1846-47, Patrick's store in 1855-60. Frederick 
Patrick married Nancy Goff, and their issue was 
seven children — Malinda and Francis, who are de- 
ceased ; and Lucy, Elvira, Edgar, Frederick and Je- 
rome, who are living. 



LAND ENTRIES. 
Section 1. 

Joseph Bair, Kalamazoo County, .July 21 and 26, 1886 339 

Timothy Mosier, Kalamazoo County, July 26, 1836 80 

Joel Clark, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 9, 1837 142 

Robert Morris, .St. Joseph. County, Dec. C, 1837 40 

Section 2. 

Greer McElvaine, Kalamazoo County, July 26, 1836 68 

Charles Spears, Van Huren County, Jan. 10, 1837 80 

Jay R. Monroe, Van Buren County, Jan. 10, 1837 80 

David Tomlinson, Schenectady County, N. Y., Jan. 26, 1837.. 160 

Benjamin Bennett, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 23, 1844 40 

Section 3. 

LoreeJ. Rosecrants, Kalamazoo County, March 11,1837 137 

Horace H. Adanis, Van Buren County, March 25, 1869 36 

Section 4. 

Joel Clark, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 9, 1837 68 

Aaron Palmer, Kalamazoo County, March 20, 1837 80 

Henry Wood, Summit County, Ohio, April 10, 1851 80 

Mial 0. Fesaenden, Cass County, Mich., April 15, 1852 40 

James Sullivan, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1853 40 

Benjamin Peachey, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1853 40 

Thomas S. Reeves, Cass County, Mich , Oct. 26, 1853 80 

Section 5. 

Joel G. Goff, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 80 

Theodore H. Drake, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 80 

Joel Clark, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 9, 1837 278 

H. J. H. Edwards, Kalamazoo County, March 31, 1836 2 

Silas C. Briggs, Van Buren County, May 17 and 22, 1852.... 79 

Section 0. 

Luoien Miner, Charlotteville, Va., Dec. 14, 1836 58 

Joel Knapp, Cass County, Mich., April 1, 1837 40 

John Goff, Cayuga County, N. Y., June 8, 1837 140 

Section 7. 

David Sink, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 9, 1837 68 

Richard J. Huyok, Cass County, Mich., July 6, 1844 108 

Harry George, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1853 59 

Section 8. 

Mary E. Northrup, Kalamazoo County, March, 31, 1836 2 

Joel Q. Goff, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 417 

Section 9. 

Elihu Woodtvorth, St. Joseph County, July 25, 1839 40 

Clinton Arnold, St. Joseph County, May 25, 1844 40 

Edward Litlell, Cass County, Mich., July 6, 1862 160 

James Sullivan, Cass County, Mich., June 22, 1853 104 

Section 10. 

Harry Gregory, Kalamazoo County, May 17, 1836 80 

.\lfred Payne, Ontario County, N. Y., Nov. 30, 18.38 40 

Elihu Woodward, St. Joseph County. July 25, 1839 40 

.Samuel Bridge, Cass County, Mich., June 7, 1852 40 

Section 1 1 . 
Delevnu Duncan and Joel Clark, Kalamazoo County, Oct. 19, 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Harry Gregory, Kalamazoo Pounty, May 17, 1836 160 

Timothy Mosier, Kalamazoo County, .July 26, 1836 IhO 

Dayid Tomlinson, Schenectady County, N. Y., Jan. 2(1, 1837. 240 

Section 12. 
Delevan Duncan and .loel Clark, Kalamazoo County, Oct. 19, 
1835 



40 



Zenas Griswold, Genesee County, N. Y., July 13, 
Joseph Bair, Kalamazoo County, July 20, 1836... 
Timothy Mosier, Kalamazoo County, July 26, 183i 
Joel Clark, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 9, 1837 



Moses P. Blanohard, Kalamazoo County, April 22 and 26, 

i«36 leo 

William A. Wilson, Saratoga County, N. Y., July 13, 1836.... 157 

Gurdon R. Beebe, Kalamazoo County, .Ian. 9, 1837 80 

Solomon W. Moyer, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 10, 1837 80 

Ira Bidwell, Lenawee County, April 1, 1837 160 



Section 14. 
Moses 1>. Blanohard, Kalamazoo County, April 22, 183 

Harry Gregory, Kalamazoo County, May 17, 1836 

Harry Gregory, Niagara County, N. Y., July 21, 1886. 



Section 15. 

Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., May 11, 1836 160 

Harry Gregory, Kalamazoo County, May 17, 1836 80 

Moses Stocking. Genesee County, N. Y., .luly 13, 1836 160 

John Covington, Champaign County, Ohio, June 5, 1837 80 

William Conkling, Ontario County, N. Y,, Nov. 30, 1838...:.. 80 



Section 16. 



Section 23. 
Edward T. ,lacohs, Cass County, Mich., April 26, 1836.. . 
Harry Gregory, Kalamazoo County, Mich., May 17, 1836 

Joseph Bibb, Niagara County, N. Y., May 17, 1836 80 

Silas A. Bagg, Oneida County, N. Y., June 6, 1836 160 

Joseph S. Hamlin, Oneida County, N. Y., June 6, 1836 200 

David Smith, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1837 40 

Section 24. 

Joseph Bair, Kalamazoo County, Mich., July 21, 1836 80 

Josiah Brown, St. Joseph County. Jan. 10, 1837 80 

Benjamin Brown, St. Joseph County, Jan 10, 1837 160 

John Brown, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 11, 1837 107 

Section 26. 
Charles Dimmick, Wayne County, Jan. 10, 1837, entire 609 

Section 26. 

Jesse Miller, Ontario County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1836 160 

Sheldon Hawley, Kalamazoo County, Dec. 16, 18-36 200 

Stephen Preston, Calhoun County, Jan. 10, 1836 240 

Jay R. Monroe, Van Buren County, Jan. 10, 1836 40 



Section 27. 
Edward T. Jacobs, Cass County, Mich., April 21, 183( 
Jonathan Wales, Oneida County, N. Y., May 27, 1836 

Walter White, Oneida County, N Y., June 6, 1836 

Charles Dimmick, Wayne County, Jan. 10, 18 '.7 



School Lands 



Section 17. 
Joseph Halght, Orleans County, N. Y., July 13. 1836. 

Christopher Field, Lenawee County, July 13, 1836 

George Wood, Wayne County, N. Y., July 13, 1836 

Joel G. Goff, Ontario County, N. Y., July 21, 1836 

.Joseph Haight. Cass County, Mich., Feb. 27, 1837 



Section 28. 
Jonathan Wales, Oneida County, N. Y., May 27, 
John C. Beebe, Kalamazoo County, Dec. 14, 1836 
Lewis Savage, Kal.amazoo County, Jan. 9, 1837... 



... 320 
... 120 



Janathan Wales, Oneida County, N. Y., May 27, 1836 160 

Joseph Haight, Orleans County, N. Y., July 13, 1836 139 

Henry W. Chapin, Oneida County, N. Y., Dec. 14, 1836 298 

Section 19. 
Jonathan Wales, Oneida (bounty, N. Y., May 27, 1S36 692 

Sei'Tion 2o. 

John Goft, Monroe County, N. Y., July 13, 1836 189 

Silas A. Bagg, Oneida County, N. Y., July 13, 1836 333 



Section 21. 

Josephus Gard, Cass Ci>unty, Mich., April 27, 1H36 

Jonathan Wales, Oneida County, N Y., May 27, 1836... 
Solomon McArthur, Washtenaw County, July 13, 1K36.. 
William Titus, Lenawee County, July 13, 1836 



Section 32. 
ohu A. Jacobs, Mercer County, Ky., April 21. 



Josephus Gard, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1886 

Walter White, Oneida County, May 9, 1836 

.Moses Stocking, Genesee County, N Y., July 13, 1836.. 



llias B. Sherman, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 10, 1837 40 



160 



Section 29. 

John Huyck, Lenawee County, May 3, 1836... 

Lewis Savage, Kalamazoo County, Jan. 9, 1837 160 

Myron CoUamer, Saratoga County, N. Y., Jan. 10 and 17. 

1837 184 

Vincent L. Bradford, Berrien County, Jan. 26, 1837 80 



Se(-ti()N 30. 
Perry Woodworth, Kalamazoo County, April 24, 1837 

Abijah Huyck, Cass County, July 2.5, 1843 

John F. Goff, Cass County, Aug. 28, 1844 

William L. Wolf, Cuss County, Oct 5, 1844 

Susan Christie, Cass f!ounty, June 16, 1848 

Abijah Huyck, Cass County, Feb. 8, 1851 

John F. Goff, Cass County, April 5, 1863 

James Sullivan, Cass County, May 28, 1853 



i-tion 31. 



Kvoretl lloUey, Addison County, N. Y 120 

David l.add, Oneida County, N. Y 288 

George Ladd, Oneida County, N. Y 160 

Section 32. 

John Kilgore, Genesee County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1836 240 

Urias Williams, Saratoga County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1836 80 

William A. Clark, Saratoga County, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1886 160 

Joseph Streeter, Portage County, Ohio, May 3, 1836 120 

James Sullivan, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1858 40 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 33. 

AOBES. 

Charles Dimmick, Wayne County, Dec. 16, 1836, entire 614 

Section 34. 

John Johnson, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 16, 1836 80 

Henry Hersey, Oneida County, N. Y., Jan. 10 and 17, 1837.. 541 

Section oH. 

Asa Hawley, Kalamazoo County, July 27, 1836 160 

Stephen Preston, Calhoun County, Jan. 10, 1837 240 

Adolphus Chapin. St. .Joseph County, Dec. 17, 1836 201 



Section 36. 
Asa Hawley, Kalamazoo County, July 27, 1( 
William V. Wheaton, Kalamazoo County, Ja 

ORGANIZATION. 



In order that the reader, and especially those not 
numbered among the older pioneers, may have a clear 
and intelligent understanding of the organization of 
the township, known on the Government survey as 
Township 5 south, Range 13 west, it will be neces- 
sary for them to peruse the general chapters of the 
history on this subject. 

In 1843, the people of Marcellus, feeling competent 
to manage their own affairs, petitioned the State Legis- 
lature for a separate jurisdiction. 

A petition was framed and circulated by Daniel G. 
Rouse, praying the Legislature to pass an act for the 
organization of the township under the name of Cam- 
bria, but there being another township in _the State 
bearing'this name, at the^suggestion of Judge Little- 
john, of Allegan, who was a member of the State 
Legislature, it was christened Marcellus, by Mr. An- 
derson, who was the petitioners, representative at this 
time. 

The act by which Marcellus was erected reads as 
follows : 

"All that part of the County of Cass designated 
by the United State,s Survey as Township S^south of 
Range 13 west, is hereby set off and organized into a 
separate township, by the name of Marcellus, "and the 
first township meeting shall be held at the house of 
Daniel G.^Rouse, in said township."^ This act was 
approved March 9, 1843, and the first, township meet- 
ing was held at Mr. Rouse's on the 16th day of June, 
1843, at which time the following officers were elect- 
ed : Daniel G. Rouse, Supervisor ;^G. R. Beebe, 
Treasurer, and Ephriam Hyatt, Township Clerk. As 
we have been unable to find the poll list _of this first 
election, the memories of some of the^oldest and most 
reliable citizens who participated in the election will 
have to be taken in lieu thereof. We are indebted 
more especially to Abijah Huyck and William Wolfe 
for the list as here given. There were about seven- 
teen votes cast, viz.: John Huyck, Daniel G. Rouse, 



Abijah Huyck, William Wolfe, Joseph Bair, Cyrus 
Goff, Nathan Udell, Andrew Scott, Gurdon R. Beebe, 
Joseph Haight, Moses Blanchard, Philo McOmber, 
John Savage, E. Hyatt, Alfred Paine and Joseph P. 
Gilson. We cannot vouch positively as to the relia- 
bility of all of these names, but they are probably 
correct. 

The following is a list of the names of those who 
voted at the generarelection[held on the first Monday 
and Tuesday of November, in 1843, as copied from 
the poll list: Cyrus Goff, John Savage, W. L. 
Wolfe, D. G. Rouse, Lewis Thomas, G. R. Beebe, 
Andrew Scott, John C. Beebe, Joseph P. Gilson, 
Nathan Udell, John Huyck, Joseph Haight, Joseph 
Bennett, Joseph Blair, Samuel Cory, E. Hyatt and 
A. Huyck, making seventeen votes in all, thirteen of 
which were cast for John S. Barry and three for 
Zina Pitcher, the candidates for Governor. The 
inspectors of the election were Daniel G Rouse, E. 
Hyatt, G. R. Beebe and Lewis Thomas ; the clerks 
were E. C. Goff and R. Snyder. It is distinctly re- 
membered by the old settlers that when this country 
was sparsely settled, two days were allowed for elec- 
tion, and months passed before the official returns 
were received. 

P0,ST^FF1CES. 

For a long time Marcellus was destitute of a post 
office, its citizens depending 'on outside offices, which 
were not so far distant but what they could be reached 
in a half day's ride, at the longest, and it was cus- 
tomary for the one going to the post office to bring 
the mail for the entire neighborhood. 

Thus time passed on until about the year 1857, 
when the first arrangements were made for a post 
office in this township. The first post office was es- 
tablished in the house of Harrison Dykeman.on Sec- 
tion 14, who contracted to carry the mail to and from 
his house to Lawton, " at'leastonce a week, " for what 
he could make out of the office. His revenue from 
this source sometimes ran as high as ;18 cents per 
week, but was frequently less ; any of the neighbors 
who had__business at Lawton acted in the capacity of 
mail carriers forthattrip, thereby lessening the labors 
of the postmaster. The first regular' mail route 
through Marcellus was established in 1860. and ex- 
tended from Decatur to Three Rivers. The post 
office was located ^on_^ Section 16, at the house of 
Horace Nottingham ; Mr. Nottingham was the post- 
master for some time ; his successor was Moses E. 
Messenger, who also kept the office at his house. The 
other postmasters, in the order_ of their succession, 
are L. C. Burney, Sophrony Burney (son and daughter 
of Thomas Burney), he, Thomas, having erected a 
building and opened up a store where the village of 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



399 



Marcellus now stands ; the office at this time was 
kept in Burney's store, by Richard Shaffer; B. F. 
Hughes succeeded them, and he was succeeded by 
W. 0. Mathews, who is the present postmaster. When 
the railroad was completed through Marcellus, the 
original mail route was taken up and established from 
Decatur to Cassopolis, and thence to Marcellus and 
Three Rivers. 

KARLY EVENTS. 

John Huyck, assisted by his son Abijah, set out the 
first orchard in 1837. The first marriage was that 
of William Wolf to P. Goff in 1840. William 
Bair, son of Joseph Bair, was the first white child 
born in the township. The death of Frederick Goff 
was probably the first. The road running east and 
west through the township was the first one laid out. 
The first saw mill, known as the Bair Mill, was built 
about 1844 on Section 24. 

MARCELLUS VILLAGE. 

In 1868, George W. Jones purchased 211 acres of 
land on which Marcellus is now located for ^1,300, 
which was then considered an extravagant price. 
Being impressed with the belief, that, from its geo- 
graphical location in the center of the township, 
on the line of the railroad, and several miles distant 
from any village, it would be an available site for a 
village, he commenced at once to lay out a plat of 
one, and April 9, 1870, a plat was completed by 
George W. Jones, Leander Bridge, M. Snyder and 
George R. Roach, and recorded April 23, of this 
year. 

During the year 1869, a few small business houses 
were erected. Thomas Burney was the first mer- 
chant, John Manning kept the first grocery, Daniel 
Morrison started the first blacksmith shop, and G. 
Doolittle the first wagon shop ; Herman Chapman 
kept the first hardware store, and Lewis Arnold, who 
still conducts a hotel, opened up the first one in the 
place. 

In 1879, through the influence of Nathan Osborn 
and others, the village was incorporated. 

David Snyder was the first village President elected, 
and he still retains the position. Leander Bridge, 
Kenyon Bly, Warren 0. Matthews, Byron Beebe, 
Roswell R. Beebe and Alexander Taylor were 
elected Trustees; 1880, A. Taylor, F. S. Sweetland 
and John Bair, and in 1881, A. Taylor, L. C. Bur- 
ney, Solomon Sterns and W. 0. Mathews. Clerk, 
1879-80-81, L. (Buggert) Des Voignes. Treasurer, 
1879-80-81, Dr. E. C. Davis. Assessor, 1879-80- 
81, W. R. Snyder. 

The village has a population of 635, and contains 
three churches, a fine new brick schoolhouse (illustra- 



tion elsewhere), one stave factory, one planing mill, 
two carriage and wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, 
two watchmakers, one steam saw-mill, four dry goods 
stores, three drug and two furniture stores, three gro- 
ceries, one bakery, two boot and shoe stores, one news 
depot, one jewelry and two hardware stores, three 
harness shops, three millinery establishments, three 
hotels, two barber shops, two meat markets, one liv-- 
ery stable, two saloons, one Alden fruit drier. The 
professions are represented by two attorneys and four 
physicians. It also contains a private bank estab- 
lished by George W. Jones some four years since, 
whose son, C. S. Jones, is cashier. During the last 
"wheat" year, 180,000 bushels of wheat have been 
purchased at this place, and it now contains two 
elevators, one operated by steam, with a total capacity 
of 25,000 bushels, which facilitates the handling of this 
product. It also contains one weekly paper, the 
Marcellus News. 

Marcellus is a flourishing, go-ahead place, and its 
inhabitants profess great faith in its future. 

The Marcellus Agricultural Society's grounds lie 
close to this village, and sixteen acres were inclosed 
for the purposes of the society in 1878. This was 
started as a private enterprise, and has thus far 
measurably succeded. 

MARCELLUS UNION SCHOOL. 

In 1873, School District No. 9, which comprises 
the present district of Marcellus Village, was organ- 
ized, previous to which time the Bly Schoolhouse was 
used by this district. At the first annual school 
meeting, David Snyder was elected Director, Nathan 
Osborn, Moderator, and George Roach. Assessor. 
In confirmity to a resolution passed that they 
erect a brick schoolhouse, George W. Jones, Leander 
Bridge and David Hain, were appointed a Building 
Committee, and in due course of time, a one story 
brick building, 24x36, was erected at an expense of 
$1,000. In 1876, to accommodate the increased 
number of scholars, a second story was added to this 
building, at an expense of $844, and two teachers 
employed, Mr. Lowy being the Principal and Mrs. 
Frank Beck the Assistant. Two years later, the 
scholars had still further increase in numbers, so that 
Schaffer's Hall was engaged and a third teacher, Mr. 
E. M. Kechum employed. Centennial Hall di<i 
duty as a school-room the succeeding year. In 1880, 
Marcellus began to assume considerable importance, 
having long since outgrown the confines of a common 
district school, and accordingly, in the fall of this 
year, the District Board resolved to erect a school 
building to correspond with the requirements made 
for such an edifice, and George W. Jones, David 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Snyder, John Manning, Alec Taylor, Manning Tay- 
lor and Dr. A. Carbine were appointed a Building 
Committee, and as a result of their labors can now be 
seen, located on the south side of the village, a very 
fine two story brick school building, surrounded with 
three acres of land, purchased for school purposes, 
which contains a beautiful grove of native growth. 
It was completed in the fall of 1881, at an expense 
of ^8,000, and reflects great credit upon the enter- 
prise and public spirit of the citizens of this place 
who have anticipated the future. The building is 
36x66, with an addition of a tower 6x24. It con- 
tains four recitation-rooms; seats 350 scholars, and 
contains the modern appliances for school teaching. 

The school has been divided into three departments, 
including the Grammer school. Intermediate and 
Primary, and the course of study embraces nine 
grades. 

On another page will be found a fine illustration of 
the present school edifice. 

WAKKLEE. 

This village is situated on the corner of the four 
townships of Marcellus, Volinia, Newberg and Penn, 
and was laid out in 1871 by Levi Garwood. In 
1873, additions were made by George W. Jones and 
Orson Rudd. It now contains a population of 150, 
and has one general store, one hotel, one blacksmith 
shop and one steam saw-mill. It is situated on the 
Grand Trunk Railroad, and a large amount of lumber 
and wood is shipped from this point. B. F. Higgin.s 
is the principal business man of this village. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL THURCH. 

In 1838, at the house of Joseph Bair, Rev. D. 
Thorp held the first religious services conducted by a 
Methodist clergyman in Marcellus Township. Miss 
Corey, now Mrs. Wood, of Silver Creek, walked five 
miles to act as chorister on this occasion. The first 
Methodist class was organized in 1842, with Mr. — 
Tappin as leader. Isaiah and Sarah Lutes, father 
and mother of William Lutes, now of Marcellus, 
were among the first members. Soon after this a 
protracted meeting was held one mile east of Ely's 
Corners, by Rev. D. Thorp and Milo Corey, and fif- 
teen persons were organized into a class. About the 
same time. Rev. D. Thorp preached in the northeast 
part of the township at the residence of Mr. Udell. 
The following year, religious services were held at the 
log schoolhouse in the Patrick neighborhood, and a 
class of seven members established. But in 1844, 
Rev. D. Thorp's license to preach was not renewed, 
though his character passed and his usefulness was 
unquestioned. This action left these places without | 



a pastor, and these classes soon went down. This 
field was almost forsaken by the Methodists until 1862, 
when Rev. H. Hulbert was sent to Flatbush Circuit. 
Commenced religious services and established a class 
at Bly's Schoolhouse. Rev. J. J. Ubrich, Rev. H. 
Hulbert, Rev. J. H. Pitzel and W. C. Williams also 
preached on this charge. But very little was accom- 
plished for Methodism in Marcellus until 1874, when 
Rev. John Byrnes, a local preacher of Pokagon, was 
sent here by Rev. J. W. Robinson, Presiding Elder. 
By his indefatigable labors, a beautiful brick church, 
which is to-day an ornament to the village of Mar- 
cellus, was built and dedicated, entirely free from 
debt. Rev. John Byrnes was followed by Rev. M. 
Edee, and he was succeeded by Rev. I. Wilson, who 
remained two years and accomplished a grand work. 
Under his pastorate the church and Sabbath school 
were firmly established. Rev. I. Wilson was followed 
by Rev. J. N. Dayton,. and he in turn by Rev. L. S. 
Mathews, each remaining one year. Rev. I. Wilson 
was followed by Rev. P. J. Hankinson, who remained 
one year. His report for the conference year ending 
September, 1881, was as follows : Number of mem- 
bers, 103 ; value of church property, $8,300. This 
includes the parsonage. The present pastor is G. C. 
Elliott, by whom most of the above account was fu r- 
nished. The church sustains a flourishing Sabbath 
school. 

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. 

A United Brethren class was organized in Marcel- 
lus Township, at the BIy Schoolhouse, by Rev. Mr. 
Forbes, about 1853. The first meetings of this society 
were held at different places, more especially in 
schoolhouses. Regular meetings were not at all 
times sustained. As time passed on the society 
became stronger and preaching became more regular, 
until in the fall of 1876, a United Brethren Church 
was erected in the village of Marcellus. Revs. 
Henry Snapp, S. Chapman and Reams are among 
the number whose labors have been most efficient in 
building up the church. George Huber was the first 
leader, Leander Bridge acting in this capacity for a 
number of years. The present leader is Marion Bair. 
The society has sustained a Sabbath school nearly all 
the time since its organization. There are at this 
time about thirty members in good standing. 

EVANGELICAL CHURCH. 

The Evangelical Church of Marcellus Township 
was organized by Rev. C. S. Brown. March 25, 1868. 
At the time of its organization twenty-two members 
were received into full membership. Meetings were 
held in different places until December 29, 1872, 
when a church building was completed and dedicated 



, 













%^? 



— 2m^ 






V 5, 



.:#- 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHICxAN. 



in the village of Marcellus. The ministers who have 
labored in this charge are here given in the order of 
their succession, which is as follows : Revs. E. B. 
Miller and T. N. Davis, who continued until April 1, 
1870 ; Revs. Davis and West, until April 1, 1871 ; 
Revs. S. Copley and Loos, until April 1, 1872; Rev. 
S. Copley, continued till August, 1872, in which time 
the society commenced building the church ; Rev. S. 
Copley resigned and Rev. A. Russell took his place 
and remained till April 1, 1873; Revs. E. B. Miller i 
and J. W. Loos, until April 1, 1874; Rev. Keeler, 
until April 1, 1875; Rev. Young, until April 1, 
1877 ; Rev. Regal, until 1878 ; Rev. J. Frye, until 
. 1879; Rev. J. Paulin, until April 1. 1880 ; Rev. G. 
H. Hetter, until April 1, 1881, and was succeeded 
by Rev. A. Russell, who is the present minister. 

Joseph Krise was the leader for a number of years : 
the present leader is Simeon J. Brown. 

MASONIC LODGE. 

Marcellus Lodge, No. 291, A., F. & A. M., was 
organized November 4, 1870, under a dispensation 
granted by Grand Master A. F. Metcalf, who author- 
ized and appointed John M. Hoisington W. M., L. 
W. Schall, S. W., and Harvey C. Lambert, J. W. 
At the organization meeting, the following additional 
officers were elected : 

C. 0. Vose, Secretary; W. 0. Mathews, Treasurer; 
Peter Schall, S. D.; F. A. Taylor, J. D.; and N. J. 
Huber, T'iler. 

The number of members at the present time is | 
sixty-nine. Regular meetings Saturday evenings on 
or before the full of the moon. The fraternity own a 
pleasant and commodious lodge room in the brick 
block on the corner of Main and Center streets. The i 
room is handsomely furnished and the lodge is in a 
flourishing condition. 

ODD KKLLOWS L(iD(iE. 

The hall of the Iron Hand Lodge, No. 223, I. 0. 
(>. F., was burned December 27, 1877. The records, 
regalia, furniture and other effects were all consumed 
by the flames, hence we have been unable to get a full 
report of its organization and history. 

The names of the principal officers who were first 
1 elected wore given by a member of the order accord- 
ing to his recollection, and are as follows : 0. H. s 
Fisher, N. G.; J. N. Sherman, V. G.; T. J. Van- ' 
sickel, R. S.; W. W. Van Aiken, P. S.; and John 
Manning, Treasurer. The lodge was young and weak 
at the time of the fire and illy prepared to withstand 
such a loss as befell it ; but it has fully recovered and 
is at tliis time in a prosperous condition. , 



SCHOOL HISTORY. 

Improvements of every kind went hand-in-hand, 
and every eff"ort was made from the outset by the peo- 
ple to advance all their interests. Schools were not 
forgotten, although for several years it was impossible 
to maintain schools that would accommodate the chil- 
of the diff'erent parts of the township, so sparsely was 
it settled. District No. 1 was what was known as the 
Bair District, the schoolhouse was located on Section 
24. It was a small log house with stick chimney and 
open fire-place. District No. 2 was known as the 
Rouse District, the house is located on Section 21, 
about a fourth of a mile north of the Patrick School- 
house. This is where the first school was taught in 
the township. Both of these schoolhouses were pro- 
bably built the same year, about 1840. The first ped- 
agogues were Delia Huyck, Joel Lutes, Rosetta Huyck, 
Martha Goff. Deborah Snyder, Harriet Lutes, Hen- 
rietta Corey, Sarah Ann Swift. 

Schools were taught in each of those districts be- 
fore their organization, but we have been unable to find 
any reports concerning them until after this time. 

At the present time the township has nine school 
districts, in all of which are school buildings, many 
of which are new. Districts No. 8 and 9 have brick 
buildings, and the rest are frame structures. There 
are 564 children between the ages of five and twenty 
years ; number of volumes in the library^ 70 ; value 
of. school property, $9,150 ; amount of money paid 
to male teachers, $'.t77 ; to female teachers, $715.70 ; 
seating capacity of school rooms, 651. 

The above is an abstract of school reports for 
1881. 

CIVIL LIST. 

The following are the principal township officers 
that have been elected since the organization of the 
township down to the present time, as taken from the 
election returns : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Daniel G. Rouse, 1843; Daniel G. Rouse. 1844 ; 
E. C. Goff", 1845; E. C Gofi", 1846; Joseph Haight, 
1847; Daniel G. Rouse, 1848; Daniel G. Rouse, 
1849; Daniel G. Rouse, 1850; Henry McQuigg, 
1851; Henry McQuigg, 1852; Henry Mc(,>iiigg, 
1853; Henry W. Bly, 1854 ; William P. Bennett, 
1855; William P. Bennett, 1856; H. Dykeman, 
1857 ; William P. Bennett, 1858 ; M. E. Messenger, 
1859; William P. Bennett, 1860 ; William P. Ben- 
nett, 1861; William P. Bennett, 1862; William P. 
Bennett, 18G3 ; William P. Bennett, 1861; John C. 
Bradt, 1865; John C. Bradt, 1866; William P. Ben- 
nett, 1867 : William P. Bennett, 1868; John C. 
Bradt, 1869; John C. Bradt, 1870; John C. Bradt, 



■402 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1871; Thomas McKee, 1872; John 0. Bradt, 1873; 

A. F. Caul, 1874 ; A. F. Caul, 1875 ; A. F. Caul, 
1876; A. F. Caul, 1877; A. F. Caul, 1878; A. F. 
Caul, 1879; A. F. Caul, 1880; A. F. Caul, 1881. 

TREASURERS. 

G. R. Beebe, 1843; Joseph Bair, 1844; Joseph 
Bair, 1845 ; J. B. Lutes, 1846 ; Joseph Bair, 1847 ; 
Joseph Bair, 1848; .Joseph Bair, 1849; E. Corn- 
stock, 1850; E. Comstock, 1851; Mathew Gibson, 
1852; Thadeus Oaks, 1853; Leander Bridge, 1854 ; 
Fredrick Patrick, 1855; Fredrick Patrick, 1856; 
Fredrick Patrick, 1857 ; R. R. Beebe, 1858 ; D. T. 
Baldwin, 1859; D. T. Baldwin, 1860; John Man- 
ning, 1861; John Manning, 1862; W. 0. Matthews, 
1863; J. M. Housington, 1864; W. 0. Matthews, 
1865 ; John Manning, 1866 ; John Manning, 1867 ; 
John Manning, 1868 ; John Manning, 1869 ; John 
Manning, 1870; John Manning, 1871; John Man- 
ning, 1872 ; John Manning, 1873; John Manning, 
1874; John Manning, 1875; Warren 0. Matthew,s, 
1876; Warren 0. Matthews, 1877; J. A. Jones, 
1878 ; C. S. Jones, 1879 ; N. W. Bucklin, 1880 ; 
John Manning, 1881. 

CLERKS. 

Ephraim Hyatt. 1843; Ephraim Hyatt, 1844 ; 0. 
C. Lumbard, 1845; 0. C. Lumbard, 1846; William 
L. Wolfe, 1847 ; Henry jMcQuigg, 1848 ; Henry Mc- 
Quigg, 1849; Henry McQuigg, 1850; 0. Blanchard, 
1851 ; 0. Blanchard, 1852 ; J. B. Lutes, 1853 ; J. 

B. Lutes, 1854; William L. Wolfe, 1855; J. B. 
Lutes, 1856; J. M. Lutes, 18.57; W. 0. Matthews, 
1858; W. 0. Matthews, 1859; H. Dykeman, 1860; 
J. B. Lutes, 1861; H. J. Ohls, 1862; C. 0. Vose, 
1863; C. 0. Vose, 1864; C. 0. Vose, 1865; 
Gideon Beebe, 1866 ; C. 0. Vose, 1867 ; H. J. Ohls, 
1868: H. J. Ohls, 1869; H. J. Ohls, 1870; H. J. 
Ohls, 1871; G. M. D. Clemment, 1872; H. J. Ohls, 
1873; H. J. Ohls, 1874; S. D. Perry, 1875; S. D. 
Perry, 1876; H. C. Lambert, 1877 ;"l. J. Hoising- 
ton, 1878; L. J. Hoisington, 1879; A. M. Moon, 
1880; H. 0. Lambert, 1881. 



BIOGRAPIIKJAL SKETCHES. 

(5E0UGK W. JONES. 

Some men adapt themselves to circumstances and 

others boldly push forward and make their own, and 

of this latter class is George W. Jones, who was born 

in Preble County, Ohio, April 3, 1824, and is the son 



of Henry and Hannah Jones. He came with his 
parents to Cass County in the fall of 1830, and settled 
on Young's Prairie, where he grew to manhood estate 
with little to note other than what befalls the usual 
lot of pioneer farmers' sons. In the spring of 1849, 
the golden fields of California attracted him thither- 
ward, and he turned his attention to mining. In 
about two years, learning that unless extraordinary 
efforts were put forth, his father's valuable estate of 
900 acres would be lost, he returned home with a 
firm determination to do his share towai-d saving it. 
Six weeks after his return, his father died, leaving on 
his shoulders the weight of the business, he being ap- 
pointed administi-ator. Good financiers said the estate 
could never pay its debts, but nothing daunted, he 
set himself to work, and with the assistance of two 
younger brothers, F. H. and J. G. Jones, after a term 
of eleven years, by good financiering, economy and 
labor, was enabled to divide $22,000 among the eleven 
heirs. Having bought out some of the other heirs, 
he erected on the farm the present fine residence of 
his brother, Jesse G., to whom he disposed of the 
property. 

Two years subsequent to this he, in company with 
Orson Rudd, purchased 207 acres, on which is now 
located the village of Wakelee, and now owns three- 
fourths of the original purchase. 

It was at this time that his wisdom and foresight 
was brought into requisition, for following the line of 
the railroad with a prophetic eye, he concluded that, 
for its location, the place where Marcellus now stands 
was an eligible site for a village, he accordingly pur- 
chased 211 acres, at what was then considered an 
extravagant price, $13,000, and in 1868 commenced 
to lay out a village, and with what success the reader 
can learn by perusing the history of Marcellus Village. 

About four years since, becoming impressed with 
the fact that his protege, the village of Marcellus, 
needed a bank, he, without any knowledge of the 
intricacies of the business, immediately opened up one 
with his son, C. S. Jones, as cashier, and he has been 
successful beyond his most sanguine expectations. In 
fact, success seems to crown his every effort, for, in addi- 
tion to industry and perseverance, he is possessed of fine 
business and executive ability. Mr. Jones mentions 
among his friends and advisors W. G. Beckwith, Judge 
A. J. Smith and others, but more especially Asa 
Kingsbury. December 28, 1853, he married Emma 
B., daughter of E. B. Sherman, of Cassopolis, who 
deceased November 20, 1870, and by whom he had 
two sons — Frank S. and Carroll S. March 15, 1876. 
he was united in marriage with Lizzie Osborn, and 
they have been blessed with two children — Henry B., 
Vera Mary. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ABI.TAH IHYCK. 

John Huyck was born in the State of New York 
September 27, 1783, and deceased in Marcellus Sep- 
tember 15, 1881. He emigrated to Ohio, and from 
thence to Lanavee County, Mich., in 1826, and ten 
years later came to Nicholsville, Cass County, where 
he labored for about three years in running a mill 
erected by Alexander Copley. May 3, 1836, he entered 
160 acres of land in Marcellus Township, to which 
there was no road, and he and his sons, who com- 
menced almost immediately to improve it, followed an 
Indian trail to their new home, where a rude log 
house was erected, a small spot of land cleared, and 
one hundred apple-trees set out, Mr. Huyck believ- 
ing in the early introduction of fruit trees. The 
township at this time had only three other resident 
families. Mr. Huyck and his wife, Mary Christie, 
who was born August 11, 1792, and deceased May 
27, 1851, were the parents of ten children, eight of 
whom accompanied them to this section of the coun- 
try. Their names are as follows : Richard J., who 
resides in Volinia ; Catherine A., in Iowa ; Eveline and | 
Delia, in Manistee ; Norman, in Missouri ; William F. 
and Rosetta, who are deceased ; Edward, George 0. 
and Abijah, the subject of this sketch, who was born 
in Delaware County, N. Y., October 18, 1818. Abi- 
jah, who was the eldest son at home, worked for his 
father until twenty-six years of age, as the family 
was large, and his services needed, which mark of 
filial duty is characteristic of the man. Two years 
later, when in his twenty-eighth year, and f200 in 
debt, he borrowed $25 and entered forty acres of land, 
and commenced the laborious task of clearing it up, 
and he can date his success in life from this starting- 
point. Although of slight physique, he was endowed 
by nature with unusual vitality, and has labored not 
only hard, but incessantly. W-li^iiot working on the 
fiirm, through the long winter days, for twenty -five 
years he engaged in coopering, and no matter what ^ 
pleasure or recreation he indulged in, the time spent 
was always earned in advance in the cooper shop by 
overwork, it being one of his principles to waste no 
time. 

In 1862, he erected a saw-mill on the Big Creek in 
Section 29, and gave considerable attention to the 
lumber business for a number of years. Notwith- 
standing his other enterprises, he paid much attention 
to agriculture, and the small farm of forty acres in 
creased year by year until at one time he possessed 
487 acres of land, and at the present time has one of 
the best farms in the township, and a commodious farm 
liouse with suitable barns. A view of his residence 
will be found on another page. Mr. Huyck, who is 



the oldest pioneer now living in his township, enjoys 
the reputation of being a thorough business man, and 
among the best and most liberal farmers in the coun- 
ty. He has always taken a deep interest in educa- 
tional affairs of his township, and donated liberally to 
the building of the first schoolhouse. Mr. Huyck is 
a great lover of the manly sport of hunting, and in 
his early youth and manhood had ample opportunity 
to indulge in this sport, the woods being filled with 
game, and for fifteen years, from the first of October 
up to the holidays, he killed no less than seventy-five 
and as high as a hundred deer. He was accounted 
the best shot in the county, and his presence at a 
shooting match, once a great source of amusement 
among the people, was the signal for the death of nu- 
merous turkeys, he shooting from forty to 100 rods 
without rest. As a consequence, his ritle vvas always 
in demand, and in fifteen years he sold fourteen rifles 
to anxious purchasers. 

He was united in marriage December 5, 1847, to 
Sila Christie, and is the father of seven children, as 
follows : Mary S., John E., Arthur W., Alice A., 
Herbert A., Ernest W. and Mabel. 

WARREN O. MATTHEWS. 
Warren 0. Matthews was born in Penfield Town- 
ship, Monroe County, N. Y., May 7, 1822, and 
is the son of Jabez and Elenor (Finley). His father 
died when he was but eight years of age, and his 
mother soon thereafter opened a boarding house to ob- 
tain money with which to support her family of three 
children, to whom she was devoted. She, having 
married again in 1832, came to the State of Ohio, 
Huron County, Township of Milan, and Warren 0. 
accompanied her and his step-father to Michigan in 
1837, and they settle'! in Porter Township, Van 
Buren County, and here it was at sixteen years of age 
that he completed his education in a log schoolhouse. 
His education up to this time had been confined to 
what he could learn during the winter months, for, 
owing to the straitened circumstances of the family, 
he was obliged to work on a farm during the summer. 
Being of a naturally robust constitution, his early 
labors eminently fitted him for his new home in the 
Western woods, where hard labor was necessary even 
to an existence. The wages at this time were only 50 
cents per day, and being ambitious and unusually 
skillful with an ax, he soon commenced the laborious 
but more remunerative task of clearing land by the 
job, and was so successful that before attaining his 
majority he purchased forty acres, which was in turn 
cleared and disposed of to advantage. Eighty acres 
of wild land was next purchased and cleared up for a 
home,. and no one knows better than Mr. M:itthcws 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the labor incident to this undertaking. In 1855, he 
purchased 120 acres in Section 1, Marcellus Town- 
ship, which he still retains, although a resident of the 
village. Naturally very public spirited, when the 
project of the Peninsular, now Grand Trunk, Railroad 
was proposed, its managers found in him a stanch 
supporter and hearty worker. He never ceased his 
labors until the road was a de facto, and then was 
appointed the first Station Agent, and subsequently 
the first Express Agent in this place, and is now 
filling the responsible position of Postmaster. As a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, he has been Treas- 
urer of Marcellus Lodge, No. 292, since its organiza- 
tion, and one of the board since Marcellus been in- 
corporated as a village. Plain and unpretentious in 
style and manner, Mr. Matthews can be relied upon 
at all times, and has always filled with honor to him- 
self and constituents the different positions to which 
he has been elevated. July 4, 1844, he married 
Emily Wood, by whom he had four children — 
Lyman, William, Selenda and Eliza. Her death oc- 
curred January 3, 1864, and November 1, 1864, he 
was united in marriage to Sarah E. Tisdale, and two 
children have blessed their union — Wallace 0. and 
Stella B. 

.TOHX C. BRADT. 

Cornelius J. Bradt and his wife, Margaret ( Veeder),- 
were both born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenec- 
tady County, N. Y., and moved to the town of Cas- 
tile, Wyoming County, of that State, where their son, 
John C. Bradt, the subject of this sketch, was born 
October 23, 1824. Although both his parents were 
born in this country, the Bradt family can trace their 
ancestry back to Holland. Mrs. Margaret Bradt 
deceased in 1871, while her husband, Cornelius J., 
departed this life March 3, 1882, at the advanced age 
of eighty-six years. 

J. C. Bradt's opportunity for acquiring an educa- 
tion was limited to district schools during the winter 
months. After attaining the age of eleven years, ex- 
cept thirty-eight months, which time was consumed 
in attending a select school at Perry, Nunda Literary 
Institute and the Seminary at Lima ; but being of a 
studious nature, every opportunity for self-culture has 
been seized with avidity, and they were very consider- 
able during the next fourteen years, in which he was 
engaged in school teaching during the winter season, 
so that he is now in possession of an extensive fund 
of information. 

He next turned his attention to merchandising, but 
one year as a clerk demonstrated the fact that it was 
not congenial employment, and having gathered to- 
gether his worldly possessions, amounting to ^800, he 
in 1856 came to Michigan, and purchased his present 



farm in Marcellus, when in a state of nature, and 
since then has devoted most of his attention to farm- 
ing, and has been very successful in his chosen occu- 
pation, his property being the result of his own indus- 
try. He is a man of keen perception, quick appre- 
hension and sterling worth, and these qualities have 
been fittingly acknowledged by the people of the 
township, who have elected him to the oflSces of Path- 
master, School Inspector and Supervisor, and by 
the people of the county, who elected him to fill the 
office of County Surveyor. Mr. Bradt did not suc- 
cumb to the fascinating wiles of the fair sex until he 
had attained the age of forty years, when he, on August 
17, 1865, met his fate in the person of Miss Elmina 
Blakeslee, who was born in Perry, Wyoming County, 
in 1834. 

They have been blessed with one child, Charles J., 
and are now together enjoying the confidence and 
esteem of the community in which they reside. Mr. 
Bradt's religious affiliations are with the Baptist de- 
nomination. 

.JOHN SAVAGE. 

The progenitor of the Savage family, in this coun- 
try, was an officer in the army of Gen. Wolfe, who 
came to America about 1758. He took part in the 
battle of Quebec, and shortly after that event emi- 
grated to Massachusetts, settling near Salem, where 
Daniel Savage, the father of John, the immediate 
subject of this memoir, was born. But little is known 
of his history further than that he was a typical 
pioneer, hale, hearty and resolute even in his old age. 
He was married, in Salem, to a Miss Parish, and it 
was here that our subject was born, June 1, 1788. 
About 1800, the family separated, a portion of them 
removing to Virginia, while the remainder emigrated 
to the State of New York, the family of Daniel set- 
tling in Washington County, where they remained 
until about 1808, when they removed to Camillus, 
Onondaga County, which, at this time, was on the ex- 
treme frontier. John was at this time in the prime 
of his early manhood, and well fitted for the arduous 
duties incident to the settlement of such a forbidding 
country, and well prepared to undergo the severe 
privations and hardships of pioneer life, in a region 
so far removed from civilization. Some idea can be 
formed of their suff"erings from the fact that during 
the first year of their residence there, over fifty heads 
of families died. During the war of 1812, when an 
invasion by the British was threatened, he, with 
others, hastened to Sackett's Harbor and Oswego, to 
defend the frontier. In July of 1812, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Laura Patch, by whom he had two sons 
— Harrison H. and Lewis. Shortly after the birth of 
the second son, Mrs. Savage died, and in 1821 he 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



was again married to Miss Hannah Skinner, who was 
born in Vermont in November of 1803. She was a 
lady of remarkable beauty, and possessed of many 
ennobling traits of character. Mr. Savage resided in 
Onondaga several years after his last marriage, and 
was engaged in farming and at his trade — that of a 
cooper. From Onondaga he removed to Wayne 
County, N. Y., and from thence to Ohio, where 
he remained until 1840, when he emigrated with 
his family to Cass County. He purchased a 
farm on Section 28, in the township of Marcel- 
lus, where he was also a pioneer, the first settle- 
ments having been made only some three or four 
years previous. After a residence of sixteen years, 
during which time he became closely identified with 
all the varied interests of the township, he removed to 
Cassopolis, but village life was not congenial, and he 
yearned for the associations of farm life, and the 
society of his children and neighbors, and he returned 
to Marcellus, where he died at the home of his son- 
in-law, Christopher Patrick, in November of 1878, 
•'full of days and honor." His wife died in Janu- 
ary of 1881. Mr. Savage was a pioneer in the fullest 
and strictest sense of the term. Born in a new 
country, and being so well qualified, both mentally 
and physically, for pioneer life, he became one of that 
band of adventurous characters who preceded civiliza- 
tion in its westward march. He was a man of great 
natural ability. His youth and early manhood were 
passed far beyond the limits of educational opportuni- 
ties, but this deficiency was more than made up in after 
years, by extended reading and close observation, aided 
by the possession of an extraordinary memory. He was 
well versed in history, both civil and political, and it 
is said that he was able to give from memory, with 
remarkable accuracy, all of the important events in 
America's history. He was possessed of a large fund 
of general information, and in many things was re- 
garded as an oracle. His physical, moral and intel- 
lectual powers were harmoniously blended, and he 
retained them in full perfection to the last. He was 
a man of noble impulses, and with that innate sense of 
right that made his name a synonym for integrity and 
generosity. His social qualities were marked, and, 
perhaps, no one stood higher in public esteem than 
he. 

As before stated, he was twice married, first, to Miss 
Laura Patch, of CamiUus, N. Y. By this union 
there were two children — Lewis and Harrison H., 
the former of whom, at the time of his death, was a 
resident of Oregon, where, by superior ability, he had 
attained prominence in many ways. He was a prom- 
inent member of the State Senate from 1872 to 1874. 
The latter is a resident of Junction City, Kansas. 



By the second marriage there were thirteen children, 
three of whom died in infancy. The remaining ten 
grew to maturity, and death did not again invade the 
family circle until March, 1863, when Henry, the 
second son, was killed at the battle of Spring Hill. 
Three other sons — John, George and Frank — did 
honor to the family name in the war of the rebellion. 
With the exception of two daughters — Laura and 
Elizabeth, deceased (the former in Minnesota and the 
latter in Michigan) — all of the family are living, 
among whom are George and Frank, prominent farm- 
ers of Marcellus. 

HENLEY W. BLY. 

The history of Marcellus would be incomplete 
without a sketch of Henley W. Bly, one of the pio- 
neers who has gone to his long rest. He was born in 
the State of Rhode Island, July 29, 1812, and moved 
from there to Greene, Chenango County, N. Y., where 
he learned the harness-maker's trade. Thinking a 
change of location desirable, he moved to Manchester, 
Ontario County, in the same State, andthere, in addition 
to his trade, he devoted considerable attention to law 
practice. Although not a regular practitioner, by due 
diligence he became possessed of much legal lore, and 
Manchester being but six miles from Canandaigua, Mr. 
now Senator Lapham, Mark H. Sibley and Mr. Wil- 
son, all attorneys of the latter place, intrusted much 
business to his care, and he became conversant with 
the law practice of that State. 

While a resident here, in 1840, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Louisa Cook. 

From Manchester they moved to Royalton, N. Y., 
and two years later, in 1852, came to Michigan and 
purchased land in Marcellus Township, which was 
almost in a state of nature, and here he applied him- 
self assiduously to the task of clearing up and im- 
proving a wild farm, although laboring under physi- 
cal embarrassment, for, while young, an overdose of 
calomel so afflicted him that he was quite lame. Here 
it was that the true heroism of his wife displayed 
itself, for, although reared in luxury, she adapted her- 
self to existing circumstances and did not disdain to 
assist in outdoor work in order that they might suc- 
ceed, and it is conceded that she did her part faith- 
fully and well. With such a wife, and fine business 
management on his part, it is no wonder that success 
crowned their efforts and that he became one of the 
most wealthy and extensive land owners and dealers 
in the township, and bis farm buildings among the 
best. 

For a long time after coming to the township, it 
possessed no attorney and did much legal business, 
and in addition, although a Democrat, and this a 



HlSTOliY OF f'ASS COUNTY, MlCllKiAN. 



Republican township, he served in the elective office 
of Justice of the Peace for twenty-six years. He 
was a man of public spirit and was always ready to 
encourage public enterprises, and as an illustration, 
not only gave $500, but the right of way across his 
farm, to the railroad that passes through this township. 
May 21, 1869, he mourned the death of his loved 
companion, and January 16, 1871, he filled the 
vacancy in his home by a marriage with Miss Nellie 
Cook, a sister of his first wife, who is a most estima- 
ble and highly esteemed lady and who now resides in 
Marcellus, in widowhood, Mr. Bly having deceased 
January 6, 1877, leaving no children. 

ROSWELL K. I3EEBE. 
The subject of this sketch, Roswell R. Beebe, was 
born in Wilkesbarre, Luzerne County, Penn., Novem- 
ber 3, 1806, and was the sixth child of the eight chil- 
dren of Gideon and Lina Beebe, both natives of Con- 
necticut. In 1821, he removed with his parents to 
Huron County, Ohio, and there learned the mason's 
trade, whicR he followed until coming to Marcellus 
Township in 1848, and locating on Section 1. By 
patient industry and economy he has succeeded in ac- 
cumulating a competency, and for the last six years 
has been a resident of Marcellus, where he is enjoy- 
ing the fruits of a well-spent though uneventful life, sur- 
rounded by his family. Although a stanch Republican, 
he has taken no active part in politics, preferring 
the quiet of home life to the active scenes of political 
warfare. January 20, 1832, he married Pamelia 
Latham, by whom he had four children, viz.: Gideon, 
Sally, Emory and Bruce. The second and third are 
deceased. Mrs. Beebe died September 11, 1840, and 
October 14, 1841, Mr. Beebe married Mary Young, 
and the fruits of their union have been four children, 
two of whom, Byron R. and Weltha, reached man- 
hood's estate. Mrs. Beebe has performed well her 
part in life's labors and is entitled to credit therefor. 
During their pioneer days, she cheerfully responded 
to the many calls for assistance, and her cheerful pres- 
ence at the bedside of those prostrated by disease 
was most highly valued, she being known by the affec- 
tionate title of Aunt Mary by a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

MASON. 

Why not settled earlier— Elani Beardsley the First Settler-Sad death 
otUarlus Beardsley— The RossFamily—Jotham Curtis— The Mill- 
ers— Laud Entries— Erection of Mason Township— Heligious— 
Schools— Initial Events— Civil List— Biogi'aphical. 

THERE is a peculiar felicity in bringing to light 
the events of other days; of adding to the 
pages of history data that are almost lost to the mem- 
ory of man, are slowly but surely sinking into ob- 
livion ; of calling to the remembrance of the few now 
remaining the scenes of their early toil and care, in 
the days when they were pioneers, many years ago, 
and laying before the present generation the fruits of 
pioneer industry and enterprise. 

Although in the direct line traveled by the earliest 
settlers who located in Ontwa and Pokagon Town- 
ships, they did not make Mason their home, because 
of the numerous attractions afforded on Beardsley's 
and other prairies of the county, which claimed their 
attention, and not until they had been all located, and, 
in fact, much land adjoining them taken up by actual 
settlers, did the first settler, Elara Beardsley, com- 
mence pioneer life in this township, on the east half 
of the southeast quarter of Section 12, which place 
is now owned by Edward Pipher. He entered this 
land January 4, 1830, and moved on it this year and 
erected the first log cabin in the township. It was 
also on this farm that Mr. Beardsley, in 1830, set out 
the first apple-trees, which he brought from Butler 
County, Ohio. The Beardsleys, as elsewhere noticed, 
were natural frontiersmen, and Elam was no exception, 
for in 1834, when settlers commenced making im- 
provements around him, he disposed of his farm to 
Augustus Bird and emigrated to the far distant West. 
The first white child born in the township was David 
Beardsley, son of Darius. 

In 1832, Darius Beardsley erected his humble log 
cabin on Section 14, on the farm now owned by Elias 
Minnich ; it was simple in construction, having a 
puncheon fioor, shakes for shingles, and the capacious 
chimney was constructed of mud and sticks, which 
were used in lieu of mortar and bricks, while the 
back wall, or where the fire came in actual contact, 
was constructed of stone. 

At this time, they were comparatively alone, their 
nearest neighbor, Elam Beardsley, residing in Section 
12, the others living at Adamsville, five miles distant, 
and Edwardsburg, four and a half miles ; but^ the 
solitude of this new country had charms for the ad- 
venturous pioneer, who, with thoughts on 'the future, 
would forecast the time when fertile fields would yield 
ample returns for labor bestowed, and neighbors take 
the place of wolves, bears and deer, then to be found 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



407 



roaming through the b road expanse of territory, at 
this time unclaimed by actual settlers. 

But a terrible and totally unlooked-for calamity 
was to befall this, one of the first families in tiie town- 
ship, and cast a gloom over the adjoining settlement^ 
in Ontwa. One cold day in the winter of 1833 
when the snow was two feet deep on the level, and the 
wintry blasts went surging through the leafless forests, 
Mr. Beardsley went to Edwardsburg, the nearest 
trading point, after some necessities for the household, 
and was detained until toward the shades of evening^ 
before starting out on foot and alone, for his solitary 
cabin so many miles distant, and this was the last 
seen of him alive. Not coming home for two or three 
days, the anxiety of his wife regarding his safety be- 
came intense, but she could not leave her small chil- 
dren in the depths of winter, and go in search of him, 
and could only wait in terrible suspense for some in- 
formation concerning his welfare, and it came at last, 
through some of their far-distant neighbors, who 
found him beside a tree frozen to death, only one- 
half mile from home and family, where he had either 
sat down to rest, and been unconciously wooed into 
death by the extreme cold, or having lost his way in 
the darkness of the night, giving himself over to des- 
pair and death, after having totally exhausted his vital 
energies in fruitless endeavors to reach home. The 
sad funeral rites were performed at Edwardsburg, to 
which place the family shortly after removed, where , 
Mr. Beardsley's brother Ezra lived, he being the first 
settler in that section, having removed his family 
there in 1826, after having spent the season before in 
putting out some crops. 

Mr. Beardsley left eight children, only three of 
whom still survive — Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Fulkerson 
in Indiana, and Daniel, who resides in Section 13, 
and was but eight years of age when he came to this 
county with his father. Mr. Beardsley and his wife 
Caroline (Moe), now have nine children living, two 
boys and seven girls, and he is the only male repre- 
sentative of the Beardsley family, who came in and 
possessed the land at sucii an early period, they 
having nearly all listened to their desire for frontier 
life, and pushed on toward the West. 

Among those who settled in 1832 was Levi Grant. 
He built a frame barn in 1834, and a frame house in 
183G, probably the first erected in the township. 

In November, 1832, Jacob Ross, his wife Phoebe 
(Curtis) and six children, and Jotham Curtis and 
his wife Elizabeth (Malison) and three children, 
all left their home and started for the West, 
their method of conveyance being four yoke of 
oxen and two span of horses attached to capacious ! 
wagons, in which were stored numerous articles of 



household goods. Some of Mr. Curtis' children went 
to Canada to locate, but soon followed up their 
parents, who performed the journey, three hundred 
miles, to Edwardsburg, in one month. They drove 
through a quantity of cattle and hogs, which found 
ample pasturage in the woods and on the prairies, 
in the summer months. 

Mr. Ross purchased a village lot in Edwards- 
burg, for $12, and made that place his home for 
two years, and in 1835 removed to eighty acres of 
land entered for him, in Section 1 1, by his .son Richard, 
and here he remained until his death. His widow 
now resides with her step-son, Richard Ross, who also 
entered forty acres of land for himself in Section 14, 
and on which he now resides, there being but one 
other person in the township, as far as can be ascer- 
tained, viz., Henry Arnold, who located 160 acres 
October 5, 1835, in Section 12, who resides on land 
taken by them from Government. Richard Ross is a 
ship carpenter, and went to Detroit, where he worked 
at his trade for nearly three years, and then labored 
at carpenter and joiner work in this township until 
removing on his farm. His wife, Mahetable (Bogart), 
is a daughter of John Bogart, who removed to Ed- 
wardsburg, from Ohio, in 1828. They have been 
blessed with three children — Julia Ann, now Mrs. 
Ort ; Samantha J., now Mrs. Luse — both in Mason ; 
and Jasper J., who still resides with his father. 

Jotham Curtis, before mentioned, purchased a farm 
in Section 15, and remained there until his death, 
which occurred in 1848, when in his eighty-ninth 
year. He was a Revolutionary pensioner, and his 
pension was received after his demise, by his widow, 
who was familiarly known as " Granny Curtis " by 
all the early settlers within a large scope of surround- 
ing country, for she traveled long distances on horse 
back, following old Indian trails, to the cabins of 
squatters, whose inmates were in distress and in need 
of assistance. She was the mother of ten children, 
and their numbers had multiplied so that at the time 
of her death in 1878, when in her ninety-eighth 
year, her lineal descendants numbered 163. Jotham 
Curtis, Jr., had the care of his parents until their 
death, but he only survived his mother one year, and 
as his wife deceased in 1864, the old farm is now 
in possession of their daughter, Sophronia, who is 
the wife of Dr. H. E. Woodbridge, a graduate of 
Cleveland Medical College, but who is now engaged 
in farming. 

It was but natural that those who sought to better 
their condition by emigrating to the West, should as- 
sociate themselves together on their journey, and this 
was frequently done to their mutual advantage 
of companionship and assi.stance, but at the same 



408 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



time, was more frequently practiced by those bound 
together by ties of relationship. Stewart C. Gardner 
and his wife, Betsey (O'Dell), with their six children, 
in company with Simeon O'Dell, his wife and four 
children, all left Cuayhoga County, Ohio, October 16, 
1838, en route for Illinois. At Cleveland, Ohio, they 
met a Mr. Stewart, who descanted at great length 
upon the fertile territory of Michigan, and on reach- 
ing Baldwin's Prairie, they were constrained to remain, 
and April 8, 183.5, Mr. Gardner purchased of the 
Government forty acres in Section 13, on which he 
removed, and the succeeding year made an addition 
of forty acres to his farm, and commenced the life of 
a pioneer. Being located on the "old Territorial road," 
he soon commenced keeping tavern, and many a time 
was this modest hostelry filled to repletion, and the 
floor strewn with tired emigrants, who slept as soundly 
as those favored with most luxurious apartments, for 
the people who first settled up this country were 
inured to hardships, and considered themselves fort- 
unate to be sheltered from the inclemencies of 
the weather. Of such material were the men and 
women who boldly pushed on to the frontier and 
performed the initial labors in the country composed, 
that they disclaimed luxury, and gloried in their free- 
dom of action, untrammeled by laws of fashion, each 
being the peer of the other, true worth and not wealth 
being the gauge by which all were measured, and if 
one sought for pure friendship, disinterested acts of 
kindness and true philanthropy, no more fruitful 
field could be found than among the men of sterling 
worth and true manhood who settled up this county. 
Having performed his allotted portion, Mr. Gardner 
died in 1872, at the advanced age of seventy-five 
years, and his wife, Betsey, July 2, 1881. This ven- 
erable lady had the honor of being present when the 
late lamented James A. Garfield, President of the 
United States, was ushered into the world, and of 
first enrobing him in the clothing of infancy, and her 
pleasure was great to learn of his succession to the 
Presidential chair. There is a strange coincidence 
in the fact that she breathed her last on the same 
day and hour in which the President received the 
fatal shot fired by the assassin, C. J. Guiteau. 

S. C. Gardner was blessed with six children — Har- 
riet, deceased ; Alvira (Mrs. Moe), in Nebraska ; 
Thomas J., in Dowagiac ; while Joseph, Julius M. 
and H. A. are all residents of Mason, the latter re- 
siding on the old homestead, but devotes most of his 
attention to the practice of his profession, that of 
veterinary surgeon, his practice now extending over a 
period of twenty-four years. In the early history of 
the family, there occurred a little incident that might 
have been fatal in its results. Harriet started for a 



I neighbor's, named Nicholson, not far distant, mounted 
on a spirited horse, which possessed the peculiar fac- 
ulty of learning of the presence of Indians — of whom he 
stood in deadly fear — through his olfactories. They 
had not progressed far before he commenced acting in 
a most unaccountable manner, rearing, snorting and 
plunging, but refusing to go forward. Soon the objects 
of his fear, the Indians, came into sight, in single file, 
when he became utterly unmanageable, and plunged 
through the woods at a terrible rate of speed, en- 
dangering the life of his rider every instant, as he 
almost flew by, around and under the forest trees, 

i not stopping in his mad career until home was 
reached. The Indians, totally unconscious of the dis- 

i turbance they had created, shortly after arrived at 
the cabin, and one of them, who was under the in- 
fluence of liquor, became so insolent that the others 
took him behind the house and poured whisky down 
his throat remarking : " Heap bad Indian, make 
him so coekoosa (drunk), can' t stir, " which cer- 
tainly was a very effective method of disposing of the 
obstreperous savage, and one he would doubtless like 
frequently repeated, for the Indians were inordinately 
fond of liquor. 

In 1835, there was a very large emigration to this 
township, and nearly all of the land was entered, 
either by settlers or speculators, during the year. 
Among others, who came into Mason in 1835, was 
Lyman Stevens, who came from Oneida County, 
N. Y., via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence to Detroit 
by boat. When having procured an ox team, he 
took his family to his sisters, just west of Ypsilanti , 
in Washtenaw County, and there left them, while he 
came and located eighty acres on Section 8, June 23, 
1835. During the interim, his son, David R., then a 
lad thirteen years of age, drove a " breakingup " 
team, the compensation being 25 cents per day. 
Mr. Stevens' log cabin was roofed with bark, pealed 
from the trees with which it was surrounded, and 
its other rude appointments were in keeping. His 
worldly possessions then consisted of a yoke of cattle, 
a wagon and $12 in cash, but he went bravely to 
work, and before his death, which occurred in April, 
1813, fifty acres were reduced to a tillable shape. The 
first winter of their residence in their new home, 
500 Indians camped near their house, and were great 
objects of curiosity to the younger members of the 
household. 

David R., before referred to, is the only one of his 
father's family residing in the county, and he is a 
successful farmer, made so by his own industry ; his 
residence is in Section 5 ; he claims to be the oldest 
settler who has lived continuously in the township, ex- 
cept Mrs. B. Miller. He ran a " breaking-up " team 





f^^ru) 



^.e/u^d^ 



POLEMON SUTTON. 
Polemon Sutton was born in Ulster County, N. Y., 
March 20, 1824, and is a son of Charles Sutton, who 
was born in Westchester County, N. Y., August 22, 
1783, and departed this life January 17, 1870, and 
Dorcas (Kniffin) Sutton, who was born in the same 
county as her liusband, February 26, 1785, and 
passed over tlie mystical river to the other shore 
August 2, 18(14. They had a family of nine chil- 
dren, viz.: Merritt M., Phebe F., Elizabeth, Abi- 
gail M., Poliiia, Lydia, Edwin, Polemon, Jane A. 
In 1834. Polemon, the subject of this sketch, accom- 
panied his parents, who were fanners, to Sandusky 
County, Ohio, from which place he came to Cass 
County, in 1844, and on reaching iiere, his entire 
worldly wealth consisted of %\. He commenced as 
a farm hand at $10 per month, one-half store pay, but 
before the season had passed concluded to commence 
farming on his own account, and having obtained a 
contract for eighty acres of land, returned to Ohio to 
work where money was more plenty. Returning, he 
commenced in earnest pioneer labor on his farm, and 
being very active, energetic and industrious, evidences 
of prosperity could soon be seen on every hand, and 
before his death, which occurred July 18, 1865, 150 
acres of fine farming land had been brought under 
cultivation, and he considered one of the prominent 
and progressive farmers of the township. Although 
his educational advantages were principally confined 
to the district school, he thoroughly improved them 
and became so conversant with the common branches 



I^F^s. P. jK. s JttoK. 

that he became a very successful school teacher — 
several winter months being devoted to tliis calling. 
Whatever he did at all was well done, and therein lay 
the key to his success. Originally a Democrat, on 
the formation of the Republican party, he became one 
of its stanchest members, and during the war assist- 
ed in filling the quota of soldiers due from his town. 
Although holding the offices of School Inspector and 
Town Clerk, he was not a political aspirant, but always 
took an active part in political affairs in which he 
evinced the greatest interest, and it is to such men in 
their private capacity as citizens that a just and 
equitable government looks for support. Although a 
firm believer in Christianity, he was not a member of 
any religious organization. He was married May 13, 
1852, to Phebe A. Moody, who was born in Medina 
County, Oliio, July 12, 1833, and was a daughter of 
Ethan and Eccellann (Hatch) Moody, who came to 
Cass County in 1848, and remained here until their 
deaths, which occurred October 26, 1881, and De- 
cember 21, 1865, respectively. Their family consisted 
of four children — Phebe A., Andrew J., Ethan A. 
and Horace B. Mrs. Sutton is a lady of more 
than ordinary business ability, and now success- 
fully conducts the farm left by her husband ; and 
their fine farm buildings, an ornament to the town- 
ship, were completed under her supervision after tlie 
death of her husbanil. She is the mother of two 
children — Lola M, and Emma, both of wliotn reside at 
home. 



I 




H0[^. EDV/lf^ W.F^EY|v[0LDS. 



V"^ 



HON. EDWIN W. REYNOLDS. 
This gentleman, for many years one of the promi- 
nent citizens of the township of Mason, was born in 
Shoreham, Vt., in November of 1820. He was left 
an orphan at the tender age of seven years, and his 
boyhood days were replete with trials and hardships, 
which no doubt developed many strong points in his 
character that otherwise might have remained latent. 
Naturally observing, and possessing a strong analytical 
mind, he foresaw, when a mere boy, the advantages 
arising from education. In various ways he earned 
money sufficient to prepare himself for college, and in 
1846 he graduated with honors from the Western Re- 
serve College at Hudson, Ohio. Having a decided 
taste for the profession of law, he entered the office of 
James S. Carpenter, a prominent attorney of Akron, 
Ohio. After completing his legal studies, he was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and shortly after established him- 
self in the practice of his profession in Medina. Ohio. 
About this time he met bis destiny in the person of 
Miss Charlotte, daugTiter of Abel Dickinson, of Wads- 
worth, Ohio, whom he married in June of 1851. He 
remained in Medina in the practice of law for about 



four years, when failing health admonished him that 
a change in his business was necessary, and in 1854 
he came to Cass County, and located in Mason Town- 
ship, where he resided until his decease, which occurred 
October 15, 1863, and was caused by his being thrown 
from a wagon. The ability of Mr. Reynolds was soon 
recognized by the people of Mason, and he was called 
upon to take a prominent part in its affiiirs. In his 
political convictions he was originally a Whig, and 
upon the formation of the Republican party he joined 
its ranks, and although his party in Mason was very 
largely in the minority, he was elected as Supervisor 
for many years. In 1860, he received the nomina- 
tion, and was elected to the representative branch of 
the Legislature, which position he filled to the satis- 
faction, of his constituents and with credit to himself. 
As a citizen, friend and neighbor, Mr. Reynolds was 
universally esteemed, and in his untimely death Cass 
County lost one of her most valuable citizens. His 
widow, now Mrs. D. M. Howell, resides in Penn. 
Two daughters, Ida and Julia B., live with their 
mother, while the only son, KiikeW., is a resident of 
Kansas. 



i 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



4UU 



for many years, and engaged in threshing for twenty- 
four years, and purchased the first grain separator 
brought in the township which was constructed in 
Ontwa by an ingenious mechanic and millwright, 
named David Thompson, who invented many things 
connected with the machine, although laboring under 
very great embarrassments, as all the castings had to 
be brought from other places. This was in 1847. 
Mr. Stevens brought the second portable steam engine 
into the county, Moses H. Lee, of Edwardsburg, 
purchasing the first. Three children have been the 
fruits of his union with Ellen E. (Roberts) — Harriet 
A., now Mrs. Ashley, in Kansas; George L., who is 
in possession of a portion of the old farm, presented 
by his father, and .John L., who resides at home. 

The Miller settlement, which numbered some 
twenty persons, was the largest in the township, and 
consisted of F. W. Miller, his wife Belinda (Colby), one 
child and his mother, Ann Miller ; Samuel S., his 
wife Nancy (Owen) and two children ; John and his 
wife Elizabeth (Hanford) ; Abraham and John Miller 
and two brothers-in-law, viz. : John Worst, his wife 
Sarah (Miller) and four children ; John Garman and j 
Eupheme (Miller) his wife, all of whom started from | 
Monroe County, N. Y., for the West, having no ' 
definite destination, intending to settle where they 
found a desirable location. They were so numerous 
that, in order to find accommodations, would separate 
out, and accordingly a portion stopped at Adamsville , 
and Mr. F. W. Miller pushing forward to Edwards- 
burg. Those remaining at Adamsville received such 
favorable information regarding the country that they 
decided to remain and investigate, and hastened for- j 
ward to inform Mr. Miller, but did not overtake him 
until he had reached Niles, when he returned, and 
they all settled in one small log house, with one room, 
the only shelter obtainable, but Mr. Miller was soon 
accommodated in the house of Jotham Curtis, and re- 
mained there until he had purchased his farm in Sec- 
tion 15, and erected a house on the land where his 
widow now resides. He was unwilling to use sticks 
in the erection of the chimney to his house, and could 
only obtain brick enough to extend it to the floor 
above, and Mrs. Miller was obliged to prepare the 
family's meals with a fire kindled beside a log until 
extreme cold weather, when a chimney was improvised 
by extending it up through the roof, with boards set 
on end. The land purchased by Mr. Miller was 
owned by speculators in Detroit, and he went there 
by the only public conveyance, the stage coach. The 
roads were almost in a fluid state; the coach, the 
horses, the driver and passengers, could testify to this, 
for they were literally covered with " free soil." The 
coach frequently became "stuck" in some almost 



bottomless mud-holes, and from which it was only 
extricated by poles and fence-rails in the hands of 
passengers, who cheerfully lent their assistance, as 
occasions of this kind required, and even consented 
to walk through some of the worst places, with a com- 
placency that would utterly astonish the modern 
traveler, who cannot conceal his impatience of a few 
minutes' delay of the steam-drawn car, into which he 
can recline on finely cushioned seats, utterly regard- 
less of roads and weather. Mr. F. W. Miller's family 
consisted of seven children, three of whom, Ann, 
Albert M. and Charles Z., are deceased, the latter's 
death occurring at Nicholsville, Ky., while in the 
United States Army during the rebellion. F. W. is 
the Postmaster in Elkhart, Ind.; B. Sophia, Mrs. 
Coe, in Illinois, while Lewis H. and Newell H. reside 
on the old homestead, their father's death occurring 
in 1873. 

Noah Hatch was one of the early settlers, and re- 
mained on his farm until 1847, when it passed into 
the possession of Ephraitn C. Moody, who came from 
Medina County, Ohio. His death occurred October, 
1881, and the farm is now in possession of one of his 
sons, A. J. Moody, whose wife, Marian E., is a 
daughter of James L. Brady, whose record appears in 
the history of Ontwa, in which township he settled in 
an early day, being one of the pioneers of that portion 
of the county. A daughter of E. C. Moody, now Mrs. 
P. A. Sutton, resides on the farm purchased by her hus- 
band, Polemon Sutton, in Section 20 — his death oc- 
curring in July, 1868. He came to Cass County in 
1844, and purchased his farm when in a state of nat- 
ure, and it is now graced with very fine farm build- 
ings. 

When twelve years of age, Hugh C. McNeil 
came with his father, James, from Cayuga County, 
N. Y., who settled on 120 acres of land pur- 
chased from Government in 183;J. Not being old 
enough to perform hard manual labor, Hugh was 
given free run of the woods, and delighted in killing 
the game then so abundant. Of this family, which 
consisted of five boys and one girl, only two remain 
in the county — Lydia J. (Ruple) in Calvin and Hugh 
C. who resides on the old homeitead on which his 
parents died. 

In 1836, Lyman Graham, came from Medina 
County, Ohio, and located 120 acres in Section 2, 
which is now owned by his only son, Sidney J., Mr. 
Graham's death occurring in 1873. As will be seen 
in the military record, Sidney J. enlisted three times 
in the army during the rebellion, and received a bul- 
let wound in the arm at the battle of Buzzard's 
Ridge, which partially disables him. 

Sylvester Bishop and his sons came to Cass County 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



in 1838, and settled in Mason Township ; their record 
appears elsewhere. 

In those early days, economy was a matter of stern 
necessity, and the ladies were gratified to obtain plain 
factory cloth for dresses, which was colored with ma- 
ple or other bark. A black sheep was considered a I 
prize in any household, for by mixing its fleece with 
white wool, the thrifty housewife would manufacture 
gray cloth ; otherwise, it would all be colored some 
dismal, unattractive dark shade. A linsey-woolsey 
bag-shaped garment, gathered at the waist with a belt, 
was considered plenty good enough for all occasions 
by the men. 

Among the most successful and progressive farmers 
of Mason is Henry, Thompson, who came into the 
county in 1838, when a young man but twenty years 
of age, from North Troy, Vt. Before coming, he 
helped spike down the first rails laid for steam cars be- 
tween Lowell and Boston. In order to insure perma- 
nence, the ties were constructed of granite, into which 
were drilled holes for the spikes, and when inserted 
were held in place by solder poured in the interstices. 
This was then thought indispensable to safety. After 
working for Dr. Treat on Beardsley's Prairie for a short 
time, he engaged with Moses Sage & Son, at Adams- 
ville, in the milling business, and remained there for 
six years, and while so employed purchased thousands 
of bushels of wheat at prices ranging from 44 to 50 
cents per bushel, some of which was brought from 
Nottoway Sippi Prairie, thirty-six miles distant. He 
subsequently became interested with George Redfield 
for several years in the grist and saw mills, known as 
Redfield's Mills, but moved on his present farm in I 
1848, since which time he has devoted himself to ag- } 
ricultural pursuits, and his numerous fine buildings 
and well-kept farm betokens the model farmer. When 
purchased, the farm was in a state of nature, except a 
small space cleared by the Indians, and on which they 
raised corn. Mr. Thompson has been repeatedly fa- 
vored with offices in the gift of the people of his town- 
ship. He has been twice married, his present wife 
being Ellen M. (King), and has six children now liv- 
ing- 

Moses M. Coon came from Sandusky County, 
Ohio, with his father, John G., in 1841. His father ; 
removed to Iowa and ultimately to Missouri, where he 
died in 1877. Moses M. is now engaged in farming 
in Section 16. 

About 1840, the farmers began to erect finer 
buildings ; log houses had beengradually supplanted 
by more pretentious farm buildings, and the face of 
the country presented a changed appearance ; there 
was an air of thrift to be seen on every side ; not but 
what there was still much unimproved land, but the 



poverty of the people had become much less observ- 
able, and many were enabled to purchase many of the 
comforts and luxuries of life that seemed far from 
their reach when first commencing in the wilderness. 
Among those who came in about this period was 
Harrison Strong and his wife, Fidelia J. (Burns). 
The land they purchased was unimproved, and the 
large quantities of maple sugar they manufactured 
helped along in the household economy amazingly. 
Their children are named Joseph H. and Minerva. 

Among the prosperous farmers of Mason can be 
mentioned G. A. Meachara, who came from Ohio in 
1854. He now resides on Section 18. 

In 1845, Charles Smith and his wife, Harriet, 
moved on the farm purchased by his father-in-law, 
Zacheus Wooden, the famous trapper, in Section 4. 
He recalls with marked distinctness the time a she- 
wolf followed his tracks closely for one-half mile, but 
did not possess the courage to make an attack, and 
finally slunk away. 

When S. B. Glines, who was born in Brownington, 
Vt., moved on his present farm from Lake County, 
Ohio, in 1850, it was far from being in an improved 
state, but is now a credit to the township. Two chil- 
dren have blessed his union with Mary C. (Nye) — 
Mary, now Mrs. Nutting, and George. 

On the Chicago road, in Section 14, is the site of 
Kessington, which was platted by. Moses McKessick, 
recorded in the Register's oflBce July 22, 1872. It 
comprises nineteen village lots and was surveyed by 
Amos Smith. It contains one general store, kept by 
Mr. McKessick ; one blacksmith shop, one church 
(the United Brethren), and a few small private houses, 
and the schoolhouse of District No. 5. Moses Mc- 
Kessick, the founder, came from Toledo, Ohio, in 
1863 ; and in addition to his mercantile business is 
engaged in farming. 

Warren H. Stevens, whose birthplace was in Jefi"er- 
son County, N. ¥., moved from there to Sandusky 
County, Ohio, and to Mason Township in 1854, 
where he remained until his death in January, 1876. 
His widow, Christina, who still resides on their farm 
in Section 7 with their only son, Warren B. Stevens, 
is a daughter of John Rinehart, who came into the 
county in 1828. The family history will be found 
elsewhere in this work. 

Rev. James Ashley was born in Toronto, Canada, 
and moved with his parents to Huron County, Ohio, 
where he married Polly McGee, in 1838. In 1842, 
he commenced his pastoral labors and was ordained 
an Elder in the Free- Will Baptist Church, and imme- 
diately became a very zealous worker in the Lord's 
vineyard. The service of the ministry called him to 
Seneca County, where he assumed the pastorate of 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



four churches for ten years, when he severed his con- 
nections and came to Cass County, in 1855, and has 
been instrumental in sustaining and building up the 
church of his faith in this township. His labors were 
not confined to this one church, for, being an indefati- 
gable worker, he preached once in two weeks at Sum- 
nerville for twelve years, and every third week at 
Berrien for nine years, beside filling innumerable 
other appointments. In 1867, he was elected a 
member of the Legislature on the Republican ticket 
and receiving a majority of eighty, notwithstanding 
the Democrats possessed eighty majority in the dis- 
trict. He died in 1882. 

Rev. Henry Luse, who is farming on Section 12, 
came from Pennsylvania in 1867. His record appears 
elsewhere. He and his wife P. (Hoopnogle) have 
been blessed with three children, viz. : Uriah, John 
M. and Agnes. We have noted the arrival of many 
of those earliest in the town, but that the list may be 
more complete we append the following list of 



ORIUINAL LAND ENTRTI 
Section 1 . 



Abie! Silver, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1835 160 

Henry Arnold, Oct. 12, 1835 80 

Manning Kedtield, Ontario County, N. Y., April 21, 1830 80 

Lawrence, Iinlay & B., May 14, 183« 80 

N. & B. .Smith, Washington County, N. Y., .luly 19, 1836 240 



Anson Dibble, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 1, 1834 40 

Stewart C. Gardner, (;as9 County, Mich., Dec. 1, 18.34 80 

Benjamin O'Dell, Genesee County, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1835 40 

Lyraan Graham, Cass County, Jan. II, 1830 120 

Gardner Halsted, March 9, 1836 80 

Manning Redfield, April 21, 1836 80 

George Redfield, Dec. 12, 1836 200 



Section 3. 
.■Vugustus Bird, Cass County, Mich., April 9, 



Sylvester Meacham, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1835 40 

Isaac Hulce, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 23, 1835 80 

William Sherwood, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 4, 1836 80 

John S. Brown, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 15, 1835 80 

Lyman Graham, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 40 

.lotham Curtis, Jr., Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1836 40 

Myron Strong, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 19, 1837 240 

Section 4. 

Samuel LatTerly, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 9, 1833 40 

Samuel Simouton, Elkhart County, Ind., Dec. 19, 18i3 40 

Henry Dwigbt, Seneca County, N. Y., July 25, 1835 80 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1835 80 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., April 21, 1831! 40 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., May 16, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B., May 14, 1836 120 

Isaac Hulce, Oct. 2.i, 1835 160 

Section 5. 

Asa Griffith, Otsego County, N. Y., June 20, 1835, entire 640 



Stirling Adams, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 25, 1834. 
Asa Griffith, June 25, 18-35 



Section 7. 

Ebenezer Johnson, Erie County, N. Y., April 11, 1832 160 

M. Sage and N. D. Snow, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 7, 1834... 44 

S. & E. Worth, Washtenaw Clounty, March 2, 1836 125 

S. & E. Worth, Washtenaw County, April 24, 1836 80 

Nancy Sage, Cass County, Mich., March 2, 1835 80 

N. & M. Sage, March 2, 1836 80 



Abram Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 20, 1835 160 

Lyman Stevens, Oneida County, N. Y., June 23, 1835 80 

Jonathan Stevens, Cayuga County, N. Y., June 23, 1835 80 

George Redfield, Oct. 13, 1834 JOO 

George Redfield, March 15, 1836 go 

Odin Grant, Oct. 29, 1835 '.' 40 

William Sissons, Dec. 28, 1835 40 

Section 9. 

Samuel Simonlon, Elkhart County, Ind., Dec. 10, 1833 80 

Samuel Simonton, Elkhart County, Ind., Jan. 26, 1836 40 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 13, 1835 160 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 28, 1835 ; 80 

David Bement, Ontario County, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1835 80 

John S. Bement, Ontario County, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1835 80 

Mary Short, Ontario County, Dec. 12, 1835 80 

Sarah Stafford, Cass County, Mich., March 9, 1836 40 

Section 10. 

Oscar P. Kingsley, Franklin County, Mass., Nov. 30, 1833... 80 

Ezra Beardsley, Cass County, Mich., March 6, 1833 40 

Orlin Grant, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 18, 1834 40 

John Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 29, 1835 80 

George Redfield, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 6, 1835 320 

Richmond Curtis, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1836 40 

George S. Miller, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 16, 1836 40 

Section 11. 

Fred W. Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 29, 1833 80 

Wilson Blackmar, Oct. 12, 1833 40 

Elizabeth Gardner, Genesee County, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1833 200 

Benjamin O'Dell, Genesee County, N. Y., June 28, 1833 40 

Richard Ross, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 9, 1835 80 

Edward Huwes, Berrien County, Dec. 14, 1835 120 

William Snyder, Cass (Jounty, Mich., Jan. 12, 1837 40 

Joseph E. Skinner, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 20, 1837 40 

Section 12. 

Elam Beardsley, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1830 80 

Willis Jordan, Butler Oounly, Oct. 11, 1831 80 

James Griffith, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 22, 1833 40 

Simon O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 8, 1834 40 

John O'Dell, Cass County, Mich., Aug. 22, 1885 80 

John Gill, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1836 80 

Abiel Silver, I'ass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1835 40 

Henry Arnold, Cass (bounty, Mich., Oct. 12, 1835 160 

George Arnold, Cass County, Mich., May, 18, 1836 40 

Section 13. 

Robert Calhcart, Cass County, Mich., July 30, 1833 40 

Simon O'Dell, (Jass County, Mich., Dec. 8, 1834 40 

Stewart C. Gardner, Cass County, Mich., April 8, 1836 40 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Stewart C. Gardner, Cass County, Mich., March 9, 1836 40 

John O'Dell, Aug. 22, 1835 80 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. V., March 26, 1836 80 

Lawrence, Imlay & B , May 28, 1836 80 

Geerge Redfield, Cass County, Mich., May 28, 1836 160 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, Jan. 13, 1837 80 

Section 14. 

Othni Bearilsley, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 21, 1831 80 

Thomas J. Curtis, Cass County, Mich., June 9, 1834 40 

John Richards, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 14, 1834 40 

James McNeil, CayugaCounty, N. Y., May 16, 1835 80 

James McXeil, Cayuga County, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1835 40 

Jacob Haight, Otsego County, N. Y., May 14, 1835 40 

Orlando Griffith, Otsego County, N. Y., June 20, 1835 80 

Richard Ross, June 13, 1835 40 

Elizabeth Gardner, Oct. 16, 1835 40 

John Collins, Medina County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1836 80 

Benjamin Smith, Washington County, N. Y., July 19, 183G... 40 

Section 15. 

Chester Fanning, Cayuga County, N. Y., Oct. 4, 1831 160 

Betsey Curtis, Cass County, Mich., March 25, 1833 80 

Henry Whiting, Wayne County, Mich., April 23, 1833 240 

Almon B. Kingsley, Franklin County, Mass., Not 30, 1833.. 80 
Fred W. Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 24, 1835 80 

Section 10. 
School lands. 

.Section 17. 

Levi Grant, St. Joseph County, March 28, 1832 160 

Charles Butler, Geneva County, N. Y., Aug. 9, 1833 80 

Anthon Bronson, New York City, Aug. 9, 1833 80 

Allen R. Kingsley, Cass County, July 4, 1834 80 

John Garmon, Cass County, Mich,, June 0, and 8, 1835 160 

Abram Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 20, 1835 80 

Section 18. 

B. D. & W. Eddy, Washtenaw County, June 30, 1834 160 

S. S. & E. Worth, Washtenaw County, March 2, 1835 122 

Reuben Allen, Jr., Rutland County, Vt., June 9, 1835 160 

George Redfield, Cass County, Nov. 6, 1835 38 

B. Eddy, Washtenaw County, June 30, 1834 80 

Section 19. 

Jacob Allen, June 2, 1834 40 

Luke Allen, June 25, 1834 40 

James Benedict, April 10, 1835 114 

Medad Terwilliger, Genesee County, N. Y., June 23, 1835.... 74 

Section 20. 

Samuel Simonton, Elkhart County, Ind., Dec. 19, 1833 

Myron Holmes, Chautauqua County, N. Y., May 29, 1834.... 

Abram Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 20, 1835 

Sarah Stafford, Wayne County, Jan. 9, 1836 

Section 21. 

Saxton P. Kingsley, Cass County, Nov. 12, 1833 120 

Saxton P. Kingsley, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 20, 1834 72 

John Worst, Cass County, Mich., June 3, 1835 110 

Section 22. 

Jotham Curtis, Cass County, April 28. 1834 40 

John Miller, Monroe County, June 12, and 29, 1835 80 

Fred W. Miller, Cass f'ounty, Mich., June 12, 1835 4ll 

Charles B. I'ullman, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 21, 1846 70 



Section 23. 

Saxton P. Kingsley, Cass County Mich., June 3, 1835 40 

Jotham Curtis, Cass County, Mich., June 24, 1835 40 

N. & B. Smith, Washington County, N. Y., July 19, 1836 80 

John J. Jones, Erie County, Penn., March 10, 1838 65 

J. D. Mann, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 24, 1846 68 

Section 24. 
Lawrence, Imlay & Beach, Onondaga County, N. Y., May 28, 

1836 144 

Benjamin Sherman, St. Joseph County, June 12, 1837 144 

ERECTION OF MASON TOWNSHIP. 

This township was erected by an act of the Terri- 
torial government approved March '2S, 183(5, reading 
as follows : " All that portion of Cass County desig- 
nated by the United States survey as Township 8 
south, of Range 14 west, be and the same is hereby set 
off and organized into a separate township by the 
name of Mason. And the first township meeting 
therein shall be held at the dwelling house of Jotham 
Curtis in said township." 

The boundaries were surveyed by William Brook - 

field, D. S., and the subdivisions by Robert Clark, 

Jr., he completing them July 21, 1828. It is cur- 

I tailed in size on the south by the State of Indiana, it 

being but three and a fraction sections north and 

south, and is located between Porter and Ontwa on 

j the east and west respectively, and Calvin on the 

' north. 

' The soil is a sandy loam in the western and south- 
! em portions, while toward the center it partakes more 
j of a clayey nature, but it is all very productive, and 
; yields ample returns to the husbandman for labor be- 
; stowed. In the early days, when sheep and cattle 
i ranged through the fenceless woods, they became fre- 
quently intermingled, and the marking of ears so 
they could be identified was an important science. 
He who first, recorded a certain combination of slits, 
crops and holes, obtained a copyright on its use while 
he lived in the town ; after his death or removal, an- 
other might take it. The old town books contain the 
records of many such marks, which were illustrated 
by rude, grotesque drawings, showing the exact loca- 
tion of the crops, holes or slits on which a patent was 
claimed. One registered by Joseph A. Curtis, in 
i 1837, reads as follows: "An upper bit out of the 
I right ear, and an under bit out of the left ear." 

The officers of this township were evidently conver- 
sant with the law and punctilious in obeying its man- 
dates, for, commencing in 1863, a five-cent internal 
revenue stamp was attached to the oaths of those 
elected to office, and among the first was a stamp at- 
tached to the record when Henry Thompson, Super- 
visor, agreed to " faithfully and impartially discharge 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



413 



the duties of a member of the Board of Registration." 
It is doubtful if any other township officials in tlie 
county complied with the full renuiremeiits of this 
law. 

FREE-WILL BAPTLST CnURCH. 

The inception of the Free-Will Baptist Church 
dates back to the time Rev. Nelson Thomas, of Kala- 
mazoo, a Baptist clergyman, preached in school and 
private houses on the Chicago road. He soon gath- 
ered around a following of twelve persons, who were 
constituted a church organization by Elders N. Put- 
nam and George Fellows, of Niles. Elder Thomas 
continued his labors until his death in July, 1848. 
The funeral sermon was preached by Elder Samuel 
Ketchum, who assumed the pastorate, and so con- 
tinued for several years, when he was succeeded by 
Elder James Ashley, and under his ministrations the 
church became so strong that a house of worship was 
erected at Adamsville at an expense of $2,300. This 
was consumed by fire in about one year, and some 
fourteen years since the present neat church building 
erected in Section 5. It now has a membership of 
fifty, but no regular pastor. The officers are : J. H. 
Burnes and S. Moyer, Deacons ; H. E. Stevens, 
Clerk. 

UNITED BRETHREN. 

When Rev. Henry Luse came to this township 
from Lebanon County, Penn., he found but few of his 
particular religious faith, and no church organization. 
In about one year, he commenced to proclaim the 
Gospel, in his then broken English, and soon insti- 
tuted a revival that became so widespread that many 
attended the meetings from Elkhart, Ind., and the 
house was filled to overflowing with people desiring to 
"flee from the wrath to come." The members be- 
came so numerous that evening meetings were of a 
necessity discontinued, the house being totally inade- 
quate to accommodate them, and services were com- 
menced at 8 o'clock in the morning and continued 
until 12 M., and again resumed at 2 o'clock P. M., 
and continued until 5 o'clock. The singing formed 
([uite an important part of the services, for the new 
melodies sung, accompanied with appropriate words, 
were to a certain extent soul-converting, and in con- 
nection with the pointed sermons and exhortations, 
were so effective that 100 converts were made before 
the meetings closed. 

A United Brethren Church was formed in March, 
1860, with seventy-nine members, some of the con- 
verts having joined other churches. 

In 1874, they erected a church edifice, worth some 
$1,500, on Section 14. 

The present officers are Uriah Luse, Steward ; Rev. 
Henry Luse, Class-leader ; J. Worth, D. Fisher, 



Uriah Luse, Moses McKissick and Dr. H. E. Wood- 
bridge, Trustees. 

Rev. H. Luse preached for eighteen months after 
the church was organized, since which time various 
ministers have presided, Rev. Mr. Johnson being the 
present pastor. 

THE EVANGELICAL PARADISE CHURCH. 

This church was organized, in 1874, wi'.li twelve 
members, by Jacob Young, who had organized a class 
some three years previous. 

In 1874, a church building was constructed at an 
expense of some $1,500. It now has a church mem- 
bership of forty-six, and a Sunday school which aver- 
ages an attendance of sixty scholars. 

The present officers are Elias Minnig, Cyrus Dil- 
ler, John Ord, Adam Ord, George Young, John 
Swartz and Joseph Luse, Trustees; Elias Minnig, 
Class-leader. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first schoolhouse was erected in 1836, near 
" Five Points," so called, because five roads center here. 
The material of which it was constructed was logs, 
and great haste was evidenced, for sufficient time was 
not taken to square off" the logs at the corners, and 
they presented anything but an inviting appearance. 
0. Grant taught the first school. This, in turn, 
was supplanted by a rough frame house, erected by 
David Thompson, which in turn gave place to some- 
thing more in keeping with the progress made by the 
people. In January, 1869, this was burned, and the 
people became possessed with an apathy on school 
matters, and concluded to wait until the next annual 
school meeting before raising money to build another ; 
but by the persistent efforts of Henry Thompson, a 
special meeting was called, and a petition framed and 
sent to the Legislature, then in session, praying that 
they be allowed to issue school bonds with which to 
procure money to erect another schoolhouse, and it 
was pushed with such vigor that, in February, Mr. 
Thompson received a certified copy of the special act, 
granting them authority to issue bonds for the pur- 
poses therein specified. The bonds were sold, and a 
$1,500 house erected that season, and the whole debt 
liquidated the following year. A little leaven in this 
case was fruitful of great results. May 19, 1837, 
the whole township was constituted a school district 
by 0. Grant, Frederick W. Miller and Edward 
Howe, School Commissioners ; and the 27th of the 
same month the eastern portion was set aside into 
District No. 2. The township now contains seven 
school districts, two of them being fractional with a 
brick house in Ontwa and frame house in Porter. 
District No. 1 has a frame house valued by school 



HISTOKY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



oflBcers in their report (the valuation of each house is 
that placed upon it by the officers) at $600. It has 
a seating capacity of forty-four. District No. 2 has 
a brick house valued at $500, with a seating capacity 
of forty. Dictrict No. 4 has a brick house, valued at 
$1,500, with a seating capacity of seventy-two. Dis- 
trict No. 5 has a brick house, erected in 1874, valued 
at $3,000, with a seating capacity of 110, and is a 
credit to the district and township, for it is the best 
rural schoolhouse in the State, being complete in all 
its appointments. It is divided into two rooms, and 
two teachers are employed during the winter months. 
District No. 6 has a frame house, valued at $50 ; seat- 
ing capacity, forty. The whole number of school 
children between the ages of five and twenty years — 
not including fractional districts — is 259. 

District No. 4 has 108, and District No. 6, forty- 
seven volumes in their libraries, the other districts 
having no libraries. The past fiscal year $547 were 
paid for male, and $510 for female teachers. 

INITIAL EVENTS. 

The first frame house was erected by Dr. Henry 
Follett, in 1838, who was also the first practicing 
physician. He came here from Cayuga County, N. 
Y., and remained in the township until his death, in 
December, 1849. No representative of his family 
now resides in the county. 

Mr. Edwin W. Reynolds, who came from Medina 
County, Ohio, was the first practicing attorney in the 
township. His death, which occurred in 1862, was 
occasioned by injuries inflicted when run away with 
by a high-spirited horse. His widow is now the wife 
of D. M. Howell, of Penn. 

The first brick houses, which are still standing, 
were erected in 1849, one by Walker Miller and the 
other by Henry Thompson. 

As before noticed, the first fruit trees were set out 
Elam Beardsley, in 1830 ; the next were planted by 
Darius Beardsley, in 1832, who procured the seed 
of his brother Ezra, who brought them from Ohio. 
Isaac Mosher has 800 fruit trees, the greatest num- 
ber possessed by any one man in the township. 
There are no extensive mills in the township, but one 
is located near Mud Lake, and another in Section 9. 

Mr. C. O'Dell was among the jolly landlords of 
the olden time, and his tavern was located on the 
farm now owned by John Smith. Stewart C. Gardner, 
as before noticed, also acted in the same capacity. 

The marriage bells, had there been any at that 
early time, would have first been rung in 1833 to 
celebrate the ceremony which made Clara Beardsley 
the wife of John H. Smith. 

In 1836, an infant child of John Worst was killed 



by a falling tree, and was the first child interred in 
the cemetery at Five Points. 

The first and only post ofiice was called Legar, and 
was located on the farm of Moses McKessick. Ezra 
Hatch officiated as Postmaster, in 1852. 

In 1870, G. H. Mann came from Medina County, 
Ohio, and, soon thereafter, started a blacksmith shop 
on Section 8. which, with one at Kessington, com- 
prises all the disciples of Vulcan. 

When the sturdy pioneers had assembled for the 
first time to perform the duty incumbent upon every 
male citizen of the United States, no ballot-box had 
been provided, and the time allotted was not sufficient 
to enable them to manufacture one. At the suggestion 
of one inclined to be humorous, a mitten, was used as a 
receptacle for the ballots then and there cast, and one 
would be safe in the assertion that no mitten stuffing 
was indulged in on this occasion. 

When we consider the primitive methods employed 
■ by the ancient Egyptians in grinding their corn, and 
the stump-pounding process used by the Indians, it 
< would seem as if simplicity of mechanism had been 
exhausted and no expedient" could be adopted that 
could compare with their methods, unless it be the 
breaking of one kernel at a time upon a stone, by the 
, concussion of another, and it would be about as 
effective as the method employed by John Novel, who 
operated the first and only grist-mill in the township. 
One common stone — hard-head — was placed upon an- 
other, and near the outer surface of the uppermost 
one a hole was drilled, into which an iron-pointed 
stick was inserted, which was long enough to extend 
I up to and through a circular crevice in the ceiling 
' above, and this stick was the fulcrum with which the 
. stone was propelled in a rotary motion from right to 
left — just opposite from the direction mill-stones 
usually revolve — with the left hand, while the right 
j was busily employed in throwing one kernel after an- 
other into the eye of the stone. From the degree of 
fineness obtained, the meal would appropriately come 
under the appellation of cracked corn. 

By industry one peck of grain could be manufact- 
ured in one day, and it was only when the family 
supply ran low that the proprietor would grind one 
j quart for present use, not that other business pre- 
i vented, for this was not a merchant mill ; its location 
in the midst of a thick forest in Section 9 prevented 
its being utilized for such a purpose. Curiosity im- 
pelled many people to visit this mill, long since de- 
stroyed, and one of the stones can now be seen in the 
Pioneer Museum at Cassopolis. The proprietor of 
this mill was a native of Virginia, and as to whether 
he was an F. F. V., cannot now be determined, as he 
long since moved away. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



415 



The first road through the township ran from Union 
to Cassopolis, and was surveyed by John Bogart in 
1832. The first road of record as laid out by Joseph 
McNeil and John Gorman, Road Commissioners, in 
May, 1830, and extended around Section 1. 

The number of voters in 1844 was seventy-eight, 
of which sixty-three were Democrats, twenty-four 
Whigs, fourteen doubtful, and one Abolitionist. At 
the general election in 1881, the total number of votes 
cast was 221 ; of these 141 were cast for the Demo- 
cratic candidates, seventy-four for the Republicans and 
six for the Greenback candidates. 

When the first settlers located, the forests were des- 
titute of tangled underbrush, the annual fires kindled 
by the Indians burning it clean, and one's vision 
could extend for miles through the woods, and discern 
the graceful deer, the ferocious bear or cunning fox, 
as they traveled their various ways in search of food. 
Since then, small trees and bushes of various descrip- 
tion have grown up and encumbered the woods, but a 
much greater change has been made in the face of the 
country by the industrious, progressive white man, 
for where the smoke wreathed from the simple wig- 
wam of the Indian, can now be found the commo- 
dious farm-house with its accompaniment of other farm 
buildings ; where the deer fed in comparative quiet, 
can now be found finely cultivated fields, which annu- 
ally yield many fold for seed planted therein, and 
thrift and comfort is visible on every hand, and all 
this has been accomplished within one-half a century. 

The township now contains 140 farms, having a 
total of 12,282 acres, or 87.78 acres in each, 9,228 
of which is improved. In 1879, from 2,327 acres 
sown to wheat, 54,578 bushels were threshed, an aver- 
age of 23.45 bushels per acre ; from 1,582 planted to 
corn, 109,450 bushels were harvested, and 486 acres 
of oats yielded 15,432 bushels. There was also raised 
507 bushels of clover seed, 302 bushels of peas, 5,075 
bushels of potatoes, and 1,488 tons of hay. There 
was also possessed in the township in 1880, 377 horses, 
629 head of cattle, 968 hogs, and in 1869, 1,403 
sheep that sheared 6,130 pounds of wool, 439 acres 
are planted to orchards, while small fruits and berries 
are raised in abundances. 

CIVIL LIST. 

The following names are those of the principal 
township civil ofiicers from the year 1836 : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1836, Moses Stafford ; 1838, Saxton P. Kingsley ; 
1839-40, Reuben Allen; 1841, S. P. Kingsley; 
1842-44, John S. Bement ; 1845, George Arnold; 
1846-48, Ezra Hatch ; 1849-51, John S. Bement ; 



1852, George Arnold ; 1853-54, Ezra Hatch ; 1855- 
56, George Arnold; 1857-60, E. W. Reynolds; 
1861-63, Henry Thompson ; 1864, George Arnold ; 
1865, W. H. Stevens ; 1866-67, J. H. Graham ; 
1868, William Allen ; 1869, J. H. Graham ; 1870, 
Lewis H. Miller ; 1871-72, Henry Thompson; 1873- 
78, J. H. Graham ; 1879, *Henry Thompson ; 1880- 
82, J. H. Graham. 

TREASURERS. 

1836, John Worst ; 1837, O. Grant ; 1838-39, 
C. C. Landry ; 1840-41, Henry Follett ; 1842-49, 
JohA Miller i 1850-52, William B. McNeil; 1853- 
56, John Miller ; 1857, James C. Meacham ; 1858, 
Joseph H. Burns ; 185,9, W. 0. Hatch ; 1860, S. B. 
Glines ; 1861, Henry Olds ; 1862-67, J. A. McNeil ; 
1868-72, H. F. Garmon ; 1874-77, Aaron Dicker- 
hoof; 1878-79, Edward J. Bement ; 1880, Charles 
A. Thompson ; 1881, Edward J. Bement. 



1836, S. P. Kingsley ; 1887-38, J. McNeil ; 1839, 
Henry Follett; 1840, A. A. Goddard ; 1841-42, 
Henry Follett; 1843-45, W. W. Bird; 1846-47, 
P.Sutton; 1848, William Allen; 1849-51, P. Sut- 
ton; 1852-56, John S. Bement; 1857-59, H. C. 
McNeil; I860, Anson L. Dunn; 1861, Stephen 
Colby ; 1862-64, H. C. McNeil ; 1865, William D. 
Coe ; 1866-68, George B. Harker ; 1869-78, H. C. 
McNeil ; 1879. George H. Redfield ; 1880, Hugh C. 
McNeil ; 1881, George H. Redfield. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

REV. .JAMES ASHLEY. 
The subject of this memoir was born in Toronto, 
Canada, November 18, 1815, and was the son of 
Leonard and Sally (McDougal) Ashley. In 1826, 
the family removed to Huron County, Ohio, and here, 
with the advantages and disadvantages of a new coun- 
ty, the boy became a man. The elder Ashley was a 
farmer, and unable to give his son any educational 
advantages. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, 
which avocation he followed at intervals. At the age 
of fifteen he was converted, and in 1841 commenced 
preaching; his labors were immediately successful; 
his earnest manner aroused the careless, while his 
sympathy, remarkable affability and colloquial gifts 
attracted all classes. New fields were opened, new 
churches constituted, and the Seneca Quarterly Meet- 
ing organized. The Huron Quarterly Meeting, in 
which he entered the church and the ministry, re- 



*FuUo<l to .(""llfy, 



1 J. II. Graham sppoinled. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ceived a portion of his labors ; but most of his pas- 
toral and evangelical work was in connection with the 
Seneca Quarterly Meeting, where much good was 
accomplished. In 1855, he removed to Cass County, 
where he spent the remainder of his useful life, hold- 
ing the pastoral relation for more than twenty-five 
years. Like all other Free-Will Baptist ministers 
forty years ago, he labored virtually as a missionary, 
receiving an indefinite, irregular and insufficient sup- 
port, supplying deficiencies by manual labor. After 
coming to Cass County, he worked at the trade of a 
carpenter ; in fact he was never idle. He preached 
twelve years in Sumnerville, he traveling in so doing 
some eighteen thousand miles, and for some time he 
held services in a cooper shop, but finally, through his 
efforts, a church was erected. He organized the 
society of Berrien Center, and labored there nine 
years. His whole soul was in his work, and, forget- 
ting self, he was always ready to make any sacrifices 
for the advancement of the cause in which he labored. 
It was through his instrumentality that the church at 
Adamsville, which was consumed by fire, was erected ; 
and when the present Free-Will Baptist Church of 
Mason was erected, he not only gave his labor, but 
$100, and made no charge for pastoral services. He 
was held in the highest esteem by the young as well 
as the old, and his services were especially required 
by those matrimonially inclined, his last ministerial 
labor being the marrying of two couples. He was a 
man of positive character, with decided opinions on 
all matters, wliich he expressed on all suitable occa- 
sions ; his plainness of speech and boldness of posi- 
tion would perhaps have made opponents and enemies 
had it not been for his sincerity and unselfishness ; 
and especially the wonderful degree of good nature 
and affability he possessed, for whether in the family 
or pulpit, in the church or Legislature (to which latter 
place he was elected in 1S69), he was very popular ; 
his good nature and Christian kindness did not fail 
him, and his friends were numerous. He died March 
23, 1882, after an illness of nearly a year. His wife, 
a most estimable Christian lady, who was his adviser, 
and who shared his adversities and successes, resides 
on the homestead. He became the father of a family 
of twelve children, viz. : William Henry (who died 
in the army April, 1863), John H., Delora J., Alice 
A., Fannie E., Robert Mc, Sally M., Lydia A., 
Mary E., Fred L., Laurie L. (deceased), Ardella R. 
(deceased). 

J. TIUBBAllD THOM.VS. 
The early life of Joseph H. Thomas was such as to 
prepare him for pioneering in the far West, for it was 
largely occupied in hard labor in the Green Mount- 
ain State, where his parents were pioneering with a 



large family, and they possessed of limited means. 

I For a number of years, Joseph H., assisted by one of 
his brothers, labored hard to raise the incumbrance on 

i his father's property, which was an act of filial duty 
one would expect of the man. 

j He was born in Salisbury, Vt., September 8, 1807, 
and is of Welsh extraction, as one would judge from 
his physique, for he is a man of large stature and pos- 

] sessed of more than ordinary strength. While a res- 
ident of Vermont, he became very expert in the use 
of the ax, and recounts the feat of cutting 400 cords 
of three-foot wood in fifty days, and one day of per- 
forming the almost miraculous feat of cutting eleven 
cords. His father, Isaac Thomas, was born in Pack- 
ersfield. New Hampshire, in October, 1775. His 

I mother, Arthusa M. Hubbard, born in Springfield, 
Vt., in 1784, was the daughter of Col. Joseph Hub- 
bard, of that place, who was born in Old Hadley, 
Mass. Mr. Thomas' parents were married in 1806, 
and settled on a farm in the town of Salisbury, Vt., 

j where they resided until the death of Mr. Thomas, 

j which occurred in 1848, aged sixty-three years. 
The subject of this sketch is the eldest of eight chil- 
dren — Horace, born August 1809; Eliza, born Sep- 
tember, 1811; Harry, born October, 1814; Robert 
B., born September 30, 1816; Thankful, August, 
1820; G. Adolphus, January, 1823; Jefferson, Jan- 
uary, 1825. His ancestors came from Wales during 
the reign of George I. They were among the early 
printers of Boston. Isaiah Thomas printed the Bos- 
ton Spy, and in 1772 it was suppressed by George 
III for disloyal sentiments. He then removed to 
Worcester, Mass., where he issued the Worcester Spy, 
and his printing press was on exhibition in Machin- 
ery Hall, at the Centennial of 1876, and was the 
one on which was printed the first copy of the Dec- 
laration of Independence in this country. 

When twenty-eight years of age, J. Hubbard Thomas 
removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he remained 
until coming to Cass County, in May, 1830, at which 
time he purchased 160 acres of wild land in Section 
18, at $5 per acre, which has been added to until he 
now possesses 230. By girdling timber, he raised 
500 bushels of wheat the first year on his new farm. 
Mr. Thomas has been eminently successful in his 
chosen avocation. Owing to early experiences, he has 
always been quite conservative and self-sustained, 
relying entirely on his own exertions and judgment to 
further his financial interests, and they have proved 
more than ordinarily reliable. 

Not a member of any Christian denomination, he 
believes in the brotherhood of all mankind, and in 
living according to the golden rule. 

IIo was married, May 11, 1836, to Eunice, daughter 



f^lf'lf^ 





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ELIJAH BISHOP, 



DANflEL BlSjiOP. 



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•V- 





HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of John Townsend, who was born in Charleston, 
Mass., October 30, 1767, and Eunice (Howe) Town- 
,send, widow of Joseph Cloyes, who was born in 
Shrewsbury, Mass., November 15, 1774. 

By her first marriage she became the mother 
of two children — Elijah and D. II. Cloyes. By 
her second marriage she became the mother of nine 
children, viz. : Relief, born July 2, 1805, died August 
25, 1824 ; John, born February 20, 1807, now in 
Vermont; Nancie, born March 23, 1808, now in 
Vermont; Joseph C, born August 11, 1809, died 
January 11, 1810 ; Lorancy, born January 5, 1811, 
now in Wisconsin ; Eunice, born April 24, 1812 ; 
Sarah, born January 18, 1814, now in Wisconsin; 
Gideon H., born June 8, 1816, now in New York 
State; William L., born August 9, 1820, died July 
22, 1828. John Townsend died March 21, 1841, 
and his wife, Eunice, June 6, 1847. 

Mrs. Thomas has shared the privations and labor 
of pioneer life with her husband, and is now with him 
enjoying the fruits of their industry. She has long 
been a member of the Baptist Church. 

They have been the parents of four children — 
Helen M., born September 8, 1837, now Mrs. G. A. 
Meacham, in Mason; Edwin, born May 31,1841, 
died May 31, 1864 ; Arabella M., born July 27, 
1846, now a widow lady, Mrs. M. E. Dills, and Ida 
L., born December 5, 1853, died September 9, 1855'. 

ELIJAH BISHOP. 

The subject of this sketch, Elijah Bishop, was born 
at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., in 1811, and is a son of 
Sylvester and Ruth (Duel) Bishop. 

The life of Mr. Bishop has been no holiday affair, 
for his parents being poor, he was obliged to face the 
stern realities' of life, and assist in obtaining a liveli- 
hood b^^|)erforming the laborious work on a farm 
when sc^^ung that he had not strength sufficient to 
straighten up the plow he was vainly endeavoring to 
guide. His opportunities for obtaining an education 
were quite limited, and like many of the solid, sub- 
stantial and successful men of our country, commenced 
life with but little book knowledge, but having early 
acquired habits of industry, was prepared for the 
hardships of pioneer life he was called upon to en- 
dure, and success has crowned his labor. When four 
years of age, he removed to Cayuga County, of his 
native State, with his parents, and remained there 
until attaining his majority, when he emigrated to 
Medina County, Ohio, and made it his home until 
coming to Cass County, in 1838, at which time he 
was accompanied by his father. 

Mr. Bishop purchased his farm of George Redfield, 
and can now look back with much complacency to the 



hard struggle necessary to pay for it. The first pay- 
ment of $25 was made by splitting fence-rails, but 
those succeeding were the most difficult to meet, for 
wages were but 50 cents per day and store pay legal 
tender, and for one year's labor one would sometimes 
procure but $5 in cash. Corn brought but 20 cents 
per bushel ; wheat from 40 to 50 cents per bushel ; 
pork, $1.50 per hundred ; and it was so difficult to 
obtain money, that he had almost deeided to surrender 
his farm, when all but three of the forty acres were 
cleared when Mr. Redfield extended the time indefi- 
nitely, and he concluded to resume his labors. It 
was a joyful time when the last dollar was paid, 
although it took his work oxen to make up the amount. 
At this time he discarded his squirrel skin cap and 
purchased a plush one which was looked upon as the 
height of extravagance by his neighbors. Mr. Bishop 
avers that his sugar bill now aggregates more than his 
entire household expenses at this time. 

He now possesses a fine farm, all the results of his 
own untiring industry, and the highest meed of praise 
is due for his energy and enterprise, and he is now 
numbered among the progressive and prominent 
farmers of Mason Township. In politics, he affiliates 
with the Democratic party. In 1832, he was mar- 
ried to Amelia, daughter of Jonathan Stephens, who 
came to Cass County in 1836, where his death oc- 
curred at the residence of his daughter, in 1851. 
Mrs. Bishop has well performed her part in the 
struggle for a livelihood and ultimate competency, and 
is the mother of five children, viz. : Jonathan, who 
resides in Mason; Augusta, now Mrs. J. W. Thomas, 
in Indiana ; Mary and Hiram, who reside at home, 
and Eleanna, now Mrs. David Holilerman. 

DANIEL BLSHOr. 
Sylvester Bishop, a native of the New England 
States, moved to Saratoga Springs when a young man 
and engagei in the tailoring business. From here 
he moved to Cayuga County, where his son Daniel 
was born in 1-*19. His family consisted of eight 
children, the order of their births being as follows : 
Timothy, Hiram, Eleanna, Permelia, Elijah, Daniel, 
Mary and Allen. Sylvester Bishop came to Cass 
County in 1838 with his son Elijah, who went to 
New York this same year and returned with his 
brother Daniel. Daniel worked on the St. Joseph 
River until $50 was earned to pay for his father's 
farm. His father and mother, Ruth (Duel), lived 
with their youngest son, Allen, until their deaths, 
which occurred in 1859 and 1857 respectively. Allen 
lost his life by the recoil of a chain attached to a 
grubbing machine. Mr. Bishop is conversant with 
the expedients adopted by pioneers when carving 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



out for themselves a home, for this is what he has 
done, and he is now numbered among the oldest I 
pioneers of Mason Township. 

He first purchased forty acres of land at $5 per 
acre, which was duly improved, and additional land { 
purchased until he now possesses 120 acres, and is 
now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, respected by 
those with whom he has associated for over forty years. 
His life, which has been spent in agricultural pursuits, 
has been quiet and uneventful, which is conducive of 
the greatest amount of happiness, for the anxieties and 
perplexities of business life are avoided. A stanch 
Democrat, he has never taken an active part in poli- 
tics, preferring to attend strictly to his chosen avoca- 
tion, in which he has been successful. 

He was married May 7, 1848, to Mary Poff, 
daughter of Michael and Sarah Poff. Mrs. Bishop 
was born in Virginia in 1827. She came to Michi- 
gan in 1832 with her parents, who ultimately settled 
in Indiana, where they resided until their deaths. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are the parents of five children 
now living — Levi C. and Abraham, who reside in 
Mason; Cynthie E., now Mrs. N. A. Thompson, who 
resides in Mason ; and Timothy and Martha, who re- 
side at home. 

MU.LS OLDS. 

Among those who came into Cass County at a 
somewhat later date than the earliest settlers, and who 
still performed the labors of a pioneer on his farm, 
can be mentioned Mills Olds, who was born in Con- 
necticut, October 14, 1813, and is a son of Samuel, 
who died March 12, 1868, in his eighty-second year, 
and Salinda (Remington), who departed this life Feb- 
ruary 24, 1843, in her seventieth year. 

Mr. Olds became early inured to hard labor, his 
father moving on a new farm when he (Mills) was 
quite young, and was therefore prepared for the seven 
years spent in working by the month at hard manual 
labor. With the proceeds of the labor of his hands, 
he purchased the farm in Mason Township, to which 
he removed in 1851, and where he died Nov. 9, 1880. 
Before coming West, he learned the blacksmith's trade, 
but only followed the avocation of farming after 
reaching his new home. Honesty, integrity and in- 
dustry, and close attention to details were the princi- 
pal characteristics of Mr. Olds, and it was due to his 
industry, coupled with good financiering, that he ac- 
cumulated a competency. 

He affiliated with the Democratic party, and was 
elected by them to fill the office of Justice of the 
Peace, but aside from the ordinary interest evinced by 
the bulk of American citizens in governmental affairs, 
he took no prominent part in politics, he devoting the 
ma,jor portion of his time to business afl^airs. 



He was married December 24, 1845, to Mary B. 
Arnold, who was born in New York State July 4, 
1822, and departed this life January 28, 1859. Mrs. 
Olds was a member of the Close Communion Baptist 
Church, and a very estimable lady. 

They became the parents of children as follows : 
Stephen S. and May A., both of whom reside on the 
parental estate of 300 acres, the former of whom is 
married to Ann, daughter of Rev. James Ashley ; they 
they have two children — Glenn H. and Dean S. 



OHAPTEE XXXIX. 

NEWBERG. 

.John Bair, the First Settler— The Kmlfranfs Trials—" Land Sharks"— 
Geortte Poe— The Kiidd Family— Early Settlement— Land Entries 
—Civil Organization— Newberg— Tax Koll for 1838— I'ostal Service 
—Schools— Religious— Civil List— Biographical. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The first man to thread his way through the forests 
and plant the banner of civilization in the township of 
Newberg was John Bair. The date of his land entry 
is October 16, 1832. His was the first entry made 
in the township, and the only one during that year. 
He was one of the many who had a predilection for 
timbered land, and an abundance of water, hence his 
choice on Section 34, on the north bank of what is 
now known as Bair Lake, the larger part of which is 
in the township of Porter. At the date of his location, 
there was a road laid out and partially opened up, 
running east and west through the southern part of 
the township of Newberg, and near the northern 
borders of a beautiful lake. Here, upon the high 
banks of the lake, and on the north side of the road, 
the primitive log cabin was erected which for many 
succeeding years was his home. In course of time 
the trees were felled, fields were fenced, an orchard 
put out and the log cabin superseded by a frame build 
ing, which continued to be his home until his death 
Elizabeth Bair, the wife of Johnson Driskel, in the 
historian's interview with her, related many interest- 
ing incidents of their pioneer life. She is the "old 
est child of John Bair and Ruth (Ridgely), his wife 
and was a child when she came with her parents from 
Ohio to St. Joseph County. She well remembers 
the time when they came ; crossing the streams and 
marshes as best they could, ferrying over the larger 
streams and fording the smaller ones. All who 
crossed the dismal Maumee Swamp in those days well 
remember it; there were days in succession when 
they could look back from where they pitched their 
tents in the evening, to where they broke camp on 
the morning of the same day. From two to four ox 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



or horse teams were necessary to draw an ordinary 
load of household goods from two to four miles per 
day. Many emigrated in what were called 'Penn- 
sylvania Schooners." To attempt a pen picture of 
this grotesque vehicle would be a hazardous under- 
taking. It no doubt received the name of " schooner" 
from its capacious storage room, and the deep pan- 
eled, odd shaped box which to an imaginative mind 
might have resembled in a very slight degree, the 
body of a schooner before it was rigged with sails. 
However this may have been, if Capt. Andrew Rob- 
inson, who built the first vessel bearing this name had 
lived to see this wagon, he certainly would have pro- 
nounced it a burlesque upon his graceful craft. 

It was the custom in those days, when contemplat- 
ing a journey of any great distance, to construct a 
cover for this huge vehicle. A number of bows, 
made of tough elastic wood, as hickory or ash, were 
gotten out and shaved thin after the manner of mak- 
ing hoops. They were long, bent into a semicircle 
and fastened to the sides of the wagon box by means 
of cleats. Over the bows heavy canvas was stretched 
and fastened down at the sides and back end, thus 
forming a covering which was impervious to the rain 
and a protection against the burning rays of the sun 
or the chilly winds of autumn. The scanty supply of [ 
household goods were packed in the bottom of the | 
wagon box, the bedding uppermost, upon which the | 
wife and children were snugly ensconced. A neces- I 
sary accompaniment was a brace of hounds and the i 
old flint-lock musket. It was in about this style that 
Mr. John Bair moved his. family and effects to Michi- 
gan. A little casuality occurred while crossing a \ 
stream which we give here in the language of Eliza- 
beth Driskel. " As we were fording a deep stream, | 
our wagon upset. Mother had ray infant sister Mary 
in her arms, and they would have been drowned if 
mother's hair had not got tangled in the bows of the 
wagon cover and held her out of the water until father 
could get to her. How father saved us all I don't 
know, but he did." 

During the first year of Mr. Bair's residence in 
Newberg, he alternated farming with hunting, fishing 
and trapping. In his hunting and trapping excur- 
sions he was in the habit of stopping where night 
overtook him, with no companion but his dog and 
ij;un. He was familiar with the location and bound- 
aries of all the lands in this region, and thus wiis able 
to render valuable assistance to those who wished to 
purchase lands or make entries. At one time, when j 
the land office was located at Monroe, some ''land ! 
sharks" iiad been in the neighborhood looking up 
land, and obtaiTied the description of a lot that 
another party had selected and designed purchasing j 



for a home. The "land sharks" were on their way 
to the land office, rejoicing in the thought that the 
coveted prize would soon be secured. A brief con- 
sultation was held by the party who wished the land 
for a home, and Mr. Bair agreed, for a consideration, 
to outstrip them and enter the land for his friend. 
He set out at once on foot through the forests, paying 
no attention to roads which were at this time very 
indirect. When the -'land sharks" reached Mon- 
roe, they found, to their utmost surprise and chagrin, 
that they had been outdone, for Mr. Bair was there 
and most graciously informed them that they were a 
little too late, he having already secured the land. 

Mr. Bairs hospitality was known far and near, 
and his cabin was a wayside inn to all persons passing 
through the wilderness in those days, whether they 
were ministers of the Gospel, land viewers, hunters 
and trappers, white men or Indians. 

The two persons who have resided longest in New- 
berg are Elizabeth Driskel and Asa Bair, children of 
John and Ruth Bair. Harriet Ridge, who now lives 
in the village of Marcellus, another of their children, 
was the first white child born in Newberg Township. 
The remaining children are Mary, Nancy, Joseph, 
Myron, Ruthina and John. 

The next person to enter land and make a settle- 
ment in the township of Newberg was Daniel Driskel, 
in the fall of 1834. His first entry was dated Octo- 
ber 17, 1833, on Section 36. He, with his family, 
came from Ohio to St. Joseph County, and thence to 
Newberg, and settled on Section 35, near where his 
present residence is situated. Here he continues to 
live, the only one left of the earliest settlers. Mr. 
Driskel, by hard work and prudent management, has 
added to his possessions until he has now a large and 
well-improved farm, one of the best in this part of 
the township. He and his wife Rebecca, the daugh- 
ter of William D. Jones, have borne well their share 
of the labors and responsibilities of pioneer life, and 
will be remembered by the good people of Newberg 
when they recount the lives and deeds of their most 
valued citizens. Of the three children born to them, 
but one, Helen, is living. 

In 1835, George Poe settled on Section 22. He 
came from Crawford County, Ohio, and made his first 
entry of land September 16, 1835. He subsequently 
made other entries, and other members of the Poe 
family came in and made settlements in the same 
locality, thus forming the nucleus of a settlement 
which is to-day known as the Poe neighborhood, and 
from which Poe's Corner takes its name. This family 
are descendants of Adam Poe, the noted Indian 
fighter. During this year, entries were made by A. 
J. Poe, Marverick Rudd, Thomas Armstrong, Sam- 



420 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



William 



uel Hutchings, Felix Girton, John Grinell. 
D. Jones and others. 

In the year 1836, a number of settlements were 
made, the priority of which it is difficult to determine, 
but among them was John Grinell. He was a native of 
Vermont ; leaving that State when but a small lad, he 
went to Onondaga County, N. Y.. and thence to Penn 
Township, Cass County, in 1834, where he remained 
two years, and then he became a resident of New- 
berg Township, where he resided until his death. 
The date of his first entry of land is December 23, 
1836, and that of his second entry, February 18, 
1836, the former entry being on Section 31, and the 
latter on Section 30. He came with two horse teams, 
bringing his family, household goods, and provisions 
enough to last during the journey ; he was also accom- 
panied by Mr. Barker and Stephen Rudd. He 
reached Penn Township in the fivll of 1834, with but 
$25 in his pocket, and this he invested in a milch 
cow, which proved to be a very fortunate purchase, 
as she was the main support of the family during the 
winter. Potatoes, salt and milk constituted their 
frugal fare for many days in succession. The next 
spring he rented a farm and put out spring crops. 
The memorable June frost of this year injured the 
corn, but the oat crop was bountiful and proved to be 
very remunerative, as they were worth $1.10 per 
bushel at Kalamazoo. 

The following spring, 1836, he moved to his farm 
in Newberg, on Section 30, where he had built a 
log cabin the previous winter; here he lived until his 
death, which occurred in 1838. Of the children of 
John Grinell and his wife Lucinda, nee Rudd, the 
two eldest, Silas and Zelia, are deceased ; M. P., is 
in North Michigan ; Thomas W., in Wisconsin ; Abbie, 
in Volinia ; Barrak, in California; Sally, in Pennsyl- 
vania; J. R., in Newberg on the old homestead, and 
Sylvester, in Cassopolis. 

Barker F. Rudd, a native of Vermont, came to 
Cass County in 1834. He and his brother Stephen 
started from Vermont with teams, and as they passed 
through the State of New York, stopped at John 
Grinell's, a brother-in-law, and prevailed on him to 
accompany them. They all came to Calvin Township, 
where a sister of the Rudds, Mrs. Jessie Hutchings, 
resided. Barker and Stephen worked at their trade, 
that of carpenters and joiners, for some time in the 
employ of an uncle, Henry Jones, for whom they 
built a dwelling house. While living on Young's 
Prairie, Mr. Rudd purchased the first cook stove in 
the neighborhood, which was looked upon as a very 
doubtful innovation. 

In 1836, Barker erected a frame house on land be- 
longing to his brother Maverick, on Section 31, and 



moved into it, and from this time until his death he 
was a resident of this township. While residing here, 
he constructed a saw-mill on the banks of a small 
stream on Section 32. His was the first saw-mill in 
the township. The little stream that was to furnish 
the motive power failed the next fall, in conse- 
quence of the dry weather. About this time, Bald- 
win Jenkins, of Pokagon, made him a visit ; and Mr. 
Rudd, who no doubt was somewhat elated over his 
mill, as it was the first and only one in that section 
of the country, invited his friend and the ladies to 
take a walk down and view it. After looking it over 
and hearing Mr. Rudd's enthusiastic remarks con- 
cerning it, Baldwin very seriously inquired if there 
was any water there when he built the mill. 

The following is from papers prepared by Mr. Rudd 
for publication a short time before his death : 

" In the fall of 1834, I saw Cass County for the 
first time. I landed on what is now Calvin Town- 
ship, where I had a sister living, the wife of Jesse 
Hutchinson. She is now in Iowa with the rest of 
the Hutchinson family. The first vote I remember of 
casting was in an old house, on what is now the farm of 
William Jones, located near where the road strikes 
the marsh going west from James Bower's place. This 
was an election of delegates to form the State Consti- 
tution. James O'Dell, Baldwin Jenkins and Col. New- 
ton, were the delegates of the Whig party. I shall 
never forget an old Whig voter in his zeal and under 
the inspiration of old rye, declaring that whoever 
voted that ticket would clear himself from hell. 
Pretty strong language I thought. I voted for them 
and they were all elected. 

" A short time before Horace Nicholson met his sad 
fate in Lilly Lake, he and I were getting up a petition 
to the Territorial Legislature, to have the township of 
Newberg organized. Horace remarked 'we will spell 
it differently from other burgs,' so we spelled it 
'berg.'" Barker Rudd was a man full of energy 
and enterprise, and whatever he turned his hand to 
he did with all his might. He was often called upon 
by his fellow-citizens to fill positions of honor and 
trust. At the time of his death, he was living in the 
northwest part of the township, on Section 6, where 
his widow now resides with her son Nelson. The 
children are Harriet, Abbie, Candace, Barrak, 
Thomas (deceased). Nelson and Alice. 

William D. Easton, a native of New Jersey, came 
to New York when a young man, and remained about 
sixteen years. While living in this State his first 
wife. Ann» Smith, who hal borne him three children, 
died. March 30. 1824, he married his second wife, 
Mary R. Powell. The fruit of this union was seven 
children. In June, 1825, he moved to Calhoun 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



County, Mich., and from thence to Nowberg Town- 
ship in 1836. There were but seven families in the 
township when he came. He entered land on Sec- 
tion 30. His son-in-law, William H. Pemberton, is 
living on the old homestead. William H. Pember- 
ton has been a citizen of Newberg since 1844, and has 
filled the office of Township Treasurer at different 
times. William D. Easton filled the office of Town- 
ship Clerk for many terms in succession in the early 
history of the township, and also the office of Justice 
of the Peace. He was in the war of 1812 and drew 
a pension. He was a man of retiring disposition, but 
active and energetic in business. He departed this 
life in 1877, at the age of eighty-four years. 

Alexander Allen, a native of the Emerald Isle, 
emigrated to the State of New York in 1814, when 
twenty-three years of age. He came to Newberg in 
1836, and entered land on Section 13, in July of the 
same year. He then returned to his former home in 
Washington County, for his family, and the following 
year returned to Michigan, and from that time until 
his death he was a resident of the township; he was 
a mason by trade, and his log cabin was the first to 
be honored with a brick chimney and large brick bak- 
ing oven. Isaac Sprague burned a brick-kiln on the 
farm of James Glass, on Section 34, from which the 
brick was obtained. This was the first brick-kiln in 
this part of country. 

William D. Jones, a native of New York, came to 
Ohio in 1832, and from thence to Michigan in 1836. 
He entered his land November 18, 1835, on Section 
34 ; he also made another entry on the same section 
July 21, 1836. Two of his sons, Dudley and Minor, 
came in and commenced improvements on their fiither's 
lands in the summer of 1836, and he followed them 
with the rest of the family in a few months. He built 
his log cabin on the north side of Bair Lake in the 
fall of 1836, and where he resided until his tragical 
death, which occurred on the night of the 18th of 
June, 1858. The manner of the death of William 
D. Jones and his wife, Mary, whose maiden name 
was O.sborn, is the most heartrending that ever befalls 
the pen of the historian to record. Mr. Jones had 
passed through all of the privations and hardships 
incident to pioneer life, and had by long years of toil 
and good management, cleared up and improved a 
large farm ; reared, educated and provided for a large 
family of children, and was now contemplating the 
building of a large and substantial brick dwelling, in 
which to pass his declining years. The building was 
well under way, the material collected, and workmen 
engaged in its erection at the time the tragedy oc- 
curred. 

On the night above mentioned, tho family retired 



at the usual hour, Mr. Jones and two of the workmen 
sleeping up-stairs ; and Mrs. Jones, an invalid at this 
time, and two young ladies, one a daughter, the other 
a grand-daughter, were sleeping below. About 11 

j o'clock, a dense smoke, which filled the whole house, 

i aroused the workmen, who loudly gave the alarm 
and rushed down stairs. The daughter had arisen, 

1 ran through the back kitchen out to the well, leaving 
the doors open. This furnished a draft, and the 
flames poured through the door into the main building, 
thus cutting off the escape of the men in that direc- 

; tion. They fled to the front door and found that 
fastened, but fortunately they chanced upon an ax, 

I with which they battered it down and secured their 
escape. They at once hastened to the window of 
Mrs. Jones' bedroom, and broke it in to attempt her 

[ rescue. This only furnished the fire fiend with a new 
weapon. They were beaten back by the flames, and 
with the daughter and grand-daughter, were compelled 
to stand by powerless to render any assistance — im- 

I potent witnesses of the holocaust. Mr. Jones suc- 
ceeded in reaching the foot of the stairs, where he was 
overcome with the smoke and flames, and perished. 
The grand-daughter never knew how or when she 
made her escape. 

E. H. Jones, the youngest of their family, now 
resides on the old homestead. He is a man of fine 
intellectual abilities, and, in addition to the office of 
Justice of the Peace, which he has held for many 
years, was elected to represent his district in the State 
Legislature in 1862. The village of Jones, which 
bears his name, was surveyed and platted by him in 
1875, but neither the plat nor date of survey is a matter 
of record. 

Spencer Nicholson, a'native of Vermont, came into 
the township and settled on Section 32 in the fall of 
1836. He laid out a village south of Lilly Lake and 
east of the graveyard, but it belongs to the class of 
villages known as " paper cities." Horace, his son, 
also entered land and made a settlement on the same 
section in the same year. In the fall of 1838, Horace 
Nicholson lost his life under the following circum- 
stances : He had shot and wounded a deer, which 
plunged into the lake and swam across. Horace 

I hurried to the bank of the lake where an old canoe 
was moored. The canoe was leaky and unsafe, but 
in the hurry and excitement of the moment, he allowed 
his zeal to overcome his prudence and ventured out 
in the rotten craft, intending to paddle across before 
it would fill and sink, but the water gained on him so 
fast that it went down before half-way across. He 
was a good swimmer, but from his reduced condition, 
caused by a recent attack of tlie fever and ague, and 
the water being very cold, he became chilled and was 



422 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



unable to make much headway, and sank to be aeen 
no more. At the time of the accident, his father and 
mother were on the bank of the lake, and saw their 
son go down, but were unable to render him any aid. 

Samuel Hutchings, a native of the State of New 
York, came to Portage County, Ohio, in 1833, and 
from thence to Michigan in 1837. The date of his 
land entries on Sections 32 and 33 is October 1, 1835, 
but he did not make a permanent settlement until 
1837. He came from Ohio to Newberg with two 
yoke of oxen attached to one wagon, bringing with 
him his family and household goods. His experiences 
as a pioneer were the same as all those who emigrate 
to a new and undeveloped country must necessarily 
pass through. Of his children now living. Nelson A. 
and Harriet J. are in Newberg, the former on the old 
homestead ; Charlotte A. and Martha, in St. Joseph ; 
Flora M., in South Haven, and Marvin 0. in Wash- 
ington Territory. 

Samuel Eberhard, a native of Pennsylvania, came 
with his parents, David and Susan Eberhard., to Craw- 
ford County, Ohio, in 1826, where he remained ten 
years, and from thence he came with his parents to 
Porter Township, where his father entered land and 
remained one year. The date of his settlement in 
Newberg is 1837. His father moved from Ohio to 
Michigan with ox teams, having four and sometimes 
six oxen attached to the wagon which was loaded with 
1,600 pounds of household goods, provisions for the 
journey and other effects. His father also brought 
with him ten head of cattle and a number of sheep. 
There was such a plentiful supply of wild game in 
the forests when they came that, during the year they 
lived in Porter Township, they purchased but fifteen 
pounds of pork of John Bair, paying him twenty-five 
cents per pound. In the fall of 1836, Samuel's suc- 
cess as a hunter was established. He. in eighteen 
successive days, killed forty-five deer with what he 
terms his " pillock" rifle. 

During the winter of 1836-37, he and his father 
constructed their first log cabin in Newberg Township, 
on Section 22, and in the spring of 1837 moved into 
it, and from that time until the present Samuel has 
been a citizen of this township. The hewed logs of 
this cabin are in a sound condition and may be seen 
to-day in a log stable on Section 23, where Samuel 
now resides. 

In the spring of 1847. while engaged in planting 
corn, Samuel's hoe struck on some object which, at 
first, he thought to be an old root, but on closer ex- 
amination it proved to be a roll of clay, which on 
being broken open was found to contain an Indian's 
calumet or pipe of peace. It was constructed in such 
a manner as to perform the double office of pipe and 



tomahawk. What lends greater interest to this instru- 
ment is the ingenious way in which the copper edge 
is let into and welded to the iron blade. The method 
of uniting copper and iron was known to the ancients, 
but may now be classed among the lost arts. This 
pipe is now among the archives of the Pioneer Society 
at Cassopolis. 

Rachel and Betsey Eberhard, sisters of Samuel, 
were the first interments inthePoe Cemetery. Rachel 
deceased the 7th of May and Betsey the 14th of the 
same month in 1838. 

Hiram Harwood, a native of Vermont, emigrated'^^ 
to New York and from there to St. Joseph County, 
Mich., in 1831. He and his family, accompanied by 
Gard Sickles and family, came with teams by way of 
the Erie Canal and the lakes to Detroit, and thence 
across the southern part of Michigan to Three Rivers, 
where Hiram Harwood made his home for six years. 
The country around Three Rivers at this time was 
sparsely settled, there being only one log house where 
Three Rivers now stands. He lived in a trader's bark 
shanty the first winter, his table being an old chest, 
and very often his scanty meal consisted of nothing 
but potatoes and salt, and this condiment cost fifteen 
cents per pound. He entered his land in Newberg, 
January, 1837, on Section 24. Here, on the banks 
of what is now known as Corey Lake, he erected his 
log cabin. Joshua Corey had settled on the same 
section the year previous, and he was the only neigh- 
bor residing within three miles, and Three Rivers was 
his nearest trading-point. With the early history of 
the township he was intimately identified, as will be 
seen by reference to its civil Use. He was a man of 
great fortitude, seldom changing his opinions and 
plans when once formed. He was a pensioner of the 
war of 1812. His remains with that of his wife sleep 
in the Corey Burying Ground. Of the children now 
living, Nathan and Silas are living in Newberg, the 
former on the old homestead, and Daniel A., in St. 
Joseph County; Maila A., Sarah A., and Betsey are 
deceased. 

Myron F. Burney, son of Thomas Burney, came 
with his father to this township when two years of 
age, and has lived here ever since. He is a respected * 

citizen and lives on his farm on Section 7. 1 i 

Peter Harwood, a native of Wayne County, N. Y., t 

arrived with his family in Newberg in 1842, and 
settled on Section 25, being the first settler on that 
section. His son, William M., resides on Section 16, 
where he has a fiiie farm under a good state of culti- 
vation. He is spoken of as one of the progressive 
farmers of the township. Peter Harwood and his 
wife Mary (Averill) were interred in the Corey Lake 
Cemetery. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



423 



Martin Van Buren, native of Columbia County, 
N. Y., emigrated to Battle Creek, Mich., in 1836, 
where he remained seven years. From thence he 
removed to Brady, Kalamazoo County, but remained 
there only a few months, when he moved to Three 
Rivers, where he resided until his removal to New- 
berg in 1845. The first vote he ever cast was on the 
admission of the Territory of Michigan as a State. He 
now lives on Section 27. 

Sally A. Pound, the widow of Thomas Pound, is 
living on the old homestead on Section 25. Thomas 
purchased the land which was designated as Govern- 
ment swamp land about 1843. 

Thomas N. Dyer, a native of Vermont, emigrated 
to New York when a young man, where he resided 
for a number of years. He moved from New York 
to Constantine, St. Joseph County, in 1835, where 
he lived until he moved to Newberg in 1843, and 
settled on Section 33, where he died in 1879. He 
was in the war of 1812. His son, James M., lives 
on the old homestead. 

Reason S. Pemberton, a native of Ohio, moved to 
Indiana about 1832, and from thence to Michigan in 
1843, and settled in Penn Township. His son, Will- 
iam H. H. Pemberton, came to Newberg in the spring 
of 1870, bought a farm of William D. Easton, on Sec- 
tion 30, where he is living at the present time. 

J. S. Tompkins, a native of the State of New York, 
came with his father and two brothers to Trumbull 
County, Ohio, in 1828. They walked from Buffalo, 
a distance of about two hundred miles. Jabes S. 
Tompkins was only nine years of age at this time. 
When he was twelve years old he was apprenticed to 
Joseph M. Thorn for eight years and one month, or 
until he was twenty-one, to learn the shoemaker's 
trade. He came from Ohio to Michigan, and became 
a resident of Newberg in 1852. Has followed farm- 
ing till the last three years, which time he has been 
in a hotel at Jones Village. 

There are many others who came into the town- 
ship at a later day, but they cannot be consid- 
ered pioneers, although many of them did the first 
work upon their farms. As belonging to this class 
we enumerate the following persons : A. P. Beeman, 
Thomas McKee, Philo Brown, A. M. Sisson, John- 
son Driskel, Samuel McKee, A. P. Boyer, George 
Standerline, G. P. Mann, George Evans, J. M. Mc- 
Kee and others. 

John Hurd and his wife Rebecca (Walker) settled 
on Section 32 in 1836. They were from England ; 
came to America in 1828, and lived in Crawford 
County, Ohio, for eight years. Four children came 
with them from England, and four were born in 
America. The eldest, Mary, married John Lybrook, 



and resides in La Grange Township. John, who is a 
minister of the Disciples' Church, lives at Paw Paw. 
Ann (Chittenden) is in Iowa. Rebecca (Richardson), 
Thomas and Isaac are deceased, and Solomon and 
Samuel are in Texas. Mrs. Hurd is deceased, but 
the husband and father of the family is still living at 
the age of eighty-one years, and makes his home with 
his daughter, Mrs. Lybrook. 

The following comprises a list of the 

ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES 

of the township, and will be valued on account of 
their historic interest. 

Section 1. 

James Hunter, Cass County, Mieh., April 19, 1837 80 

James Ray, Jr., Cass County, Mich., April 10, 1837 80 

Simon Ramsey. St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 19, 1838 80 

John Maguire, Monroe County, N. V'., July 11, 1838 40 

Charles P. Sweet, St. Joseph County, Mich., Dec. 8, 1862 39 

Skotion 2. 

Miles P. Lanipson, Genesee Coiinty, July li, 183li 80 

Chauncey Wood, St. Joseph County, Mich., July 27, 183G IC.O 

Adolphus Chapin, St. Joseph County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1336... 80 

Wesley Sweet, St. Joseph County, Mich., Dec. 1, 1852 :. 80 

William Bird, St. Joseph County. Mich., Dec. 30, 1862 40 

William D. Norton, Medina County, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1853 80 

Section 3. 
Miles P. Lampson, Genesee County, N. Y., July 18, 183(1... 100 

Chauncey Wood, St. Joseph County, Mich., July 27, 18.SC 39G 

Daniel Linn, St. Joseph County, Mich 80 

Section 4. 

Daniel Linn, St. Joseph County, Mich., March 13, 1837 80 

William L. Bixby, Cass County, Mich., June 7, 1849 158 

Dayid Stickney, St. Joseph County, Mich., March 30, 1852.. 80 

William D. Norton, Medina County, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1852 160 

Henry K. Palmer, Orleans County, N. Y., Oct. 17,1853 160 

Section 5. 

Henry Van Gasken, Philadelphia, Penn., Jan. 10. 1887 80 

James Burns, Wayne County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1887 2S6 

Archibald Salmon, Wayne County. Micb., Jan. 16, 1837 80 

Morris D. Moore, Wayne County, Mich., Jan. 16, 1837 240 

Section 6. 

Henry Ladd, Oneida County, N. Y., May 27, 1836 76 

Henry Ladd, Oneida County, N. Y., July 13, 1830 80 

William Meek, Jr., St. Joseph County, Mich., July 13, 1886, lliO 

Robert Meek, St. Joseph County. Mich., July 13, 1836 70 

David Ladd, Oneida County, N. Y., May 13, 1836 69 

Susan Lamli, Cass County, Mich., March 21, 1848 141 

SE(moN 7. 

William Meek, St. Joseph County, Mich., July 14, 18.36 80 

.Marcus Sherrill, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 18, 1836 881 

Susan Lamb, Cass County, Mich., March 22 and Not. 3, 

1848 80 



■124 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Section 8. 
Selleok Richardson, Ontario County, N. Y., Jan. 10, 1S37.... 80 

Arthur Hughes, Wayne County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1837 80 

Amory H. Chapman, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 25, 1845 80 

Mary Ann Bixby, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 5, 1850 240 

Clifford Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., June 9, 1853 40 

Clifford Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1853 160 

Section 9. 

Lucian T. Metcalf, Otsego County, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1837 40 

Peter Van Scoy, Cass County, Mich., March 6, 1838 40 

George Pierce, Medina County, Ohio, Nov. &, 1850 160 

Clifford Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., June 8 and 15, 1853. 320 

Clifford Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1853 80 

Section 10. 
Miles P. Lampson, Genesee County, N. Y., July 18, 1837... 160 
Cbauncey Wood, St. Joseph County, Mich., July 27, 1837.... 320 

Lucian T. Metcalf, Otsego County, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1837 80 

Daniel Pease, St. Joseph County, Mich., April 21, 1837 40 

Section 11. 
Miles P. Lampson, Genesee County, N. Y., July 18, 1836... 160 

Buei; Wood, St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1837 80 

Abner Hibray, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 28, 1852 80 

Ebenezer M. Norton, Medina County, Ohio, July 3,1852 200 

William D. Norton, Medina County, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1853 40 

Section 12. 
Norman Harvey, St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1837.... 160 
Richard Chamberlain, St. Joseph County, Mich., Nov. 4, 

1852 160 

Section 13. 

Alexander Allen, Washington County, N. Y., July 25, 1830... 154 

Hiram Harwood, St. Joseph County, Mich., Jan. 9, 1837 80 

John S. Newhall, St. Joseph County, Mich., Feb. 10, 1837... 80 

Sauiuel Smith, Casa County, Mich., June 3, 1840 40 

Section 14. 

Adolphus Chapin, St. Joseph County, Deo. 16, 1836 320 

Ephraim Pine, Wayne County, Jan. 12, 1837 80 

John S. Newhall, St. Joseph County, Feb. 10, 1837 80 

•Section 15 

William Hamilton, St. Joseph County, March 4, 18311 80 

John S. Barry, St. Joseph County, April 22, 1><36 lllO 

Chauncey Wood, SI. Joseph County, July 27, 1836 H'.O 

Buell Wood, St. Joseph County, .Ian. 26, 1837 80 

Albert Andrus, St. Joseph County, Feb. 20, 18.37 80 

Sylvester I'ease, .St. Joseph County, April 21, 1837 40 

Section 16. 
School Lands. 

Section 17. 

Thomas Charlton, Sl. Joseph County, Dec. 15 1836 H'O 

James Bradford, Wayne County, Jan. 10, 1887 160 

John llurd, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1837 160 

James M. Chapman, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 12, 1849 40 

Clifford Shanahan, Cass County, Mich., June 8, 1853 120 

Section 18. 

Marcus SherriU, Onondaga County. N. Y., July 18, 1886 240 

Amelia M. Mead, Cass County, Mich., April 1, 1837 61 

Ira Meacham, Cass County, Mich., April 1, 1837 62 



George Meacham, Cass County, Mich , April 1, 1837 80 

Levi Chapman, Medina County, Ohio, Oct. 7, 1844 80 

John Hurd, Jr., Cass County, Mich., May 18, 1848 80 

Section 19. 

.Jason Powell, Calhoun County, Dec. 14, 1836 134 

Martin Easton, Cass County, Mich., May 17, 1849 142 

Charles F. Wood, Cass County, Mich., April 22, 1853 40 

Section 20. 

Ira Warren, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1836 157 

Charles S. Adams, St. Joseph County, Feb. 14, 1837 40 

R. Crego, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 2, 1847 80 

Section 21. 

Thomas Armstrong, St. .Joseph County, Oct. 21, 1835 240 

George Poe, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1836 80 

Norman Smith, Lenawee County, Dec. 14, 1836 320 

Section 22. 

George Poe, Crawford County, Ohio, Sept. 16, 18.35 120 

Samuel Hutchings, Portage County, Ohio, f)ct. 1, 1885 40 

Thomas Armstrong, St. Joseph County, Oct. 21, 1835 280 

Reason B. Brody, St. Joseph County, April 20, 1836 120 

George Poe, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1836 40 

George Poe, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1836 40 

Section 23. 

Notsil Baer, St. Joseph County, May 14, 1836 80 

George Poe, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 14, 1836 80 

James Temple, St. Joseph County, April 27, 1837 160 

William Jones, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1839 40 

Peter L. Baldy, St. Joseph (Jounty, Aug. 2, 1852 ^40 

Moses Deahof, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 12, 1852 40 

Section 24. 

Joshua B. Corey, St. Joseph Cuuuty, April 21, 1836 96 

Nathan Harwood, St. Joseph County, May 3, 1836 30 

Amos Emerson, Monroe County, N. Y., May 25, 1836 40 

Joshua 15. Corey, St. Joseph County, July 18, 1836 121 

Hiram Harwood, St. Joseph County, Jan. 9. 1837 160 

Section 25. 
Chauncey Wood, St. Joseph County, July 27, 1836, entire.... 640 

Section 26. 

Joseph Grinell, New Bedford, Mass., July 18, 1830 320 

Allen Miller, Cass County, Mich., June 3, 1837 40 

James Churchill, Ca.ss County, Mich., March 31, ISVi 40 

Section 27. 

George Poe, Crawford County, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1835 40 

Andrew J. Poe, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836 40 

Roger Wilson, Cayuga County, N. Y., Feb. 25, 1836 160 

Reason B. Brody, St. Joseph County, April 26, 1836 40 

Hugh Brody, St. Joseph County, July 5, 1836 80 

Joseph OrincU, New Bedford, Mass., July 18. 1836 280 

Section 28. 

Thomas Armstrong, St. Joseph County, Oct. 21, 1836 160 

Abram Hutchings, Lucas County, Ohio, March 10, 1836 71 

Hazen Whittier, Rockingham, N. H., July 7, 18.36 240 

George Poe, Ca.ss County. Mich., .luly 18, 1836 120 



'0^ ^ 



'%^ 



%J0 



j/,;viE3 M .chAPMAK- 



HISTORY OP CASS COUJSjTY, MICHIGAN. 



Samuel Hutchings, Cass County, Mich., July 15, 18 

John Hurd, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 26, 1837 

Horatio N. Monroe, Kalamazoo County, Mich., Jan. 

Section 80. 
John Grinell, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 18, 1836...., 



231 

1837. 122 



Silas Grinell, Cass County, Mich., March 16, 1886 

Spencer Nicholson, Rutland County, Vt., July 18, 1836. 

Maverick Rudd, Cass County, Mich., July IS, 1886 

Lewis Powell, Calhoun County, Dec. 14, 183(1 

William D. Easton, Calhoun County, Jan. 10, 1837 

Alanson Ward, (Senesee County, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1837 



Section 31. 

Felix Girton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 23, 1835 

John Grinell, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 18, 1835 

Maverick Rudd, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 24, 1835 

Lazarus Everhart, St. Joseph County, July 18, 183C 

Silas Grinell, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1836 

.Maverick Rudd, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1836 

Benjamin M. Girton, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 21, 1837. 

Ira Warren, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 24, 1844 

Joshua Richardson, Cass County, Mich., April 20, 1853.. 
Andrew J. Smith, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 17, 1863 



Section 32. 
Samuel Hutchings, Portage County, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1835... 

Barker F: Rudd, Cass County, Mich., March 7, 1836 

Warren Patchen, Steuben County, N. Y., March 26, 183f 
.Spencer Nicholson, Rutland County, Vl., July 6, 1836... 

Barker F. Rudd, Cass County, Mich., July 18, 1836 

Marvin Hannahs, Oneida County, N. Y., July 25, 1836.. 

Jeremiah Rudd, Rutland County, Vt., July 6, 1836 

Horace Nicholson, I'ass County, Mich., April 27, 1837... 



Section 33. 

Samuel Hutchings. Portage County, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1835 

William Wilson, Niagara County, N. Y., May 14, 1836 

Hazen Whittier, Rockingham County, N. H., July 15, 1836.. 
Lazarus Everhan, St. Joseph County, Ind., July 10, 1836.... 

Marvin Hannahs, Oneida County, N. Y., July 25, 1830 

Daniel Pease, St. Joseph County, April 21, 1837 



Section 34. 

John Bair, St. Joseph County, Ind., Oct. 10, 1832 

William D. Jones, Seneca County, N. Y., Nov. 18, 183{ 

John Bair, Cass County, Mich., July 14, 1830 

William Jones, Ashtabula County, Ohio, July 21, 1830. 
Roger Wilson, Cayuga County, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1830.... 
John Bair, St. Joseph County, Ind., Dec. 14,1830 



Section 35. 

Daniel Driskell, Casg County, Mich., Aug. 5, 1834 

John Orr, Livingston (Jounty, N. Y., Sept. 15, 1835 

William D. Jones, Seneca County, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1835.. 

Daniel Driskell, Cass County, .Mich., March 2, 1830 

llazen Whittier, Rockingham County, Vt., July 7, 1830.. 
[ines. Ashtabula County, Ohio, July 21, 1836... 



WiUii 

Otis Murdock, Madison County, N. V., July 22, 1836 

Adolphus Chapin, St. Joseph County, Ind., Jan. 18, 1837 

Heman B. Brownell, St. Joseph County, Ind., April 3, 1840.. 

Skition 30. 

Daniel Driskell, St. Joseph County, Ind., Oct. 17, 1833 

AbraiD Moe, Washtenaw County, March 31, 1830 

Otis Murdock, Madison County, N. Y., July 22, 1836 



Alva I'ine, Washtenaw (bounty, July 22, 1830 80 

Alex A. Weatherwax, Schenectady County, V. Y., July 22. 

1830 40 

Chauncey Wood, St. Joseph County, Ind., July 27, 1886 321 

The township of Newberg was created by an act of 
the State legislature, approved March 6, 1838, the 
enacting clause reading as follows : '• All that part of 
the county of Cass designated in the United States 
Survey as Township No. 6, south of Range 13, 
west, be and the same is hereby set off, and organized 
into a separate township by the name of Newberg, and 
the first township meeting shall be held at the house 
of John Bair, in said township." 

Much of the land in this township was originally 
owned by speculators, which postponed the advent of , 
permanent settlers and greatly retarded its develop- 
ment and growth. Hence, it was one of the last town- 
ships in the county to receive a population sufficiently 
large to warrant its separate organization. Previous 
to the year 1836, the country remained comparatively 
an unbroken wilderness, with no inhabitant, save the 
Indians, who traversed the forests in pursuit of game, 
and seldom pitched their wigwams for any great length 
of time within its borders. 

The surface is rough and hilly, in many localities 
the hilly peaks rising to a considerable height. There 
were no extensive plains, or open prairies, to invite 
the early settler, but on the contrary the greater por- 
tion of the township was covered with a very heavy 
growth of timber. The soil is what might be denomi- 
nated a gravelly clay, with many small stones scattered 
over its surface, and often large bowlders may be seen. 
Notwithstanding the roughness of the country, the 
well-filled granaries bear witness to the productive 
qualities of the soil, which is adapted to all the cereals 
raised in this latitude, and affords the husbandmen 
abundant remuneration for his labors. According to 
data contained in the annual report of the Secretary 
of the State of Michigan, we glean the following facts 
relative to farms and farm products : 

In 1880, the number of acres of laud in farms in the 
township of Newberg, were 15,682, of which it, 488 
acres were improved, and 6,11)4 unimproved ; whole 
number of farms 188, and the average number of acres 
in each farm, 83.41. The number of acres of wheat 
produced in 1871I, were 3,413, which yielded 64,228 
bushels, making an average yield per acre of 18.82 
bushels ; for the same year there were 260 acres of 
clover, with a yield of 330 bushels ; 80 acres of po- 
tatoes, with a yield of 9,563 bushels; 1,028 acres 
of meadow, with a yield of 1,216 tons of hay ; and in 
1880 there were 1,625 acres of corn produced, with 
a yield of 85,449 bushels of ears ; 565 acres of oats, 
with a yield of 13,224 bushels. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



From the same source we obtain the following 
statements in regard to live stock : 

In the month of May, 1880, there were in the town- 
ship, 425 horses, 357 milch cows, 355 cattle, other 
than milch cows, 933 hogs, 1,440 sheep. There were 
also 447 acres of apple orchard, from which there were 
5,394 bushels sold ; and the number of pounds of 
grapes sold were 4,500. 

This township was named by John C. Saxton, in hon- 
or of a town in Ohio, of which he cherished pleasant 
memories, but the orthography of the last syllable, 
which is usually spelled " burg," was changed to 
"berg," at the suggestion of Horace Nicholson. 

The following comprises a list of the personal and 
real estate of the resident tax-payers of Newberg in 
1838. 



John Grinell 


$ tiO 


$ 240 


Micajiah Grinell 


60 


189 


.Julius E. Nicholson 


10 


i.'^n 


Spencer Nicholson 


100 


228 


Oliva Nicholson 


10 


132 


Jeremiah Rudd 


115 


213 


John HurJ 


245 


1536 


Barker F. Hurd 


245 


240 


H.William 


245 


120 




85 


691 


Abram Hutchings 


75 


210 


Lewis Powell 


75 


303 


Jasen Powell 


85 


396 


W. D. Easton 


92 


300 


Ira Warren 


162 


834 


Owen Deall 


1G2 




Joshua B. Cory 


140 


353 


Nathan Ilarwood 


47 


92 


Alexander Allen 


105 


4r)3 


Hiram Harwood 


135 


120 


George Poe 


113 


480 


Reason B. Brody 


112 


480 


Peter Van Scoye 


30 


120 




112 


890 


Isaac Sprague 


.52 


240 






290 


Dudley Jones 


85 


290 




85 


480 


William D. Jones 


200 


834 




20 


834 


Miner Jones 


25 


834 


John Bair 


160 


865 


Enoch Baum 


40 


855 


Allen Miller 


00 


120 



VILLAGES. 

Within the township of Newberg there are two 
small villages — Jones and Corey. 

Jones is situated on the Air Line Railroad, on Sec- 
tions 34 and 35. The section line road, running 
north and south between those sections, forming the 
main street. The first business structure was put up 
by H. Micksel, about 1871, and used for a grocery 
and saloon. The next business building was built by 



David Fairfield, who kept a general stock of goods, 
and did business in it until it was burned. R. C. 
Sloan and William Meacham erected the next, and 
ran a general store. H. B. Doust erected the next, and 
conducted a general store. The next store, built by 
John Bair, is now occupied by A. L. Dunn, who car- 
ries a general stock. The next was by W. Leckner, 
for a meat market, which is now occupied by H. B. 
Doust as a drug store. The next by S. P. King, and 
is used by him as a shoe shop at this time. Henry 
Giddings, the blacksmith, occupies a building put up 
by the Arney Brothers. The hotel was built by 
David Fairfield, who kept it as a public house for a 
time. It is now used for the same purpose, and is 
occupied by J. S. Tompkins. Doty & Tims conduct 
the harness business. H. D. Long keeps a general 
store in the Doust building, and is doing an extensive 
business. The hardware business is represented by 
Thomas & Long. This village was platted by E. 
H. Jones, hence its name. It contains at the present 
time a population of 118. 

The village of Corey was surveyed and laid out on 
the 4th day of April, 1872, by Amanda Weatherwax. 
It is situated on the Air Line Railroad, on Section 
36. The first business building was put up by Capt. 
Hazen Brown, in 1873. He and his nephew, C. R. 
Crawford, were the first merchants. Corey, at the 
present time, contains one general store, George W. 
Watkins, proprietor, and one blacksmith shop, Wash- 
ington Piummer, proprietor. It has about fifteen 
dwelling-houses and a population of forty-four. It 
possesses a good depot, a post oflSce, and a Grange 
hall. 

Dyer, a flag station on the Air Line, on Section 33, 
has no business interests, but is used only as a stop- 
ping place for the accommodation of passengers. It 
was so christened for J. M. Dyer, whose farm and 
residence is located here. 

POSTAL SERVICE. 

As there were no villages in the township of New- 
berg until long after its organization, the first post 
offices were, as a matter of necessity, kept at private 
houses. The first postal route established through 
the township was the one running from Centerville to 
Niles, in 1836, and the first post office was at the 
house of R. Crego, located on the southwest quarter 
of Section 21. A. L. Dunn succeeded him, he hav- 
ing purchased Crego's farm. A. L. Dunn resigned 
in favor of William H. Barnum, who was the third 
and last at this place. The office was then removed 
to E. H. Jones', on Section 34, in 1870, and E. H. 
Jones was appointed Postmaster. 

The office is now at Jones Village, and R. C. Sloan 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



4-i7 



is the present Postmaster. There is also a post oflSce 
at Corey Station. 

SCHOOLS. 

Realizing the importance of education, schools were 
established at an early day, and some of the school- 
houses constructed of logs, but they have all been sup- 
planted with frame buildings, with which the nine 
school districts are supplied, and they have a total seat- 
ing capacity of 423. The number of children between 
the ages of five and twenty years are 562 ; and there 
was paid for their instruction during the last fiscal 
year, to male teachers, $785 ; female, $815.50. 
The school property is valued at $5,!I55. Vol- 
umes in public libraries, 336. 

The physicians of the township have not been 
numerous, the practice having been done by doctors 
who were located in the towns and villages adjacent 
to this section. The first physician to locate and re- 
main in the township was Thomas L. Blakely, M. D. 
Dr. Blakely has been in the township for many years, 
and is at the present time a practicing physician and 
resident of Jones. He has been intimately indentified 
with the business interests of that place ever since it 
started. 

The other professions are not represented. 

Dr. Reubin Schutz, who first located at Corey, then 
moved to White Pigeon, located in Jones some two 
years since, and is one of the leading physicians. 

Corey Grange, No. 291, was organized February 
27, 1874, at what was known at that time as the 
Lake House, a public house on the banks of Corey 
Lake.' Its charter was issued by the National Grange 
at Washington, on the 7th day of July, 1874, and re- 
ceived and recorded by the State Grange, August 1, 
of the same year. The organization was removed 
from the Lake House to Corey September 24, 
1874, where it still remains. The society perfected 
its incorporation on the 17th of April, 1880. The 
first officers of this Grange were as follows : A. P. 
Shepardson, M. ; H. W. Brown, 0. ; Grandville 
Knevels, L. ; I. E. Wing, S. ; G. B. Rockwell. A. S. ; 
A C. Shepardson, C. ; J. T. Ilay, S. ; C. R. Craw- 
ford, S. ; C. W. Furgason, G. K. ; Nancy Harwood, 
C. ; Hellen Shepanlson, P. ; Maranda S. Brown, T. ; 
Lois L. Parker, L. A. S. The Grange numbers 
sixty members at present. 

KELIGIODS ORGANIZATIONS. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Newberg Town- 
ship was organized in the Baptist Church, at Poe's 
Corners, in 1872, and belonged to the Cassopolis 
Circuit from that time until 1876, when it was set off 
to Marcellus Circuit, to which it belongs at this time. 
At the time of the organization, James Webster was 



the pastor in charge. The meetings were held for a 
time in the Baptist Church, before mentioned, and 
afterward at David Fairfield's store, at Jones. David 
Fairfield was the first leader, and continued in this 
position until December 30, 1876, at which time H. 
J. Ferguson was appointed, who is the present leader. 
The ministers who have labored in this society are 

Revs. James Webster, I. Willson, Eddy, A. M. 

Eidrid, J. White, J. Hoyt, W. P. French, and J. R. 
Skinner. The names of the original members are as 
follows: David Fairfield, Loui.sa Fairfield, M. E. 
Tharp, Phoebe Dyer, Elizabeth Pound, Sarah Rum- 
sey, J. E. Van Buren, Esther Brooks, Elsey Bows, 
Mrs. Alexander, Jacob Rumsey, Andrew Correll, S. 
Todd, Margaret Todd, Catharine Cook. During Rev. 
I I. Willson's labors there was a revival of religion, at 
which time forty-four joined the Church, making a 
membership of sixty-one at the close of his meetings. 
There has been a Sabbath school connected with the 
Society ever since the organization. Church services 
and Sabbath school are held, at the present time, in 
the hall at Jones. 

First Regular Baptist Church was organized in 
Newberg Township June 8, 1841. By request of the 
Baptists of Newberg Township, Cass County, a coun- 
cil convened, composed of delegates from the follow- 
ing Churches, viz. : Centerville, Bro. J. Redway ; 
Pleasant Lake, Elder J. Price, Bros. B. Mead, M. 
Sherell, and J. S. Brown ; Schoolcraft, Elder William 
Taylor; Constantine, Bros. William Churchill, Will- 
iam Blair, William Arnold, A. Churchill, R. Church- 
ill ; La Grange, Elder William T. Bly, and Bros. E. 
Quick, G. Allen, Z. Mott, L. Forsyth, Cross Sher- 
man, S. 0. Brown and T. Vance ; Liberty, Bros. J. 
Colyer, M. Zone, and M. Reams. The council duly 
organized the church under the name of "The First 
Baptist Church of Newberg." Elder William Taylor 
delivered the discourse, Elder Jacob Price gave the 
right hand of fellowship, and Elder William B. 
Brown delivered the charge to the church, to which 
fifty persons attached themselves at this time. 

Previous to building the church, meetings were 
held in the schoolhouse, in District No. 9, and private 
houses. The society built a very neat little church at 
Poe's Corners, in 1858. The grounds for building 
were purchased from Andrew Stetler, in Section 28. 

The following- named persons have served as pas- 
tors: Elders John Wright, John Frisby, II. Cook, 
J. W. Miner, L. H. Tobridge, John Kirby, and 
Elder Kendall, who is the present pastor. 

The society is at the present time in a flourishing 
condition. A Sabbath school has been connected 
with the church, nearly all the time since its organi- 
zation. 



428 



HISTOHr OF CASS COUNTY, iMICHIGAN. 



METHODIST PROTESTANT SOCIETY. 

The Newburg Circuit of the Methodist Protestant 
Church was detached from the St. Joseph Circuit, and 
organized into a separate one, October 15, 1869. The 
organization meeting was held at the Corey Lake 
Schoolhouse, Rev. Whitney Hough being the preacher 
in charge, and David P. McKee, Secretary. 

The circuit consists of six classes, as follows : Vic- 
tory and Newberg Center, of Newberg Township; 
Watkins, Mount Desire, of Fabius and Bent, of 
Flowerfield Township, St. Joseph County. 

The following pastors have served on this circuit : 
Revs. Whitney Hough, William Kelley, Samuel 
Phillips, Mr. Newell, R. S. Moulton, J. P. Goodrich, 
and Samuel Reeves, the present pastor. Present 
church membership, 174. Having no house of wor- 
ship, services are held at schoolhouses and in the 
Town Hall. 

CIVIL LIST. 

The following are the principal township officers, 
elected since its organization to 1881. 

SUPERVISORS. 

1838, James Aldrich ; 1839-40-41, County Com- 
missioners; 1842, Hiram Harwood; 1843, Hiram 
Harwood ; 1844, Hiram Harwood ; 1845, Hiram 
Harwood ; 1846, Barker F. Rudd ; 1847, Barker F. 
• Rudd ; 1848, Barker F. Rudd ; 1849, Barker F. 
Rudd; 1850, Hiram Harwood; 1851, Barker F. 
Rudd ; 1852, J. M. Chapman ; 1853, J. M. Chap- 
man ; 1854, J. M. Chapman; 1855, S. Harwood; 
1856, S. Harwood : 1857, Edward H. Jones ; 1858, 
Edward H. Jones; 1859, James Chapman; 1860. 
Barker F. Rudd; 1861, Silas Harwood; 1862, 
Silas Harwood ; 1863, James Chapman ; 1864, 
James Chapman ; 1865, J. M. Chapman ; 1866, J. 
M. Chapman; 1867, J. M. Chapman; 1868, J. M. 
Chapman; 1869, Anson L. Dunn ; 1870, Anson L. 
Dunn; 1871, J. M. Chapman; 1872, W. H. Pera- 
berton; 1878, Silas Harwood; 1874, J. S. Tomp- 
kins ; 1875, N. Harwood; 1876, F. M. Dodge; 
1877, Anson L. Dunn ; 1878, Lemuel Chapman ; 
1879, Lemuel Chapman; 1880, B. L. Rudd (and 
W. H. H. Pemberton, by appointment) ; 1881, 
Nathan Skinner. 

TREASURERS. 

1838-39, no record -of who was elected; 1840, Ira 
Warren; 1841, Ira Warren; 1842, Andrew Stetler; 
1843, J. E. Nicholson; 1844, Ira Sprague; 1845, 
Ira Warren ; 1846, George F Jones ; 1847, A. S. 
Munger ; 1848, A. S. Munger ; 1849, A. S. Hun- 
ger ; 1850, A. S. May; 1851, Ira Warren; 1852, 
J. Grinell ; 1853, J. Grinell ; ' 1854, J. Grinell ; 
1855, James Churchill: 1856, James Churchill; 



1857, J. Grinell ; 1858, J. Grinell ; 1859, J. Gri- 
nell; 1860, Sullivan Cook; 1861, Hazen W. Brown 
1862, Nathan Harwood ; 1863, Silas Harwood ; 1864. 
H. A. Crego; 1865, H. A. Crego ; 1866, M. F. 
Burney ; 1867, A. L. Dunn ; 1868, A. L. Dunn 
1869, H. A. Crego; 1870, H. A. Crego; 1871, N 
Harwood; 1872, N. Harwood; 1873, J. S. Tomp 
kins; 1874, W. H. Pemberton; 1875, W. H. Pern 
berton; 1876, C. D. Arnold; 1877, Robert C 
Sloan ; 1878, C. D. Arnold ; 1879, C. D. Arnold 
1880, Daniel H. Pound; '1881, .John A. Mills (and 
by appointment, William M. Harwood). 



1838, Isaac iprague ; 1839, George Poe ; 1840, 
W. D. Easton; 1841, W. D. Eascon ; 1812, W. D. 
Easton ; 1843, W. D. Easton ; 1844, W. D. Easton ; 
1845, W. D. Easton; 1846, Julius Nicholson ; 1847, 
Julius Nicholson ; 1848, Julius Nicholson ; 1849, 
Julius Nicholson ; 1850, William D. Easton ; 1851, 
T. V. Bogart; 1852, T. V. Bogart; 1853, William 
D. Easton ; 1854, William D. Easton ; 1855, E. H. 
Jones; 18.56, E. H. Jones; 1857, Silas Harwood ; 
1858, Silas Harwood; 1859, 0. C. Gillett; 1860, 0. 
C. Gillett; 1861, 0. C Giliett ; 1862, 0. C. Gillett; 
1863, Eli Hathaway ; 1864, A. L. Dunn ; 1865, Eli 
Hathaway; 1866, A. L. Dunn; 1867, Horace 
Francis; 1868, Sylvester Mihill ; 1869, John B. 
Warren; 1870, John B. Warren; 1871, H. A. 
Crego ; 1872, F. M. Dodge ; 1873, F. M. Dodge ; 
1874, F. M. Dodge; 1875, F. M. Dodge; 1876, B. 
Walker; 1877, Fred P. Dunn; 1878, S. Mihills; 
1879, Samuel W. Breece ; '1880, Samuel W. Breece ; 
1881, Allen P. Boyer. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. . 

JAMES M. CHAPMAN. 
James M. Chapman, while he is not one of the 
earliest settlers of Newberg, has for nearly forty years 
been prominently identified with all the material in- 
terests of the township. He was born in Harrisville, 
Medina Co., Ohio, February 3, 1818. He was the 
son of Levi and Lucinda (Turner) Chapman, both 
natives of Vermont, from whence they came to Ohio 
about 1817. They were married in Vermont, and 
at the time of their emigration had three children, 
two of whom, Scelina, now Mrs. Thomas Birney, and 
Amery, are residents of the county, the former living 
in Marcellus, the latter in Newberg. James received 
a good common school education, which he made 
practically useful to himself and others by teaching. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In 1843, he was married to Mias Mary Haggerty, of 
Oneida County, N. Y., where she was born in 1825. 
After their marriage, Mr. Chapman engaged in busi- 
ness, but, meeting with a serious misfortune (the loss 
of his property by fire), he decided to come to Mich- 
igan and begin life anew. 

In May, of 1844, he and his young wife started for 
Cass County, with their worldly effects loaded in a 
wagon drawn by a team of horses. They arrived 
safely at the residence of his brother-in-law, Thomas 
Birney, with whom they remained until the following 
August, when he removed to the farm where he has 
since resided, and which at the time was in a state of 
nature. There were no roads in this part of the 
township at the time, and his nearest neighbor was 
two miles distant. The pioneer life of Mr. Chapman 
was replete with toil and privations, the land was 
heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm was 
a work of great magnitude, but by degrees field after 
field was added to the " little hole in the wilderness," 
and industry and perseverance were rewarded. He 
now has a valuable farm of 200 acres. Mr. Chapman 
has taken an active interest in all measures tending 
to the advancement of the interests of Newberg, anil 
has occupied many positions of trust and responsibil- 
ity. For eleven years he has represented Newberg 
upon the Board of Supervisors, where he was recog- 
nized as an able and efficient member. He has also 
officiated as magistrate for eight years. Both he and 
his wife are exemplary members of the Baptist Church 



of Newberg, and all benevolent and religious enter- 
prises find in them generous supporters. They have 
been blessed with two children— Harvey (deceased) 
and Franklin. 

JAMES M. DYEK. 
James M. Dyer was born in the town of Oswe- 
gatchie, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 27, 1834. 
His father, who was a native of Vermont, was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812, and participated in many of 
the battles. In this engagement. Gen. Scott was 
wounded and he assisted in carrying him off the field. 
His mother was born in Canada, and was the mother 
of seven children — Urias, Elizabeth E., Josiah, Cor- 
nelius, James M., Caroline and Jane. At the age of 
fifteen, Mr. Dyer commenced life as a farm hand, 
which calling he followed for seven years. At the 
age of twenty-two he was married to Miss Phebe C. 
Houghtaling, of Newberg. The Dyer family are one 
of the old pioneer families of St. Joseph County, 
having emigrated there in 1834, settling in Constan- 
tino, where they remained until the spring of 1843, 
when they came to Cass County and settled on the 
farm where he now resides. They have two children 
—Ella A., now Mrs. Edgar Wetherbee, and Arthur 
G. Mr. Dyer has been the architect of his own fort- 
une ; commencing life without educational advan- 
tages and with nothing but strong hands and a firm 
desire to succeed, he has acquired a competency and 
built up an honorable reputation. (See illustration.) 




HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



POKAGON SUPPLEMENT. 



JOHN RODCtEKS. 
Prominent among the pioneer families of the town- 
ship of Pokagon is that of Alexander Rodgers, whose 
history in this county dates back to 1828. He was 
of Scotch parentage, his father having emigrated from 
Scotland and settled in Rockbridge County, Va., 
where Alexander was born. The elder Rodgers was 
a typical Scotchman, determined, resolute, and pos 
sessed of that keen judgment and discrimination that 
is one of the prominent characteristics of the family. 
He was educated to the profession of medicine, and 
was in active practice for many years. Alexander 
was reared in Virginia, where he was married in 1809, 
to Miss Peggy Culton, of his native town. The 
young couple being in quite limited circumstances, 
they resolved to better their condition by removing to 
what was then a new country, Preble County, Ohio. 
The latter part of 1810 found Mr. Rodgers and his 
young wife on a new farm in the town of Eaton, where 
John Rodgers, the immediate subject of this memoir, 
was born in August of 1815. This portion of Ohio 
was at this time sparsely settled, and on the extreme 
Western frontier ; the great city of Cincinnati had hard- 
ly reached the distinction of a village, and although 
but a child, Mr. Rodgers recollects distinctly the many 
hardships and privations the family were called upon 
to endure. The land was heavily timbered, and the 
construction of a farm was the work of years of 
patient toil. The elder Rogers had just commenced to 
realize the fulfillment of his early dreams, when he 
began to hear glowing accounts of a new country, 
abounding with fertile prairies, luxuriant with native 
grasses, belts of majestic timber, oak openings car- 
peted with flowers, and he became convinced that 



beautiful farms located in a rich and beautiful valley, 
and easily won competencies were within the grasp of 
himself and family by removing to Cass County. Ac- 
cordingly, in 1828, he left Preble County, and, after a 
journey of several weeks, arrived in Pokagon, where 
he settled on Section 31. He soon became prominent 
in the affairs of the new settlement, and was elected 
the first Supervisor of Pokagon, but for reasons stated 
elsewhere did not serve. He was highly successful 
in his business operations, and at one time owned 
about 1,000 acres of land. He died in Pokagon in 
1866 ; his wife died in 1850. John's early life was 
spent in Preble County, where he shared the priva- 
tions of a pioneer family. At the time of his father's 
emigration to Michigan, he was thirteen years of age, 
he resided at the old home until 1863, when he re- 
moved to the township of La Grange, where he lived 
until 1868, when he bought the farm where he now 
resides. Mr. Rogers has witnessed the transition of a 
wilderness into a highly productive region, of a thin 
settlement into a busy and prosperous community, and 
in his own person typifies many of the agencies that 
have wrought these changes. In August, 1864, Mr. 
Rodgers was married to Miss Sarah McCoy, of Ber- 
rien County. She was born in July of 18-12. They 
I have one child, Cory, who was born in La Grange in 
[ November of 1865. The life of Mr. Rodgers has 
been comparatively uneventful, and marked by few 
changes. He has never sought distinction in any 
way, but has pursued a line of life, the goal of which 
has proved a satisfaction ; he has improved his oppor- 
tunities, and has been highly successful, not only in 
the accumulation of property, but in the perfection of 
an honorable record. 



HISTORY OP CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



431 



PENN SUPPLEMENT. 



GEORGE ,T. TOWNSEND. 
Among the patriots of the Revolution was John 
Townsend, grandfather of the subject of this biogra- 
phy. He served during the continuance of that san- 
guinary struggle, and at its close settled in South Car- 
olina, where he was married in May of 1783, to Miss 
Elvira Cain, a native of North Carolina, where she 
was born in 1768. They remained in South Carolina 
until 1803, when they emigrated to Warren County, 
Ohio, from whence they removed to Wayne County, 
Indiana. Here the elder Townsend died in 18.53, in 
his ninetieth year. His wife attained the remarkable 
age of one hundred years. Both were exemplary 
members of the Society of Friends, to which organ- 
ization they attached themselves shortly after their 
marriage. They reared a family of twelve children. 
John Jr., father of George J., was born in Wayne 
County, Indiana, where he remained until he attained 
his majority, when he went to Butler County, Ohio, 
where he was married to Miss Martha, daughter of 
George 'and Lydia Jones. In 1829, he came to Mich- 
igan, in company with his wife's father and mother, 
and settled in Penn Township, on the farm now owned 
by Jay Rudd ; where he resided until his decease, 
which occurred in 1835. It was on this farm that 
George J. was born, in April of 1831. At the age 
of five years, his father died, leaving his widow and 
five children in very limited circumstances. Mrs. 
Townsend was one of those heroic mothers whom ad- 
versity seems to endow with Spartan energy and cour- 
age. She managed the farm, and reared her family 



to habits of industry and economy, and to the faithful 
observance of the cardinal principles of her faith. 
She died in Pennsylvania in May of 1851. George 
received the elements of his education at the log 
schoolhouse, which he completed in that other school 
in which the teachers are observation and experience. 
At the age of twenty-three he was married to Miss 
Elizabeth, daughter of John Donnell, of Pennsylva- 
nia, where she was born in 1833. Donnell was one 
of those bold, adventurous characters who seem to 
precede civilization. He was one of the first settlers 
on Young's Prairie. He was from Clark County, 
Ohio, and after the death of his wife he went to Illi- 
nois, and from there to Oregon, where he died in 
1867. 

Mr. Townsend and his young wife commenced life 
on a new farm on Section 18. In 1865, they removed 
to Dowagiac, where for two years he was the proprie- 
tor of the Continental Hotel. The business not being 
congenial, he returned to the farm, where he remained 
until his removal to Vandalia. In 1872 he built the 
Townsend House, and the following year he estab- 
lished his bank, in which business he has since been 
engaged. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are now in the 
enjoyment of the full fruition of the anticipations of 
their early married life. Starting on a new farm, 
with strong hands and a firm desire to succeed, they 
have conquered success, and Mr. Townsend occupies 
a prominent position among the successful business 
men of Cass County. They have a family of five 
children — John, Homer, Ethel, Frank and Clyde. 



HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



POKAGON SUPPLEMENT. 



REV. JOHN HYRNES. 
This gentleman, whose name is so prominently men- 
tioned in the chapter devoted to the educational and 
religious interests of the county, and to which the 
reader is referred for many facts not here incorporat- 
ed, was born in the City of Kinsale, County of Cork, 
Ireland, May 10, 1815. He was the son of Daniel 
Byrne (as the name was originally spelled) and Joan- 
nah Whelton, both natives of the City of Kinsale, 
where they were extensively and favorably known. 
The elder Byrnes vvas an educated gentleman, a law- 
yer by profession, practising in all the courts in that 
region ; he took a deep and active interest in 
political interests and political matters, and was 
extremely radical in his views. In 1817, he took 
a prominent part in a political demonstration against 
the government, which being unsuccessful, he was 
obliged to flee the country in order to save his 
life. His property was confiscated, and his family 
turned into the street, and he took passage with 
four of his compatriots in a sail boat, and went to 



1 Newfoundland, and from thence to St. Johns, N. B., 
where he sent for his family, which consisted of his 

I wife and two boys, John and David, who soon joined 
him. In 1831, the family started for Ohio, but on 
their arrival at Syracuse, N. Y., he was taken sick 
and died. His sudden demise changed their plans, 
and they decided to abandon the original project, and 
to remain where they were. John was apprenticed to 
the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and in 1836 went 
to Toledo, Ohio, where he remained a year, when he 
came to Niles, where he followed his trade until his 
removal to Pokagon, where he has since resided. In 
1841, he was married to Miss Ursula, daughter of 
Archibald Clyborne, one of the prominent early set- 
tlers of the county. She was born in Giles County, 
Virginia, June 10, 1828, and came to Michigan with 

, her parents. Of six children born to them, only one 
is living — Daniel K., who resides in Pokagon. But 
few men in Cass County have done as much to ad- 
vance its religious interests as he, and no name is 
more prominent in Methodist annals than his. 



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